Description
The Burren National Park is Ireland's smallest national park comprising a mosaic of habitats including limestone pavement, scrub, woodland and turloughs. The Burren National Park, located in the south-eastern corner of the Burren, Co Clare is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. It is approximately 1500 hectares in size and was established by the state, for both nature conservation and public access as Ireland’s fifth National Park in 1991.
The Burren National Park contains examples of all the major habitats for which the region is internationally known. These include limestone pavement, hazel scrub, and deciduous woodland, lakes, turloughs, springs, fen and limestone grassland. Botanically, the Burren is one of the most fascinating regions in Western Europe. Many of the flowers growing in narrow fissures on the limestone terraces are rare elsewhere but it is the combination of flora that is so unusual with flowers from Arctic, Alpine and Mediterranean regions all growing together.
The highest point in the park is Knockanes (207 metres) which continues as a curving terraced ridge to Mullaghmore to the south. East of this ridge is an area of extensive, low lying limestone pavement containing a number of semi-permanent lakes. West of this ridge the pavement sweeps down to grasslands on partially drift-covered ground which gradually rises again to reach the foot of a rocky escarpment.
Trails:
The Park has numerous walking trails graded from moderate to very difficult. The Nature Trail (2km) covers a wide variety of Burren habitats from wildflower meadows to hazel woodland and includes views of the dramatic limestone landscape. The Mullaghmore trails with their spectacular views are challenging but rewarding for the more adventurous walker.
Burren National Park Opening Hours:
The Burren National Park is open 24 hours a day all year round. Access is free.
Burren National Park Information Point:
The newly developed Information Point in Corofin, Co Clare provides an educational and interactive experience for the visitor, using a blend of modern technology and interpretative panels on the geology, fauna, flora and the importance of farming and management of the Burren. Open from April to the end of September, National Parks and Wildlife Service staff provide information on the National Park. Walks, talks and activities for all ages are organised on a regular basis and guided walks for groups may be booked in advanced.
Information Point Opening Hours:
April and May: Open daily - 10.00 - 17.00 (Closed for lunch 13.00-14.00)
June, July and August: Open daily - 10.00 - 18.00
September: Open Wednesday to Sunday - 10.00 - 17.00 (Closed for lunch 13.00-14.00)
See the website www.burrennationalpark.ie for further information and updates.
Directions:
To Burren National Park Information Point:
Clare Heritage Centre,
Corofin,
Co Clare
GPS: N 52.94481 W 009.06277
To Burren National Park:
To access the park, from Corofin, take the R476 to Kilnaboy. In Kilnaboy take the right turn (L1112) before the ruined church. Approximately 5 kilometres along this road you will reach a crossroads. There is parking in the lay-by just before this cross roads on the right. Then on foot, follow the walking trail signs to the right, this leads you onto the ‘crag road’. Please park in the lay-by not on the crag road as this will avoid damage to the vegetation.
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facebook.comSaturday 19th August - 20.00-22.00 In celebration of National Heritage Week join us for an illustrated talk about our Irish bats followed by a bat walk around the village of Corofin. Learn about bat behaviour, diet and their amazing hunting techniques. Please bring a torch and a bat detector if you have one and dress appropriately as the night might be cold. Booking required at burrennationalpark@ahg.gov.ie/ 065 6827693.
Heritage Week is starting this weekend! Check out our events programme and come join us for one (or more!). Some are booking required, so make sure to give us a call on 065 682 7693 or email us at burrennationalpark@ahg.gov.ie.
While out walking in the park yesterday we heard a bird singing it's newly learned song. It was a mixture of warbling notes and sounded quite different to the other birds who are singing at the moment. We were unsure who this experimental songster was but then a familiar phrase was heard identifying it as a juvenile robin. At this time of year young robins are fledged and easy to spot. They’re a lot better camouflaged than their parents and are speckled brown when they leave the nest. Gradually the red breast is acquired by a moult in late July and August. Can you spot the red/orange starting to come on this young robin’s breast? It's now that these youngsters start to sing their song. Studies have shown that they learn their song from adults which they hear singing during and shortly after fledging. In one study a Robin which was held in captivity with a Nightingale learned to sing like a Nightingale confirming that they do indeed learn their songs from adult birds. Photo: Susan O'Donohoe
Join us for a free guided walk to the base of Mullaghmore this Sunday afternoon. This is a 4km walk exploring the geology, flora and fauna of the Burren National Park. Booking Required. To book please call us on 065 6827693 or email us at burrennationalpark@ahg.gov.ie
What a wonderful time we had at this year's final Cuckoo Club event. We studied the flowers, invertebrates and amphibians that call the meadows in the National Park home. Looking forward to our next children's event which will be held on Sunday 20th August to celebrate Heritage Week. For more information please see here - http://www.heritageweek.ie/whats-on/event/kids-mini-beast-hunt-1
We still have a few places left for our final children's Cuckoo Club event tomorrow morning.This week we'll be looking very closely at insects :) To book please call us on 065 6827693 or email us at burrennationalpark@ahg.gov.ie
This Thursday join us for a free insect-themed kids event in the Burren National Park which is suitable for 5-12 year olds. This is the last Cuckoo Club event of the season. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Some of the terrain is rough so suitable footwear and clothing is advisable. Meet at the Burren National Park trailhead at 10.15. Alternatively you can take the free bus from the Information Point in Corofin at 10:00. This event will last approximately 1.5 hrs. Booking Required. To book please call us on 065 6827693 or email us at burrennationalpark@ahg.gov.ie.
Someone very exciting turned up not too far from the National Park today....a Great White Egret. We got a call from Michael who asked us to come and have a look at a "very big white bird" on his farm. Looking through the scope we could see a long yellow beak and really long black legs. These features along with its size indicated it was this rare visitor and not the resident Little Egret or occasional visitor Cattle Egret. This got us wondering if this species has been seen in Clare before and where it had come from. A quick chat with NPWS Ranger and former Irish Rare Birds Committee member, Dermot Breen and we got more information. Dermot told us there were two seen in this part of Clare this winter (including sightings at Ballyalla Lake and Lough Atedaun) and one in nearby Gort in May. He also said they come here occassionally from central Europe but have recently started breeding a little closer to home, in the UK. Thanks to Michael for letting us know and thanks to Dermot for the verification and details. What a treat to see this not too common bird :)
“It’s a pile of pancakes!” - “Nah, it’s a cowpat!” “Wait, is it a melted birthday cake?” The shape of Mullaghmore has been inspiring people for many years... Geologically speaking, it results from a mountain building episode in Southern Europe around 300 million years ago. Back then, compressive stresses travelled through the earth’s crust causing slight tilts and gentle slopes in the Burren limestone beds. Much later, the region was covered in ice and shaped by the movement of enormous glaciers. The last glaciation ended 15,000 years ago and had a big influence on the Burren landscape: rounded hills, erratics and drumlins are now part of this heritage. Has it made you curious about the Burren geology and rocks? If so, join us on Sunday 30th July for a free guided walk to the base of Mullaghmore and give us new ideas for its surprising shape! Details can be found here http://www.burrennationalpark.ie/events
We had a wonderful time at our flower-themed Cuckoo Club event this morning. Thanks to all who came. We hope to see you again sometime :) Next week we're taking a little break but will be back with our final Cuckoo Club event on 10th August. For more information see here - http://www.burrennationalpark.ie/events
At this Thursday's Cuckoo Club we will be learning all about the flowers of the Burren National Park. Can you spy who's dining on these happy Ragwort flowers? Yes, it's a Cinnabar caterpillar! There are still a few places available. It's suitable for 5-12 year olds. Booking is required. To book please call us on 065 6827693 or email us at burrennationalpark@ahg.gov.ie. More info here - http://www.burrennationalpark.ie/events
'Nature' is what we see -- The Hill -- the Afternoon -- Squirrel -- Eclipse -- the Bumble bee -- Nay -- Nature is Heaven -- Nature is what we hear -- The Bobolink -- the Sea -- Thunder -- the Cricket -- Nay -- Nature is Harmony -- Nature is what we know -- Yet have no art to say -- So impotent Our Wisdom is To her Simplicity. "‘Nature’ is what we see—" by Emily Dickinson Free guided walk on the Orange trail on Wednesday 26th July at 14.15! Gather around, little bumblebees! Photo : White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum agg) on Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris)
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