Fairy Pig Walk

A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE

Get up close and personal with our charming mini pigs at Burren Nature Sanctuary! Create magical memories that you can revisit, time after time, with videos and photos. After a short introductory talk with our expert handler (who will give you the confidence and skills to put our piggy friends at ease) you will spend time with our adorable piggy residents. Our expert team are happy to answer all your questions about our pet pigs’ personalities, care and habits. There may be piglets..! A must for all animal lovers. Oink Oink!

Duration: 1h
Price: €199
Age: 8+

Pigs in Action

WALK EMILIA THE PIG

Lead Emilia as she takes her daily walk through the magical Fairy Woodland. Take turns guiding her along her favourite route while enjoying her playful personality.

CAPTURE THE MAGIC

Stop for photos and videos at scenic spots, including Emilia’s favourite See-Saw shelter. Our friendly staff can snap group shots for you, so you can cherish the memories forever.

Our Other Farm Animals

Say hello to Frank the llama, Dolly the alpaca, and our friendly goats, Frisky, Hannah, Mocha, and Chino. Feed the animals and spend as much time with them as you’d like after the walk.

BROWSE THE GIFT SHOP

Your ticket includes full-day access to the Burren Nature Sanctuary, including the visitor centre, animal paddocks, and self-guided nature trails.

Enjoy a Coffee in our Gift Shop

After your walk, relax in our cafe and browse our extensive gift shop.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the fees for The Fairy Pig Walk used for?

All funds raised by our pigs go towards animal upkeep and care.

We have farm pets, rescues and we rescue and re-home at times.

Thank you for supporting.

How long is The Fairy Pig Walk?

Approximately 45 minutes but the ticket includes all day admission to the sanctuary, café and gift shop

People normally stay between 1 and 3 hours on site.

Do I get to lead Emilia?

Yes everyone will take turns leading Emilia. She is very well trained and knows her route.

Emilia does one short run during the tour of the woodland. We recommend the person holding the leash at this point is able to trot fast and is wearing suitable shoes!

How many walks does Emilia do a day?

Emilia only does one walk a day

Does Emilia like doing The Fairy Pig Walk?

Emilia LOVES her walk and it is very good for pigs to exercise daily. She also gets treats on the walk!

Can we get a photo/video with Emila?

Yes Emilia will stop at the See Saw shelter for her photo opportunity.

Can we get a photo of the whole group?

Yes Mary will take a photo on your phone if you wish.

Can we video Emilia walking?

Yes Mary will tell you good spots for video. (FYI Emilia doesn’t retrace her steps or dilly dally!)

Is it easy to get to Burren Nature Sanctuary?

Yes it is a 30 minute drive from Galway or Shannon and 2 hours from Dublin

The 350 bus goes from Galway to Kinvara (15/20 minute walk on a narrow country road to Burren Nature Sanctuary 1k. Please take care and walk facing the traffic on the right)

What is the terrain like?

The woodland area is not suitable for wheelchairs and has some rocks and roots. The Botany Bubble, visitor centre and access to the animal paddocks is fully accessible.

Can any age attend?

Yes any age can attend but we recommend children to be at least 5 years old for the best experience. Most of our bookings are adults but Emilia is very calm with children.

What type of pig is Emila?

Emilia is an 8 year old Juliana pig. She is 20″ high.

Can we feed Emilia?

No only the handler can feed Emilia but you can feed our other farm pets and rescues and spend as much time with them as you like after the walk.

What do you serve in the cafe?

We have barista coffee, herbal teas, fresh baked goods and 99 ice cream cones.

Where do you suggest for a full lunch?

Kinvara is 1km away – 5 minute drive or 15 minute walk.

We recommend SIAR (vegan friendly) and Wild Beans cafes

For a hot dinner we recommend Connolly’s and Pier Head (Steak, fish and chips etc)

For a cheeky take away we recommend Zen

For a fresh deli sandwich Eurospar

For a fancy dinner prebook at Connolly’s upstairs (highly recommend)

Can we donate to support the conservation work and rescue animals?

Yes any tips on the day go towards animal food and you can Become a Patron of Burren Nature Sanctuary

Please email us if you have any further questions

Can I help in any other way?

Yes! A google rating or review is very valuable to the sanctuary. Tap your phone in the lobby to connect straight to Google.

A trip advisor Viator or Get your guide review is also very helpful

visitor testimonials

“We had such a unique and fun visit to the Burren Nature Sanctuary thanks to Mary and Emilia the famous pig! My friend and I brought along our husbands who really had no interest in doing this pig walk, but we all had a great time with lots of laughs, and a very enjoyable 1 hour nature walk through the property. We can all highly recommend this activity- including our husbands! Mary clearly loves what she does and has a huge heart, caring for these beautiful animals at her sanctuary. Thank you for a great afternoon and we look forward to returning again, next time to enjoy their lovely onsite cafe !”

“We had a wonderful afternoon on the fairy pig walk with our guide Mary and Flora the pig. It was very surreal and great fun. Mary was so informative on what they do at the sanctuary and very knowledgeable on all surrounding the wildlife and rare flowers. Highly recommend paying a visit here.”

Meet the mini pigs

Get up close and personal with the charismatic residents of Burren Nature Sanctuary during our Pig Encounter! Meet Emilia and her fellow Juliana pigs in a hands-on, heartwarming interaction that is fun for all ages.