18/09/2026
Winterage tickets are now available at burrenwinterage.com/programme 🐄🌼
Winterage returns to Fanore this year on the October Bank Holiday Weekend. For thousands of years, Burren farmers have marked the end of summer by herding their cattle onto ‘winterage’ pastures in the limestone uplands. This ancient tradition is synonymous with the Burren and is key to the survival of the region’s famous flora and fauna. There will be a range of walks, talks, and music throughout the weekend, as well as the iconic Winterage Cattle Drive & Burren Food Fayre on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th October. Book early to avoid disappointment.
There are two different cattle drives this year, each led by a different farmer from Fanore. Saturday is an approximately 5.7 km return walk with a shorter, more gradual climb. Sunday is an approximately 10.6 km return walk with a steeper ascent. We are also absolutely delighted to have the Burren Food Fayre taking place before the Cattle Drive on BOTH days this year!
This year we are encouraging visitors to travel to the Cattle Drive via free shuttle buses. Fanore has limited parking and is not equipped for high levels of traffic, so taking the bus reduces congestion. A number of return buses will run from Lisdoonvarna and Ballyvaughan, where there is ample free parking.
Winterage Weekend is coordinated by Burrenbeo Trust, with support this year from Acres Burren Aran, FBD Insurance, The Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, Visit the Burren, and National Parks and Wildlife Service. The Winterage School and Burren Food Fayre are funded as part of the Culture Programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026.
📷Donal Hogan
