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Co Clare
- Places of Interest
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Aillwee Cave
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Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare
Tel: 065 70 77067 Fax: 065 70 77107
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 Located just a couple of miles south of Ballyvaughan,
Aillwee Cave is Ireland's premier show cave. There is a whole labyrinth of
caves, pot-holes, underground lakes and streams
beneath the surface of The Burren, but Aillwee is the only one that can be
explored without the aid of special equipment. Discovered by a local herdsman in
1941, the cave has more than 3,500 feet of passages. Visitors are guided on a
35-minute stroll through beautiful caverns, over bridged chasms, beneath weird
rock formations, and alongside the thunderous waterfall that can sometimes
gently spray the unsuspecting visitor. At one point there is a column from floor
to ceiling formed by a stalactite and a stalagmite meeting.
Unique to Ireland are the Bear Pits - hollows
scraped out by brown bears, one of the cave's original inhabitants. The entrance to the cave has
been strikingly landscaped in stone with a design
reminiscent of Ireland's prehistoric monuments.
Inside, there is a tea room and potato bar, a
farm shop, a dairy where you can watch cheese being
made, and a craft shop with some unusual artefacts on
sale. Outside, there is a terrace where you can enjoy both
a glass of wine and stunning views stretching away to
the Connemara mountains.
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Travel Publishing Ltd, 7a Apollo House, Calleva Park,
Aldermaston, Berkshire, UK RG7 8TN
e-mail:
info@travelpublishing.co.uk
Copyright © 2007 Travel Publishing Ltd |
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