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A&A Guide cvr 02/06/2011 10:21 Page 2 CLARE LIMERICK NORTH TIPPERARY SOUTH OFFALY Activities & Adventure Guide for Ireland’s Shannon Region A&A Guide cvr 02/06/2011 10:21 Page 3 Inside_single pages fnl 02/06/2011 10:19 Page 1 Contents: Shannon Region Map 2 Introduction 5 Activities: Adventure & Watersports 6 Angling 20 Cycling 30 Equestrian 36 Golf 43 Walking 54 Gardens 62 Special Interest 68 For great activity and adventure breaks visit www.ShortBreaksIreland.ie Shannon Region Tourist Information Offices: • Limerick City Centre Arthur’s Quay t: +353 61 317522 e: [email protected] • Ennis, Co. Clare Arthur’s Row (off O’Connell Street) – in the Clare Museum t: +353 65 6828366 e: [email protected] • Shannon Airport, Co. Clare Arrivals Hall, t: +353 61 471664 e: [email protected] • Adare, Co. Limerick Heritage Centre, Main Street, t: +353 61 396255 e: [email protected] pg: 01 Inside_single pages fnl 02/06/2011 10:19 Page 2 Ireland’s Shannon Region Map & Road Guide The Shannon Region: • Clare • Limerick • North Tipperary • South Offaly See below for a more detailed map of the Shannon Region. pg:02 Inside_single pages fnl 02/06/2011 10:19 Page 3 pg:03 Inside_single pages fnl 02/06/2011 10:19 Page 4 pg:04 Inside_single pages fnl 02/06/2011 10:19 Page 5 Adventure and Activity Holidays in Ireland’s Shannon Region The Shannon Region lies at the heart of the beautiful West of Ireland. This region of many contrasts offers a particularly diverse and exceptional tourism experience, ranging from wild scenic landscapes, unspoilt countryside, a wealth of historic/cultural attractions, to seaside resorts with beautiful sandy beaches, a rugged Atlantic coastline, a floral kingdom, the majestic River Shannon – one of Europe’s great waterways, bustling rural towns and villages, and a variety of culinary experiences. The Shannon Region is the ideal destination to get away from it all and enjoy a great outdoor holiday experience. The geography of the area and its amazing diversity of landscapes, its Atlantic seacoast, numerous rivers and great lakes, are ideally suited for the outdoor enthusiast looking for a holiday which is active and varied. Dominated by water, the region is particularly suited to watersports enthusiasts. The River Shannon and its largest lake ‘Lough Derg’ are among Europe’s most popular watersports venues, and the Atlantic seacoast is a divers underwater wonderland. A vast network of quiet country lanes, forest paths and mountain trails, along the Slieve Bloom Mountains or through the Burren’s great expanses of glaciated limestone, and fresh air are perfect for those who want to relax and enjoy nature at its best, on foot or by bike. This booklet features information on adventure and watersports, cruising, walking, cycling, angling, equestrian, golf, gardens and adventure centres which offer a wide range of outdoor activity holiday options in Ireland’s Shannon Region. It gives you a flavour of what the region has to offer to the outdoor enthusiast and adventure seeker. Contact details for specialist operators are featured in this booklet to help you plan your outdoor holiday! pg:05 Inside_single pages fnl 02/06/2011 10:19 Page 6 Adventure & Watersports Ireland is very much a sporting activity country, where one can surf, cruise, sail, canoe, climb, hill-walk, bike, engage in bird shooting, windsurf, cruise and scuba dive in wonderful surroundings. There are a number of approved outdoor adventure centres in the Shannon Region, catering for a wide variety of land and water based adventure/watersport activity options for all levels of experience. Accommodation varies from residential centres with bunk-style dormitory hostels to using local hotels and guesthouses. Lough Derg, Ireland’s pleasure lake is the largest lake on the River Shannon (32,000 acres) and is a watersports paradise with its well established venue for all kinds of boating, cruising, yachting, sailing, windsurfing, skiing and angling. pg:06 Inside_single pages fnl 02/06/2011 10:19 Page 7 You can hire and captain your own luxury cruiser on the Shannon and Lough Derg or the call of the ocean may bring you to Kilrush Marina situated in a busy yachting harbour and a great base to explore the Atlantic coast and catch a glimpse of the resident bottlenosed dolphins on the Shannon Estuary. For further information on adventure breaks visit: www.ShannonRegionTrails.ie www.DiscoverIreland.ie www.ShortBreaksIreland.ie pg:07 Inside_single pages fnl 02/06/2011 10:19 Page 8 Adventure & Watersports Clare Atlantic Airventure Shannon, Co. Clare. The ultimate thrill for flight enthusiasts. t: +353 87 2037487 e: [email protected] w: www.atlanticairventure.com Atlantic Diving School Licknaun, Larchill, Ennis, Co. Clare. Discover the magical waters of West Clare and Ireland’s west coast by learning how to scuba dive and obtain your certification. t: +353 65 6842755 m: +353 86 0570544 e: [email protected] w: www.atlanticdivingschool.ie Ben's Rock Climbing Clinic The Burren, Co. Clare. Offering courses and one off sessions for all levels. Climb, abseil and push your boundaries higher than you ever thought you could. t: +353 86 8448622 e: [email protected] w: www.bensrockclimbingclinic.com Born 2 Ride Kitesurfing School Lahinch, Co. Clare. Discover the excitement of Kitesurfing in a safe environment t: +353 87 2060177 w: www.born2ride.net e: [email protected] w: www.lahinchkitesurfingschool.com Burren Adventures Dive Centre “Sunfish”, Aughinish, Co. Clare. Provides scuba diving courses and experiences for all levels and ages from 10yrs. As a PADI 5 Star dive centre they pride themselves on providing the highest standards in training and dive experiences. t: +353 65 7078914 e: [email protected] w: www.burrenadventures.com pg:08 Inside_single pages fnl 02/06/2011 10:19 Page 9 Clare Burren Outdoor Education Centre Turlough, Bellharbour, Co. Clare. Offering caving, canoeing, sailing, orienteering, rock climbing, hill walking and much more. t: +353 65 7078066 e: [email protected] w: www.burrenoec.com Clare Leisure World Showgrounds Road, Ennis, Co. Clare. Bowling, Quasar, tumble towers, video pursuits and much more. t: +353 65 6866777 w: www.leisureworld.ie Dromoland Clay Pigeon Shooting Newmarket on Fergus, Co. Clare. Clay Pigeon shooting year-round, using international sporting traps for groups or individuals. t: +353 61 368212 m: +353 87 2534955 Irish Activtiy Holidays Carhue, Stonehall, Newmarket on Fergus, Co. Clare. Offering customised packages for individuals and groups to include a variety of activities. t: +353 61 366999 e: [email protected] w: www.irishactivityholidays.com Kilkee Waterworld Kilkee, Co. Clare. Offering a range of facilities including guysers and gushers, bubbles, whirls and lots more. t: +353 65 9056855 e: [email protected] w: www.kilkeewaterworld.ie Lahinch Seaworld & Leisure Centre The Promenade, Lahinch, Co. Clare. The “ultimate” leisure and activity location, visit Atlantic Aquarium, Sammy Shark’s Playzone and Neptune’s retail store. t: +353 65 7081900 w: www.lahinchseaworld.com pg:09 Inside_single pages fnl 02/06/2011 10:19 Page 10 Adventure & Watersports Clare Lakeside Watersports Centre Mountshannon, Co. Clare. Offers a range of activities including, rowing boats, kayaks & canoes. All these are for hire at daily or weekly rates. t: +353 61 927225 e: [email protected] w: www.lakesideireland.com Lough Derg Powerboat School Sallybay House, Derry Demense, Ballina/Killaloe, Co. Clare. Running power boat and motor cruiser training courses, varying in length from half day to four days. t: +353 61 375474 e: [email protected] w: www.boatschool.ie Lough Derg School of Adventure Lough Derg Holiday Village, Killaloe, Co. Clare. Kayaking, canadian canoeing, raft building, team challenges, water safety and orienteering. t: +353 85 1343569 e: [email protected] w: www.loughdergschoolofadventure.com Nevsail Watersports The Promenade, Kilkee, Co. Clare. Training courses in sailing, windsurfing, powerboating, kayaking and canoeing. Summer camps also available. t: +353 86 3308236 e: [email protected] w: www.nevsailwatersports.com Oceanlife Dive and Watersports Centre East End, Kilkee, Co. Clare. Oceanlife, Kilkee is a PADI 5 Star Diving resort who offer PADI dive courses from Discover Scuba all the way to Assistant Instructor. t: +353 65 9056707 e: [email protected] w: www.oceanlife.ie Orbital Winds Lahinch, Co. Clare. Offering a range of Kitesurfing courses. t: +353 87 0659338 e: [email protected] w: www.orbitalwinds.com University of Limerick Activity Centre Two Mile Gate, Killaloe, Co. Clare. The perfect location for all your outdoor adventure needs. t: +353 61 376622 e: [email protected] w: www.ulac.ie pg:10 Inside_single pages fnl 02/06/2011 10:19 Page 11 Limerick City & County Abbey Speedway Karting Centre Mountmahon, Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick. A fun day out for all at Abbey Speedway Karting Centre. t: +353 68 51829 e: [email protected] w: www.abbeyfealekarting.com Ballyhoura Orienteering Ballyhoura Failte Ltd, Main Street, Kilfinane, Co Limerick. Go quad biking, absailing, windsurfing, rock climbing, walking or bird-watching. t: +353 63 91300 e: [email protected] w: www.ballyhouracountry.com Combat Zone Combat Zone, Shanagolden, Co. Limerick. Paintballing in over twenty acres of natural woodland. t: +353 61 302031 e: : [email protected] w: www.combatzone.ie Fun World Ennis Road, Limerick. Family entertainment centre offering, bowling, arcade amusements & kids play area. t: +353 61 325088 e: : [email protected] w: www.funworld.ie Kilfinane Outdoor Education Centre Kilfinane, Co. Limerick. Canoeing, kayaking, surfing trips, hill-walking, rock climbing, mountain biking, abseiling, indoor climbing wall, orienteering, team challenges and much more. t: +353 63 91161 e: [email protected] w: www.kilfinaneoec.com Kilkornan Karting Kilcornan, Co. Limerick The ultimate karting experience. t: +353 61 393728 e: [email protected] w: www.LimerickKarting.com Limerick Wake & Ski Castleconnell, Co.