CONNEMARA FOUR SEASONS walking festival 2015 spring – now booking March 13 – 15 National Park, Killary Harbour, and CONNEMARA

FOUR SEASONS spring walking festival 2015

Welcome to our Spring 2015 Connemara Four Seasons Walking Festival. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for helping us make this event a success and we trust that all will have a wonderful weekend exploring our beautiful surroundings.

Explore Connemara with renowned local guide Michael Gibbons who will provide an insight into book now the unique cultural, archeological and historical 3 nights from €269 P.P.S. 3 B&B, 2 dinners, pre-walk lectures, heritage of the area. 2 packed lunches and 2 guided walks The walks are suitable for beginners 2 nights from €199 P.P.S. through to advanced... all you need 2 B&B, 1 dinner, pre-walk lectures, is a good pair of walking boots! 2 packed lunches and 2 guided walks To book, call +353 95 21699 or visit www.clifdenstationhouse.com Friday March 13 of Mitchell Henry MP, now owned by the The event kicks off with an introductory talk Benedictine Nuns and formerly run as a hosted by Michael Gibbons, where the rich secondary school – and deep into the history and secrets of the Connemara Islands Twelve Bens Mountain Range and Maamturk and Highlands will be shared. Mountains beyond.

Location: Station House Hotel Time: 8.30pm The wild valleys are home to large herds of native red deer and wild mountain goats. The Saturday March 14 area’s rivers have rich stocks of salmon and Connemara National Park & Killary Harbour trout, which are hunted by Connemara’s Mweelin Mountain in the Connemara National secretive and beautiful otters. Park is one of the finest short hikes in the country. It commands huge ocean, island and The Connemara National Park is a dedicated mountain views. area of bog and mountain wilderness. This mountain track crosses broad To the west we can see the islands of Inishbofin valleys and mountain gorges and and to the north we can see and we visit an archaeological , and Achill – once ruled complex which includes a over by the powerful O’Malley clan. It has been 5,000-year-old tomb and a a favourite climb since the mid-19th century, children’s burial ground. when it was first discovered by an American female traveller and Evangelist, A. Nicolson. Departure: Kylemore Abbey car park Time: 10.30am From its sharp edge summit it looks down on To book, call Duration: 5hrs Kylemore Abbey and Gardens – former home +353 95 21699 Walk Grade: Moderate Sunday March 15 pokes its head above the ocean monastery and abandoned Errisbeg Hill & Inishnee Island swells. famine cottages. The walk will be Errisbeg is a beautiful, peat- on track and trail with panoramic covered mountain of igneous This moderately difficult hike is ocean and mountain views. rock wedged between the wild along a rough mountain track and lakelands of Roundstone Bog and on open bogland, and boots are Departure: The Pier, Roundstone the Atlantic Ocean. essential. Time: 10.30am Duration: 4hrs Walk Grade: Moderate The walking is on rough ground Edging Errisbeg are the beaches but you will be rewarded with of Dog’s Bay and Gurteen, where three peaks to climb and huge an ancient village was uncovered book now views. To the northwest lies High from the sands before being CONNEMARA

FOUR SEASONS spring Island, with Slyne Head lighthouse covered over again in a mighty walking festival 2015 to the far west. storm. Dog’s Bay is a shorter hike, 3 nights from €269 P.P.S. about 2hrs 30mins along a 3 B&B, 2 dinners, pre-walk lectures, The Twelve Bens dominate the spectacular coastal promontory. views to the north, and to the south 2 packed lunches and 2 guided walks lie an assortment of islands, Inishnee Island is a magical island 2 nights from €199 P.P.S. including the famous pilgrimage walk on the eastern side of 2 B&B, 1 dinner, pre-walk lectures, island of St. Macdara. Further Roundstone Bay. Our relaxed hike 2 packed lunches and 2 guided walks south still, on a clear day the great takes in a 5,000-year-old forest To book, call +353 95 21699 or visit holy mountain of Mount Brandon drowned by rising seas, a ruined www.clifdenstationhouse.com

We would ask that you read the above information on the pre-walk talk and the two days’ walking carefully, taking note of start time and assembly points for walks. Please ensure that you place your lunch order with the hotel team each evening before your walk, and your packed lunch will be ready for collection before you leave the hotel each morning. Requirements for both days: Boots essential / Wet gear / Water / Energy Snacks / Camera (optional)