The Burren is one of the most famous and unique geological sites in Western Europe. It is a compact upland area of Carboniferous limestones, with remnant caps of Namurian shales forming isolated peaks (Slieve Elva and Poulacapple) in the western part of the area.

Around the shale peaks the caves are typically canyon passages with sinks developed at the shale/limestone boundary.

The longest cave in Ireland, Poulnagollum/Poll Elva, is situated on the eastern edge of Slieve Elva. In the area known as the High Burren, further east, the shale cover has been completely removed. Here the karst scenery is at its most spectacular. Large closed depressions exist and caves are known at Kilcorney, Carran and Caherconnell.

The new guidebook for this region, "The Caves of County Clare and South Galway", published by the University of Bristol Speleological Society and edited by Graham Mullan, is available directly from University of Bristol Speleological Socity and should be available in most good caving shops.

This replaces the older guidebook "The Caves of County Clare" by C. A. Self, also published by the University of Bristol Speleological Society (UBSS, 1981). This is an update of an earlier book "The Caves of North West Clare" by E. K. Tratman and also published by UBSS.

Other information on the area can be found in various copies of Irish Speleology and "The Proceedings of the University of Bristol Speleological Society".

Accommodation is plentiful in the area as it is a popular tourist region. There are independent hostels and "Rent an Irish Cottage" schemes. Details from Bord Failte, Head Office, Baggot Street Bridge, Dublin 2.

Pubs are plentiful and widespread but Hylands Hotel in Ballyvaughan, P. J. O'Donoghues in Fanore, the Roadside Tavern in Lisdoonvarna and McGann's and O'Connor's in Doolin are the most regularly frequented by cavers.