There are also remains of an early monastic settlement on the island, although little about it is known. The tour follows main roads and each eco stop has safe parking facilities. The tour takes in eight eco stops, including Galway, Oughterard, Maum and Clonbur and can start at any point and followed in either direction. Corrib Conservation Centre, based at Rosscahill and close to the shores of Lough Corrib, has created the tour and produced am explanatory guide. The Corrib Conservation Centre provides a variety of courses on wildlife and environmental subjects for professional and amateur naturalists.
Courses integrate educational and research activities of the centre.
It is open from June to September. Aughnanure has a history chequered by war, reclamation, refurbishment and disrepair. During the Cromwellian period the castle was used as a stronghold by faithful soldiers defending the approach to Galway from the west and by Lough Corrib. After the Restoration, scholar and writer Roderick O'Flaherty successfully petitioned the Crown for the return of the castle to his family. But the family was Catholic and its fortunes suffered with Roderick dying in poverty.