Caving Burren
Top 10 Scenic Attractions of Ireland
Top 10 Scenic Attractions of Ireland
There are many debates raging as to what constitutes the top 10 scenic attractions of Ireland. There is so much beautiful scenery to see in what is known as the Emerald Isle that by its very nature the matter is subjective. Your definition as to what is outstanding natural beauty may well differ from mine but at the end of the day whatever provides you with inspiration and awe will allow you create your own list. For the record, here is mine.
1. Killarney National Park
Mountains and woodlands surrounding the lakes as well as the Three Lakes make up the vast area that is Killarney National Park. The Lakes of Killarney are renowned worldwide. They consist of three lakes – Lough Leane, Muckross Lake (also called Middle Lake) and Upper Lake and are all close to the town of Killarney.
Located on the N22, 25 kilometres south of the county town of Tralee, they present a stunning vista to the visitor of lakes, woods and mountains merging together as though they were a painting.
Killarney National Park includes the peaks of Mangerton, Torc, Shehy and the Purple Mountains while just to the west of the Park, rise the majestic Macgillycuddy Reeks, the highest mountain range in Ireland.
Situated amidst the spectacular scenery of Killarney National Park, Muckross House is a magnificent Victorian mansion, which relives a life of majestic splendour and is the centre piece of the many aspects of Muckross. Muckross Friary was a 15th century Franciscan foundation with a south transept added around 1500.
2. The Ring of Kerry
The Ring of Kerry is a spectacular tourist trail in County Kerry that starts in the town of Killarney and covers the 170 kilometre circular road heading around the Iveragh Peninsula and passing through Kenmare, Sneem, Waterville, Cahirciveen and Killorglin.
Popular stopping points include Muckross House (near Killarney) and Derrynane House, the ancestral home of Irish statesman, Daniel OConnell.
Just south of Killarney, Ross Castle, Lough Leane, and Ladies View (a panoramic viewpoint), all located within Killarney National Park, are major attractions located along the Ring. The town of Kenmare, halfway through the journey, is a picture postcard place with many restaurants and designer shops and notable hotels such as the 5-star Park Hotel. Allow a full day to explore all the attractions on the Ring in comfort
3. Cliffs of Moher
In the list of places that one must see on a visit to Ireland, the Cliffs of Moher must surely rank very close to the top and I place them at number 3 only because of the merit of the first two.
The Cliffs are 214m high at the highest point and range for a distance of eight kilometres over the Atlantic Ocean on the western seaboard of County Clare.
They are located in the parish of Liscannor at the south-west edge of the Burren area near the town of Doolin, which is famous for the music sessions that take place there throughout the summer. O’ Brien’s Tower stands proudly on the northerly headland of the majestic Cliffs.
From the Cliffs, one can see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, as well as The Twelve Pins, the Maum Turk Mountains in Connemara and Loop Head to the South.
4. Connemara National Park
Connemara National Park covers some 2,000 hectares of scenic mountains, expanses of bogs, heaths and grassland and wonderful wildlife and includes the beautiful towns of Cliden and Leenane on the west coast of County Galway.
The evolvement of the Connemara landscape over 10,000 years is exhibited in the visitor centre with excellent 3D models and large scale displays.
There is simply so much to see in Connemara that it needs at least week take it all in.
Jaw dropping beauty overcomes you as you explore the diverse vistas it has to offer.
Some of the highlights include Ballynahinch Castle which is steeped in a wealth of tradition and has been intertwined in the history of Connemara and its people for many centuries.
The Twelve Pins is a stunning mountain range in south Connemara, reached via Barna and Spiddal from Galway City. /
Kylemore Abbey, one of the premier landmarks of Connemara, is now a private school set in heavenly and serene surroundings with inspiring design.
5. Glendalough
Glendalough in south County Wicklow is a stunningly a beautiful place; it is the location of an ancient monastic settlement, founded by St. Kevin in the sixth century, together with two clear water lakes beneath the sheer cliffs of a deep valley. Glendalough is only about an hour south from Dublin City centre. What strikes the visitor most about the place is the utter peace and tranquillity it seems to radiate.
One gets the feeling after a while of walking around the tower and other buildings that it might seem a good idea to stay here indefinitely and get away from all the distractions and illogical rush of life. The place imposes on you that sense of attachment and serenity, as though it were transmitting the feelings of St. Kevin through the centuries from the time he lived and prayed there.
6. The Glens of Antrim
County Antrim in the north east corner of Ireland bristles with contrasting scenery from coastal to pastoral views. The Glens of Antrim are the county’s most spectacular and beautiful sight. Located to the north east of Belfast City, the nine Glens of Antrim which make up the compilation are beautiful lush green, wooded and bogland valleys. They sweep down to the Irish sea between rugged headlands along the Antrim Coast Road. Cushendall Village is considered to be the capital of the Glens and sits at the head of Glenballyeamon, Glenaan and Glencorp valleys. Glenariff is the best glen to visit for the casual walker as it has been made into a forest park, complete with a wooden boardwalk around its waterfalls.
7. The Burren
The Burren is a unique lunar type landscape region in northwest County Clare and is one of Irelands most visited attractions. The unique Burren is a barony, most of which is a 100-square-mile plateau of lunar-like limestone. Although it supports a sparse population in modern times, the Burren is home to a profusion of flowers and plants not found elsewhere in Europe. Also to be found there are hundreds of ruined forts, megalithic tombs, caves, and underground streams.
The landscape is actually called a Karst area and the Burren is one the largest in Europe.
The region is enclosed roughly within the circle comprised by the villages Ballyvaughan, Kinvara, Tubber, Corofin, Kilfenora and Lisdoonvarna.
8. The Dingle Peninsula
For rugged beauty and awesome natural phenomena there is little to compare to the Dingle Peninsula situated in the south-west of County Kerry in the deep south of Ireland.
This is a spectacular landmass jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean giving off the impression to the first time visitor that they are entering another country such is the diversity and harshness of its natural beauty. The peninsula is also noted for the ancient monuments and prehistoric sites that are scattered across its landscape.
There are two main roads into the peninsula: The N86 which runs from Tralee, along the south coast of Tralee Bay, through Camp village, then over the mountains to Annascaul, Lispole and Dingle.
9. Ben Bulben
Located in County Sligo, in the north west of the country, Ben Bulben is Ireland’s most distinctive mountain and known in some parts as Ireland’s version of Table Mountain in South Africa.
It is the result from the different responses to erosion of the limestone and shale of which the mountain is formed.
A hard and resistant limestone forms the upper cliffs and precipices. Ben Bulben was formed during the Ice Age, when large parts of the Earth were under glaciers. The poet, William Butler Yeats, had such a love affair with the area that he wrote many poems and prose about Ben Bulben and the Sligo area, hence, the nickname of the county as The Yeats County. The poet is buried in Drumcliff Cemetery, at the foot of this unique mountain which is a short drive from Sligo Town.
10. Mountains of Mourne
Several of its peaks are accessible for climbers, however, with the most popular being Slieve Donard, which at 848 metres, is the highest in the range and Ulster’s highest peak. At the foot of this magnificent mountain stands the lovely coastal town of Newcastle, famous for being the home of the Royal County Down Golf Club, one of the finest links golf courses in the world.
About the Author
Seamus Maguire is a 54-year old businessman who lives in County Louth, Ireland and who writes about Ireland as a hobby, but with a passion. He runs a website called Look Around Ireland, www.lookaroundireland.com, which provides detailed information and interactive virtual tours of all the highlights that Ireland has to offer to the visitor. On his website, there is a specific section called the Ireland Travel Guide, http://www.lookaroundireland.com/ireland-travel-guide.php, which is a very useful detailed travel tool for any visitor to Ireland from abroad and for Irish people visiting other parts of their country
OPC caving in the burren