IRELAND’S WEST COAST ABOARD GREG MORTIMER Perched on the edge of the Atlantic, Ireland’s rugged west coast is a journey through hundreds of islands, enchanting peninsulas and fjords, soaring cliffs, crumbling castles and discover unique flora and fauna. Blessed with fine weather, we hope to land at UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Skelligs, which host a 6th century beehive hut monastery and an expansive colony of puffins and gannets. Hike through spectacular scenery and explore rarely-visited, forgotten islands and an ancient culture of storytelling, mythology and life intertwined with the Atlantic. ITINERARY Day 1 Dublin Arrive in Dublin and transfer to your hotel. Upon check-in, please remind reception staff to provide you with Aurora Expedition cabin tags. Please fill out the luggage tags clearly, showing your name and cabin number so that we can deliver your luggage to your cabin ahead of your arrival. Overnight: Ashling Hotel (or similar) Day 2 Dublin, embark Greg Mortimer This morning, please take your luggage, clearly labelled with your name and cabin number, down to the hotel lobby by 9.00 am. Your luggage will be collected and transferred directly to the port for clearance, and delivered to your cabin. Please ensure you keep any valuable documents with you throughout the day. Once you have checked out of your hotel, you have free 0800 945 3327 (within New Zealand) | +64 (0) 3 365 1355 | 1800 107 715 (within Australia) [email protected] | wildearth-travel.com time before meeting back in the hotel lobby at 1.00 PM to commence tour of views of the cliffs. Most people only follow the first section of this cliff path, Dublin, UNESCO City of Literature, before embarking the Greg Mortimer in late built out of stone steps, but within just 15-20 minutes of climbing, you’re in afternoon. You’ll have time to settle into your cabin before our important the wild. Follow the cliffs as long as you’d like, until you’re standing at the briefings. Sail past Giant’s Causeway, an area of about 40,000 interlocking highest point of the Slieve League cliffs, watching diving sea birds. More and stacked basalt columns that resulted from an ancient volcanic fissure experienced hikers can continue all the way to the Pilgrim’s Path – a 3 km / eruption. The stunning geometric sculptural forms, a national nature reserve, 1.9 mi hike taking approximately 2-3 hours roundtrip. The Pilgrim’s Path is and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, resemble a man-made narrow and steep. Parts of it can be rocky underfoot, and boggy in other art installation. From the ship, we may also see the ruins of medieval Dunluce places. The trail’s name comes from the time when Ireland’s Penal laws in the Castle, located on the edge of a basalt outcrop overlooking the Atlantic 18th and 19th centuries forced Irish Roman Catholic dissenters to convert to Ocean. (Breakfast and dinner included. Lunch is at own expense) the English Anglican Church. This meant that official Catholic worship was outlawed. However, many Catholics refused to convert, and met secretly to Day 3 Donegal: Inishowen Peninsula & Tory Island say mass in remote, rural places, such as Slieve League. Ireland is blessed with impressive natural scenery: vast valleys, glittering Day 5 Sligo, Mullaghmore lakes, and cliffs hoisted up from the Atlantic. The jewel in the crown of Donegal is the Inishowen Peninsula. At the peninsula’s tip is Malin Head, Jutting out of Sligo’s northern edge, the small peninsula of Mullaghmore sits Ireland’s most northerly point and a wonderful spot for bird watching as you dramatically out into the North Atlantic. Land and sea meet in dramatic meander along abandoned beaches along this deserted coastline. Continue to confluence along the coast of County Sligo, a dazzling landscape of jagged Tory Island located off the northwest coast of Donegal. Known simply as ‘Tory’, mountain peaks that inspired the work of Nobel-winning poet William Butler it’s a place that seems to have frozen in time, ruled by its own elected king, Yeats. Mullaghmore resides in the shadows of iconic Benbulben mountain, and where people still talk of 'travelling to Ireland'. Tory's spectacular cliff undoubtedly Ireland’s most distinctive mountain, sometimes referred to as scenery is complemented by a rich and varied history which is related in the Ireland’s own Table Mountain. The most distinctive peak among the Dartry islanders distinctive Gaelic. Many of Tory’s ancient customs still survive, range, it was formed during the ice age by massive glaciers segmenting the including the appointment of the island king or Rí Thoraí. Colm Cille figures landscape. On the Benbulben Forest Walk (1.5 hours, suitable for all ages prominently in the history of this sacred island which he chose as a place of and abilities), the trail begins in a secluded forest area before opening out to retreat and meditation for his monks. Shipwrecks, poitín (a type of distilled stunning views of Benbulben head. Further along the walk offers superb whisky) smuggling and tales of violent storms have also been drawn into its panoramic views of Donegal Bay, Slieve League Cliffs, Mullaghmore and folklore. Interesting historical sites include a round tower that once protected Classiebawn Castle. And, of course, Yeats himself is buried "Under bare Ben monks from Viking raids, the ruins of St Colmcille’s 6th century monastery and Bulben's head,", as he predicted in one of his poems – his grave can be found the intriguing Tau Cross that suggests early seafaring links to the Coptic in Drumcliff cemetery, not far from the foot of the mountain. The mountain’s Christians of Egypt. The island also boasts an abundance of rare bird life and most noted reference in Yeats’s poetry is in the work Under Ben Bulben, in wild flower species. However, it is neither the flora and fauna, myths, the which he describes horsemen who “ride the wintry dawn/Where Ben Bulben monastic ruins nor even the majestic cliffs which make the greatest sets the scene". Alternatively, embark on the Mullaghmore Head Walk (2.5 impression on visitors to Tory. It is the local islanders themselves, and typical hours, suitable for all ages and abilities). This walk is an easy walk along the of hardworking people who live in remote, the islanders know how to enjoy stunning coastline of Mullaghmore consisting of a mixture of footpaths, themselves and they always make visitors feel extremely welcome. off-road walking trails and public roads, offering stunning panoramic views of Donegal Bay and Slieve League beyond as well as of Benbulben and the Day 4 Donegal, Slieve League Cliffs Dartry Mountains. Mullaghmore village, is largely the vision of Henry John Temple, better known as Lord Palmerston, who served two terms in office as Slieve League Cliffs, situated on the south west coast of County Donegal, are British Prime Minister. He inherited a large estate of 10,000 acres in north said to be the one of the highest and finest marine cliffs in Europe. Hike to the Sligo, and not only instigated the building of Classiebawn Castle, the top of the cliffs to enjoy some of the highest and finest marine cliffs in Europe. dominant landmark of the area, but also the magnificent stone harbour and There are terrific views of the Atlantic Ocean, the Sligo Mountains and Donegal the main buildings that characterise the village today. After your morning of Bay as you walk towards the terrifyingly high top of Slieve League, where the hiking, return to the ship for lunch. In the afternoon, land on one of the cliff face of Bunglas rises over 600 m / 1,968 ft above the raging ocean. Less offshore islands to see a protected wildlife sanctuary and a 6th century experienced hikers can start from the Bunglas Viewpoint, that offer classic 0800 945 3327 (within New Zealand) | +64 (0) 3 365 1355 | 1800 107 715 (within Australia) [email protected] | wildearth-travel.com monastery, where the discovery of a cist burial and carved ‘cursing’ stones made a tour of Connemara including a visit to nearby Kylemore. Visit the suggests prehistoric occupation. Sheep and Wool Centre in the town centre that includes an excellent museum featuring the history of sheep farming and the woollen industry in Connemara, Day 6 Céide Fields / Clare Island along with a gift shop and café. Connemara is Irish landscape at its most dramatic. With soaring mountains, scattered loughs and an intricate coastline, Ireland’s Stone Age ancestors constructed houses, walls and fields that this remote part of Galway offers superb hiking. Stretch out your legs on the created an early farming community complete with megalithic tombs. One of Killary Harbour Coastal Walk, also known as the ‘Famine Trail’, where you’ll these communities was Céide Fields, which contains the oldest known walk past little cottages that faced extremely gruelling times during the 1840s. stone-walled fields in the world – dating back nearly 6,000 years. Céide Fields In recent times, Killary Harbour has become a centre for aquaculture, with overlooks the mighty Atlantic Ocean pounding against the cliffs below. The mussels being farmed in the deep, clear waters of the fjord. Fish cages landscape itself has been forged from the dramatic upheaval and movement belonging to a salmon farm and mussel rafts are a prominent feature. This of the earth’s crust over millions of years. Visit the remarkable Céide Fields spectacular walk offers views of dramatic Mweelrea Mountain towering at your Interpretative Centre. The centre has won several awards, including the Gold side.