The Buren, Ireland

The Burren is an interesting area of weathered Karst limestone pavement, in County Clare on the west coast of Ireland, which supports an amazing range of wild flowers. Over millennia water has worn down cracks and small valleys criss-crossing the limestone and the flowers grow in these protected crevices. I visited in May 2010 with Naturetrek (www.naturetrek.com).

Poulnabrone Dolmen, a Neolithic site from about 3,800BC.
Sea Pinks
Spring Gentian
Pansy
Fly Orchid
Dense Flowered Orchid
Leopard Orchid
Leopard Orchid
Okelly’s Orchid
Heath Spotted Orchid
Pugsley’s Marsg Orchid

Not far away are the 700ft high Cliffs of Moher.