Burren Way
Long Distance Waymarked Way · Clare
Burren Way is a 118.8 km moderate waymarked linear route in Clare, starting near Lahinch.
Notice from the trail operator
Notice of Temporary Closure of Sections of the Cliffs of Moher Trail/Burren Way from August 22nd, 2024 The following sections of the Cliffs of Moher/Burren Way trail will be closed to the general public on a temporary basis from Thursday August 22nd, 2024 for trail safety works. • Access to the trail will be closed for a 5km section, from Hags Head up to 1km south of the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre. • Access to the trail will be closed for a short 500m section, 1km north of the Visitor Centre. Please note that there will be no access to the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre from Doolin.
As recorded in the register on 2026-08-13. Check with Clare Local Development Company before travelling.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Moderate | Moderate | 5 days |
Getting there
Starts at Lahinch.
Finishes at Corofin.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 52.93251, -9.34754
- Irish Grid reference
- R 094 877
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheets 51, 52 and 57
The National Trails Register's own latitude and longitude fields are empty for all 1,186 trails on it. This trailhead comes from Sport Ireland's separate Trailheads dataset, matched to this trail on its register ID.
Public transport
At Start: Very limited Bus to Fanore Cross to Doolin and Lisdoonvarna. Check with Bus Eireann. At End: Bus to Galway, Lahinch (limited in winter). Check with Bus Eireann.
About the trail
The Barony of the Burren forms the northern part of County Clare, overlooking Galway Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The word Burren comes from Boireann, or stony district, and refers to the 130 square kilometres of spectacular terraced carboniferous limestone hills and valleys that characterise the area. The highest hill, Slieve Elva is a mere 344 metres above sea level, but the south-western end of the Burren bedrock drops into the sea at the Cliffs of Moher which rear more than 200 metres vertically out of the sea. Added to these surroundings are hundreds of miles of rambling stone field walls and a unique density of well-preserved monuments and buildings from the Neolithic to the early Christian period, and a rich treasury of rare wild flowers. The Burren Way is a 114km walking route that takes in the best of what the Burren area has to offer, from the coast at Doolin to majestic wild-flower-decorated limestone terraces and from the remains left by the Neolithic inhabitants of the Burren to the rich heritage of early Christian churches and sites. The long views from the top of Mullaghmore, one of the easternmost Burren hills, are particularly spectacular in good weather. Terrain consists mainly of quiet tarmac roads, old green roads, ancient cattle droving roads, paths and forestry tracks, but there are also some stretches on busy roads. There are a few short steep climbs involved. Overnight accommodation options are very good in the area, and there are public transport links to some of the main centres on the route. Walkers may want in particular to linger in the village of Doolin, a mecca for traditional musicians from all over the world.
Before you go
85 kms or 74% of the Way follows local roads. ***Do not enter farmland with dogs even if on a lead ***
- Waymarking
- Yellow arrow on black background
- Dogs
- No
Who manages it
Clare Local Development Company
Eoin Hogan, Rural Recreation Officer, Clare Local Development Company, 1 Westgate Business Park, Kilrush Road, Ennis, Co Clare Tel: 065-6866800 Email: [email protected]
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Doolin Cycle Hub Loop 1 8.5 km away · 18.2 km trail
- Doolin Cycle Hub Loop 2 8.5 km away · 37.5 km trail
- Doolin Cycle Hub Loop 3 8.5 km away · 42.7 km trail
- Doolin Cycle Hub Loop 4 8.5 km away · 46.4 km trail
- Whitestrand Headland Walk 8.9 km away · 3.5 km trail
- Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk 10 km away · 19.5 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Burren Way?
118.8 km, recorded as a linear route on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 540 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 5 days.
How hard is the Burren Way?
Sport Ireland grades it Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Burren Way start?
Starts at Lahinch. The trailhead is at 52.93251, -9.34754 (Irish Grid R 094 877).
Can you bring a dog on the Burren Way?
No. The register records dogs as not allowed on this trail.
Can you get to the Burren Way without a car?
At Start: Very limited Bus to Fanore Cross to Doolin and Lisdoonvarna. Check with Bus Eireann. At End: Bus to Galway, Lahinch (limited in winter). Check with Bus Eireann.
Who manages the Burren Way?
Clare Local Development Company. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Clare
Trail data from the Sport Ireland National Trails Register, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Trailhead coordinates from the companion Trailheads dataset. Snapshot taken 2026-08-13.