The Cliffs of Moher

The cliffs

The Cliffs of Moher are the most famous natural site in the country, and the most visited. They are two kilometres of cliff, falling up to 214 metres into the Atlantic, on the coast between Doolin and Liscannor in County Clare. They are also, for a lot of people, the one place on the west coast they will not skip, and that is fair: they are a great place, and the view from the top, looking south toward the Aran Islands and the Burren, is one of the best in the country.

This is the "obvious" place on the Wild Atlantic Way, and we are not going to pretend otherwise. But the cliffs are more than the one famous viewpoint, and the way to see them properly is to walk the coast path below them, rather than to stand at the crowded viewpoint and take a photo.

The walk

The coast path along the base of the cliffs is a good two- to three-hour walk, and it is the best way to see the place. The path runs along the cliff base, and the view from below, looking up at the full height of the cliff, is the one that most people miss. The path is rough in places, and the weather is quick, but it is a good walk in any season.

The visitor centre at O'Brien's Stack is a good base, and it has a proper exhibition on the geology and the history of the place. The cliffs are a designated Special Protection Area for seabirds, and the colonies of puffins and gannets are a good reason to be here in the summer.

When to go

The light is best in the late afternoon, when the sun is low over the Atlantic and the cliffs are in full view. The cliffs are at their most dramatic in a winter gale, and the view from the top, on a clear day, is a long one.

Practical

Access to the cliffs is free; the visitor centre is ticketed. The coast path is a walk, not a stroll, and the ground is rough. Wear proper footwear, check the weather, and do not go in a gale. The village of Doolin is the base for most visitors.