Day 7 The Burren

It was dry this morning so we went to the Aillwee Burren Experience which was advertised as Cave Tour, Birds of Prey and Cheesemaking.  We had about 20 minutes before the next Bird of Prey display so walked around the enclosures where many birds are kept.  The display consisted of a Barn Owl and then a Red Kite, both hatched and raised in captivity.  They were fascinating to watch and I certainly learned a lot more about both birds but would have liked to see some of the other birds as well.

 
Peregrine Falcon

 
Barn Owl on display

 
Barn Owl

 

We then went to the Cheesemaking but this just consisted of a shop.  There was a glass window through which you could see someone stirring a cheese mixture but we didnt get to see any of the manufacturer process.  We then went to the Cave Tour.  Outside there was a viewing area with great views over the Burren which is a large area made up of rocky outcrops.  The Cave Tour was good and we walked for about half a kilometre in the original cave before returning through a man made tunnel to the beginning.

 
The Burren landscape

 
The Burren landscape 

 

 
Taken from the Viewpoint

 
Taken from the Viewpoint 

 
Ailwee Cave - where the Father Ted episode 
with Graham Norton was filmed

 
Ailwee Cave - where the Father Ted episode 
with Graham Norton was filmed 

 
Ailwee Cave - where the Father Ted episode 
with Graham Norton was filmed 

 
Ailwee Cave - where the Father Ted episode 
with Graham Norton was filmed 

 

We then went into the nearby fishing village of Ballyvaughan where we had lunch in a small tea shop before taking the coast road back to our accommodation.

 
Estuary at Ballyvaughan

 
Estuary at Ballyvaughan

 
 
Heron at estuary

Steph and Chris were waiting for us and it had started to rain heavily.

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