What is The Wild Atlantic Way?

Stretching Ireland’s western seaboard, the Wild Atlantic Way is the longest defined coastal touring route in the world. Over 2,500km in length, spanning Ireland’s western counties, the route takes in some of the most breathtaking scenery you’ll ever see.

The Wild Atlantic Way is not a destination but a journey. Here, you’ll discover warmth in its vibrant people and a gentle embrace from its wild continuous landscapes as you meander along its vast colourful coastline and through many traditional quaint Irish towns and villages.

Discover a land where the roaring Atlantic crashes against the majestic Skellig Michael, a UNESCO World Heritage site, or explore the largest karst landscape in the world, The Burren.

Enriched in folklore and bursting with song The Wild Atlantic Way is alive with literature and stories. It has inspired for centuries many a saint and scholar in search of something different and something new. Everyone from WB Yeats to John Lennon and now even you.

Imagine you are there, with the wild Atlantic gently guiding you through a land where you experience every element, share every smile and most of all, feel the sense of adventure it leaves within you. Where else would the rolling landscape and Gaelic spirit inspire the dreamers and the Atlantic Ocean call the world’s greatest surfers? Where else would actor Sean Connery, Hollywood legend Maureen O’Hara, and poet Seamus Heaney escape from it all?

The Wild Atlantic Way, that’s where.

Michael.

Top 5 Activities on the Ring of Kerry

1. Visit the amazing Skellig Islands

A must do for everyone is take a tour exploring Ireland’s most famous coastal route, The Ring of Kerry and visit the impressive Skellig Michael, a dramatic UNESCO world heritage site. Experience what it would have been like to live on a remote island off the coast of Ireland as you are taken back in time to discover one of Ireland’s most dramatic locations.  On the big island, also known as Skellig Mor, there is a well-preserved monastic outpost of the Early Christian period dating back to the 6th century. On the small island, known as Skellig Beag, there are some 27,000 pairs of gannets – the second largest colony of such seabirds in the world. An incredible spectacle that will leave you mesmerized by its sheer raw beauty.

2. Take a mesmerizing cycling tour around Valentia Island

Take a breath-taking cycling tour of the impressive Valentia Island and discover one of Ireland’s most westerly points and home of Ireland’s first transatlantic telegraph cable. The island is situated off the South West coast of Kerry and is connected to the mainland by a bridge. It is renowned for its great beauty, ecological wonders and historical importance with many spectacular viewing points.

3. Discover Bray Head with a guided walking tour Explore the real beauty of the Ring of Kerry with a unique cultural and ecological experience exploring the spectacular Bray Head and its wild rugged landscape shaped by nature’s hand. Sitting at its top is a 19th century Martello tower that was built during the Napoleonic wars and if you are lucky enough you may catch a glimpse of a pod of whales passing its shorelines as you gaze out towards the majestic Skellig Islands.

3. Explore the Ring of Kerry coastline with a spectacular Coasteering Adventure
   This is the ultimate in adrenalin fun as you test your nerve with an amazing Coasteering Adventure along Kerry’s wild Atlantic coast. Armed with a wetsuit, helmet and buoyancy aid you will jump into the wild Atlantic to explore vast caves, swim under a spectacular archway, and if your nerves can handle it a series of jumps into the clear blue Atlantic Ocean. A definite must do!
   

3. Take a relaxing cultural tour of the Ring of Kerry

If the above sounds like too much energy is required well why not take a cultural tour with Mor Active Tours exploring the Ring of Kerry’s unique and remarkable setting. Discover its wild, rugged and breath-taking scenery as they take you off the beaten track to unearth the real Ring of Kerry experience and flavour its true cultural charms, ecological surprises and gaze out over a land shaped by the wild Atlantic.

Top 5 Reasons to Visit Ireland

There are many reasons why you wish to visit this magical landscape called Ireland. Some reasons take the shape of visiting family and friends, to discovering are there really little creatures called Leprechauns that sit at the end of countless dramatic rainbows with a rather large pot of gold (cannot be categorically denied that they don’t exist). Just in case those listed reason aren’t doing enough to persuade you, we at Mor Active Tours have put our brains together (Einstein you have nothing to worry about) and came up with, in my opinion, humble as it may be, the top 5 reasons to why you must visit Ireland.

1. Simply its people!

Without question the number one reason to visit our green island in the middle of the wild Atlantic – is its people. Firstly, you will never meet a friendlier bunch of people that love nothing more than meeting others, having the ‘craic’ and generally giving bad directions to some poor unfortunate tourist (a word of warning: always ask 3 people to verify).

It is true that we have a huge advantage in that all citizens of Ireland are born with an insatiable desire to talk or what we call the Gift of the Gab. However, it is a genuine desire that is generally administered by a smile and one that you will hold dear to your heart for many years to come.

2. Culture, food and drink – alive and vibrant

The Irish culture is one that is very much alive and evolving. Our traditions date back centuries and are held dear to every Irish person’s heart. For example, our music has evolved over the time to become one of the most prominent musical genres in our island. In almost every corner of this green island you will find a traditional Irish music session any night of the week that will leave you spellbound.

From our own indigenous sports such as Gaelic football and hurling to soccer and rugby, us Irish are a race of sport enthusiasts. No trip to Ireland is complete without experiencing one of the major sporting events on throughout the year.

Our cities, towns and villages are up there with the most vibrant in Europe and always offer something unique especially when it comes to food and entertainment. Irish stews and potato cakes are just a few of traditional food and beverages that are on offer. To get a real taste of Ireland it is necessary to just go with the flow and experiment! Enjoying a pint of Guinness with a full Irish breakfast is a must for any tourist and remember it won’t kill you.

3. History, like you have never seen it before!!

Ireland is a must do destination for enthusiastic historians. Scattered at every corner of this island you will discover magnificent castles, stunning Celtic forts and mystically islands each carrying its own story of Ireland’s past.

4. The weather, Believe it or not!

I can sense that you are quietly packing your suitcase and probably thinking this is a no brainer, but wait there are those rumors that this is a sunny island, no wait, rainy, no wait, windy, no wait, cold maybe? “I give up” I hear you say but fear not as you were in fact correct in your assumptions as it is all them mixed together to give that special unique Irish experience. We have a saying in Ireland: “if you don’t like the weather just wait a minute”.

Despite not enjoying a particularly warm climate, Ireland’s damp temperatures are conducive to some of the cleanest air in Europe. Getting off the beaten track and exploring rural Ireland you cannot help but noticing the fine air quality. There are countless scenic drives and walking routes to explore where you will be exposed to the wild side of Ireland that will rekindle your Celtic spirit.

5. The spectacular Wild Atlantic Way

Our newest iconic trademark which has always been there but we just didn’t call it anything. Stretching Ireland’s western seaboard, the Wild Atlantic Way is the longest defined coastal touring route in the world. Over 2,500km in length, spanning Ireland’s western counties, and the route takes in some of the most breathtaking scenery you’ll ever see. 
It is definitely a must do when visiting and offers you a real opportunity to discover the wild continuous landscape that surrounds this magical island, visit traditional Irish towns and villages that are alive with literature and music and most of all experience the warmth of Irish people through their stories and smiles.

www.moractivetours.com

Welcome to our new website!

Welcome to the new look Mor Active Tours website www.moractivetours.com and as of today, Tuesday the 10th March, it is most definitely alive and kicking.

Yep, it has been a long time in the making but after copious amounts of coffee and pulling my hair out, it is finally here and raring to go. Some things are just worth waiting for and what a beauty it is.

So why on earth create a new site? Well, the answer is simple – we listened to our clients’. They will always be our first point of call when it comes to improving on what we offer. So what did they want? Well, firstly they wanted something new, exciting and unique that really reflected what Ireland is about. Got it!

Secondly, they asked ‘could we please have an interactive platform where we can easily find our way around Ireland and see what is available?’ Your wish is my command.

Thirdly, ‘please, please, please can you make it easy for us to book an experience that we know is high quality and is most definitely value for money?’. Absolutely no problem!

So with all that in mind we set about making our client’s wishes come true. So firstly all we needed to do was create something new, exciting and unique. Easy! Like a baker possessed we quickly set about conjuring up the perfect ingredients for our client’s needs – first throw into the mixing bowl some Activity, Culture and Ecological experiences. Be sure to mix well and with care so that the consistency is correct. Lastly and most importantly of all don’t forget to sprinkle in a bit of the secret ingredient – the Wild Atlantic Way and he presto you have created a platter of endless surprises.

With that now taken care of we then had to swallow our pride and realize that our old site was just not up to the task of providing an interactive platform and most definitely didn’t offer an easy booking process. Like a by gone pop star of old it needed considerable plastic surgery to hold foot on the worldwide stage of Adventure Travel. So with surgeon’s knife in hand we went about making the necessary changes that we felt reflected their desires. Viola!

And here we are now after a lengthy process ready to plunge in head first, rubber ducky armbands in place, into the unchartered waters of new Wild Atlantic adventures and experience, happy in the knowledge that we have created something for you and by you that will make your Irish experience a memorable one.

If you are curious and want to see how easy it is to use our new hip website then click here for an interactive video.

Michael.

Top 5 Things to do in Killarney National Park

Take a stroll through the magical Killarney National Park which is nestled on the edge of Killarney town. It is Ireland’s largest and first National Park and there is so much to see beyond its pristine lakes, rolling green mountains and largest native woodlands in Ireland. Here are a suggested number of must do’s in the park.

1. Take a guided tour of Ross Castle

This impressive castle sits proud on the edge of Lough Leane and has stories pouring out of its walls. Built in the 15th century, Ross Castle has exchanged many hands throughout its history most notably during the Irish Confederate Wars. In this epic siege the castle was amongst the last to surrender to the notorious Roundheads of Oliver Cromwell. It was finally taken in a clever strategy that played a prophecy. Interested? Then I suggest go visit to find out more.

2. Muckross House and Gardens

Muckross House is a 19th century Victorian mansion set against the stunning beauty of Muckross Lake and the majestic mountains of Killarney National Park. It was built for Henry Arthur Herbert and his wife, the water-colourist Mary Balfour Herbert. During the 1850s, the Herbert’s undertook extensive garden works in preparation for the visit of Queen Victoria and its splendor can still be seen today.

3. Visit Innisfallen Island

This is a must do for everyone. The island is located on Lough Leane; one of the three lakes in the Killarney National Park. It is home to a herd of wild deer and according to tradition the Irish High King Brian Boru received his education on the island. Today it is home to the ruins of Innisfallen Abbey and monastery which was founded in 640 by St. Finian the Leper. It was occupied for approximately 850 years. During this period, the monks wrote the Annals of Innisfallen, which chronicle the early history of Ireland as it was known to the monks. A truly remarkable place to visit which you can do by an amazing kayak tour with Mor Active Tours.

4. Muckross Abbey

Take a stroll to Muckross Abbey, a beautiful ecclesiastical ruin found in the heart of Killarney National Park. It was founded in 1448 as a Franciscan friary and is today a largely roofless building but has a prominent central courtyard which contains a large beautiful yew tree. Over its history it has been reconstructed many times due to being damaged or partially destroyed by marauding groups and by Cromwellian forces under Lord Ludlow. An impressive must do on any visit to Killarney National Park.

5. Boat & Bike Tour of the Lakes of Killarney

Highly recommended way to get a bird’s eye view of the Killarney National Park. It is a full day tour departing at 10am and returning to Killarney by 3pm. You can bring your rented bike on the boat trip across the lakes before cycling through the Gap of Dunloe. You can stop off at the traditional Irish pub of Kate Kearney’s for lunch before returning by road to Killarney. This can be organised by Mor Active Tours.

Michael

The Aftermath of the Adventure Travel World Summit storm!

It came like a flash of lightning and disappeared with a bang as it crept over the hills of the MacGillycuddy Reek’s on route across the wild Atlantic Ocean towards its next destination, the land they call Chile (I hope I pronounced that correctly!). What could possibly make such a dramatic entrance and exit you may ask? Well, it was the spirit of the Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS) 2014 that engulfed the green shores of our little island from the 6th-9th October. And again I hear you ask what on earth is the ATWS and is it contagious? Fear not, it isn’t anything that will have a long-term negative impact on you. In fact it has a positive bearing on your long-term well-being (as long as you take it easy on the nights out). So let me explain.

If you hadn’t already heard, Ireland was host to the ATTA’s 11th annual Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS) in Killarney which brought together under one roof over 700 of the world’s top adventure travel media and buyers. Great but what does that mean to the person on the street? Well, as the global adventure tourism continues to grow at a rapid pace, this event provided Ireland with a unique opportunity to showcase first hand our unique culture, ecological wonders and adventurous landscapes. Equally, by trusting open our gateway for international outbound tour operators, agents, media and a host of other industry partners we were able sit our country upon their supporting shoulders and shout till our lungs gave up that here lays one of the most beautiful places on earth and do you know what? They heard our shouts.

Each person I met at the summit talked so affectionately at how wonderful this countries landscape is and most importantly how amazing its people are. From our genuine kindness and friendliness we have captured the hearts of many a wandering adventurer and believe it or not, even the Irish weather could not put a dampener on their new found love.

So after all the shouting has stopped what lays ahead for us? Well, even though the shouting may have stopped there is still an echo bouncing around the adventure globe about Ireland. We have created a tremendous legacy of what we can do in Ireland for visitors and it is now down to us all, from adventure companies, hotels, barber shops, cafes, florists, you name it, to make sure that that echo keeps moving and inspiring others to visit our green shores. Through this collective spirit all communities in Ireland will begin to feel the long-term tourism benefits that this mighty adventure storm brought us. From job creations to extending our tourism seasons, the benefits can be immense and yet true enough, the benefits I talk about are long-term and won’t be felt by all immediately. However, like any good tree a seed needs to be sowed first before it can grow successfully and already I can see the roots of the ATWS seed taking hold and it won’t be long before everyone will be booking that flight to these wild Atlantic shores in search of true beauty, adventurous landscapes and unique Irish charm. So whether you like to shout, whisper or just talk (we are renowned for it!) keep telling the story of the adventure storm that came and went in a flash but left an everlasting impression on the hearts and souls of many wandering adventurers.

Michael.

What is Mór Active?

So what is Mór Active you ask? Well the answer is it has a double meaning. Firstly, it stands for Mountain Ocean River Active, which best describes the adventures we are passionate about and secondly Mór Active in our Gaelic language means BIG Active.

Our mantra at Mór Active is you. We want you to experience our home of unparalleled beauty, vibrant people and ancient traditions through our specially designed activity, culture and eco tours. We believe in creating personalized experiences through our high quality small group tours so you get know the real Ireland.

Since its creation in 2007 we have grown to be one of the leading tour experts in Ireland. We have built this reputation on:

• Providing high-quality personalized tours
• Small group tours that allow you to experience the real Ireland with a personal touch
• Having experienced professional guides that are passionate, fun and know where all the hidden secrets are kept
• Superb customer service, transport, accommodation and award winning Irish food and hospitality.
• Continually developing and evolving our products that satisfy your needs and abilities
• Providing experiences that reflect our strong beliefs in environmentally and culturally responsible tourism.

We hope you can experience the journey of a lifetime with an everlasting memory of Ireland as we take you to the edge of Europe to discover this island’s unique adventurous landscapes, vibrant culture and ecological wonders.

All of this is waiting for your eyes to explore, discover and fall in love with.

Michael.