Ballyvaughan Burren Co. Clare Ireland: Bequia Cottage, Newquay

The Burren
are about 500 sq.kms of lunar-like limestone landscape and surely one of the wonders of this world. Its apparent bareness nurtures an internationally famous flora. When Stone Age farmers settled in the Burren they found the area forested. By late medieval times the felling of timber and the grazing of cattle produced to-days skeletal landscape.Man has left a mass of evidence of having lived on the Burren for thousands of years. Material remains abound, including megalithic tombs, stone and earth ring forts, round towers, medieval churches, monasteries and castles. Burials took place in Poulnabrone and other dolmens over a period of 600 years from 5200 to 5800 years ago. .
Gaelic Chieftains like the O'Briens, the O'Connors and the O'Loughlins - who were the Princesses of the Burren - had their castles here. One at leas t, Gleninagh Castle was inhabited until the middle of the 19th century. The Burren coastline shows a dramatic and picturesque mixture of stone, beaches and a crystal clear blue Atlantic ocean.
The Aran Islands are an extension of the Burren landscape.
There are numerous caves, one of which, Ailwee Cave is open to visitors. You'll get an inside look into the area and its mysteries if you visit the Burren eXposure in Ballyvaughan, just a few minutes from the house.

click on Ireland
for maps

Distances:
shops and restaurants
in Ballyvaughan and Kinvarra
10-15 mins
Pubs
Leenanes is just a short walk away and serves excellent seafood and Guinness. Have a chat with the locals and listen to a local trad session
Beach 3 mins
This sandy beach
is usually very quiet.
More beaches with Lifeguards on duty are in Fanore and Lahinch, 30 -45 mins Shannon Airport
1 hr 30 mins.
Galway 45 mins.

click on the small pictures for enlargement

Situated in the town land of New Quay nestling at the foot of the Burren mountains bequia cottage is ideally situated on the seashore affording panoramic views of Galway Bay and the surrounding Burren landscape. Click here for a map of the location.

Ballyvaughan is a small fishing and trading port with sea fishing, seafood pubs and craft workshops being the main attractions.

Certainly the Burren are the main feature of the area but there are many other sights worth a visit: The Cliffs of Moher are just half an hour from the house.The Aran Islands can be reached by boat from Doolin (30 mins) or from Galway (45 mins). This lively city does not only attract through its shopping centres but also through the cultural activities, the cathedral

and - last not least - through the Galway Horse Races. It also the gateway to attractive Connemara.

Corcomroe Abbey is just one of the many medieval ruins in the area. The remains of the cistercian abbey dates from the 14th or 15th century. The excellent masonry features delicate floral ornamentation.