Rugged Irish tour named to lifetime list

"Ireland: Walking the Western Islands," described as a “rugged, off-the-beaten-path hiking adventure vacation,” has been named to National Geographic Traveler Magazine’s 2010 "Tours of a Lifetime" list.
 

“The magazine’s fifth annual list finds Boundless Journeys’ Ireland in the company of some of the most authentic, high-quality, and sustainably run travel experiences in the world,” according to Boundless.
 

The islands of Western Ireland have long drawn travelers looking to get off the beaten track and experience true Irish life, complete with rugged landscapes, hard working people, and small towns standing up to the harsh Atlantic winters.
 

Summer, however, brings softer weather, and long days for exploring the many islands dotting the coast, including Achill Island with its deserted famine village, and Clare Island, once home to Grace O’Malley, the "Pirate Queen.”
 

Easy to moderate daily hikes are complemented by picnic lunches in scenic coastal countryside and bustling Irish villages far from the usual tourist routes, according to Boundless.
 

Accommodations are in comfortable B & Bs, reflecting the simple but welcoming way of life that exists in the rarely visited islands of western Ireland.
 

The 8-day “Walking the Western Islands” tour is priced at $3295 per person.
 

The tour is available from May 31-June 7, and from Aug. 23-30 this year.
 

By David Wilkening