Visit the most Famous Cliffs in Ireland!

What are these Cliffs you speak of, I hear you say?

It’s none other than the World Famous Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, on the West Coast of Ireland. Surrounded by the Atlantic and a stones throw from the village of Doolin, the Cliffs are probably the number 1 tourist attraction in Ireland outside of Dublin and deservingly so. I can speak to this, I am Irish! Moher is pronounced like “mo-er” for those wondering. In this post i will give you the insider scoop on the best way to see the cliffs and what’s even better? It’s free.

Best way to see the Cliffs

The traditional way to view the Cliffs is to ride a tour bus or drive to the Cliffs where you have to pay up to 10euro per person to enter. Nothing wrong with this way but if you want unobstructed views and the feeling of having the entire place to yourself (maybe not in the middle of Summer), the Cliff Walk Trail from Doolin to The Cliffs is the way to do it. You can also take a bus to the Cliffs and take the trail back to Doolin as an alternative. Now, this trail goes on for about 25km in length but from Doolin to the Cliff’s visitor center is about 6km or 12km return trip. It just depends on how far you want to go.

The trail head starts near the famous Pink Thatch House in Doolin and from the first footstep to the last, you are surrounded by pure, dramatic and beautiful scenery. The trail itself is a bit bumpy, near the cliffs edge at times and has a few steep climbs so I would class it as moderate hike but my parents did it along with me and they were well able for it.

Views from the Trail

The Cliffs have a rich history and more recently have become the backdrop for a few big Hollywood Movies including Leap Year and my personal preference, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (skip to the scene where Harry & Dumbledore go to a dark, scary island to destroy a Horcrux). There is a Cafe, Gift Shop & Museum at the Visitor Center when you arrive. You may need a warm cup of tea after the windy hike! Always check the weather before taking on this trail as you don’t want to be there on a very windy day for obvious reasons. For me, this hike is so special simply for the views alone, the photos don’t do it justice.

There are also plenty of other attractions in the area including Castles, amazing seafood (Notably Monks in Ballyvaughan and lovely rental homes (Check out the Elfin Cottage in Doolin). A trip to the West of Ireland is a non-negotiable and as I like to say when visiting Ireland – West is Best.