When most people speak of their visits to Ireland, you will hear them mention the Cliffs of Moher. If you research what to see in Ireland, the Cliffs of Moher are always on the list. It is one of the main attractions in Ireland, and for good reason. Gorgeous! Cliffs of Moher are located on the West Coast of County Clare. There is another famous cliff in Ireland that deserves a visit, Sliabh Liag, or Slieve League in County Donegal. Also gorgeous! Slieve League is higher than the Cliffs of Moher and a bit out of the way unless you are traveling north, but still accessible on the Wild Atlantic Way, the famous coastal drive in Ireland. So let’s discuss visiting the two famous cliffs in Ireland: Cliffs of Moher and Slieve League.
Warning: Visiting Ireland could make you question all your life choices and leave you wondering why you aren’t in Ireland. As you stare out at the craggy rocks and verdant greens with the turbulent seas below, you might consider selling everything and moving there. It isn’t just the beauty of Ireland; there is a mystic and an intrigue that pulls at you. Constant evidence of the resilience of people to survive and start again. Ireland is simultaneously harsh and forgiving; austere and warm. See for yourself, but you have been warned. There wasn’t anything I did not love about Ireland. I even like the food, as noted in this post.
Cliffs of Moher
Visiting the Cliffs of Moher is straightforward. The roads are well marked. There is a huge parking lot and a large visitor center on-site. Always check the website in case of changes, but it is open at 8 am – 7 pm or 5 pm, depending on the season and nightfall. I can’t recall the exact amount to visit but it was nominal.
Shannon Airport, which has flights to USA, is about an hour south/south east of the Cliffs and Dublin is about 4 hours east. We drove from Dublin and had the Cliffs as our first stop before we headed north. Which airport you choose will depend on your itinerary. Headed south to Dingle and Cork? Shannon is a better bet. It is a much smaller airport but that makes flights much more limited. In any event, the drive from Dublin was not bad but we had stayed overnight in Dublin so we weren’t driving across Ireland after a long, trans-Atlantic flight.
As you can see from the picture, the day we were at the Cliffs was cloudy, off and on rain showers and super windy, which you can’t see in that picture. But look at this one!
It was so windy that my husband and I could barely hear each other speak! But it wasn’t cold at all. Be aware that some structures (O’Brien’s Tower) and some of the paths/walks are weather dependent. We planned to be there close to sunset but alas, there was no chance of that on a day like this day! Given its western position, the sunsets are said to be gorgeous. But given the weather in Ireland, I am not sure how many sunsets people witness here! I saw more rainbows than sunsets. If you know you will be visiting at sunset during any sort of high season, consider reserving a spot/buying a ticket ahead of time.
At the site itself, there is a platform with a lot of stairs to trek up but you don’t have to go up there to see the Cliffs. There are also trails that you can walk along the cliffs. In fact, there is a long hike from neighboring village of Doolin that would allow you to really soak in the sights, the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk. This is about 2-2.5 hours each way. We did not do this walk as the Cliffs was a quick out of the way site for us and our northern itinerary, but it would be an excellent way to really soak up the beauty of the area.
For folks with mobility issues, the Cliffs have a golf car that can take you around (weather permitting). All in all, this is an accessible site for those with mobility issues. As for safety, much like in other European countries compared to America, you must use your judgment; there aren’t strong barriers separating you from death. The walking paths are open to the edge and many people have lost their lives (allegedly more than 60 since 1993 tracking) so with high winds or rains or selfies, use caution. I am not your mom, but I recommend staying on the designated paths. Your selfie will still be good even if you aren’t teetering on the edge of the rocks.
In addition to seeing the Cliffs in the traditional way, visitors can take a ferry to see the Cliffs from below! (As is normal course in Ireland, weather permitting…) This gives visitors an interesting view “up” the cliffs and a view many of the movie makers and movie goers got in some famous shots, including in Princess Bride and one of the Harry Potter movies, among others. Doolin Ferry Company is arguably the most popular. (I have no affiliation with them.)
The Cliffs have enough going on that if you have time in the schedule, stay for a couple of days. The official website has recommendations. I personally know from folks who have stayed in Doolin that it is a fun Irish experience with convivial pubs playing traditional Irish music. Stay, grab a Guinness, and listen to some music after some time at the Cliffs. Great day visiting one of the most famous cliffs in Ireland!
Slieve League
Another famous cliff in Ireland is Slieve League, up north in County Donegal. These cliffs are a bit higher (about 600 meters) but still right off the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s coastal scenic route. Another place that takes your breath away. These are actually the second highest cliffs in Ireland. The highest are on Achill Island and not really accessible to regular people. Like us.
Located just past Teelin Village, it used to be that visitors simply drove to the top to see the cliffs. As of a few years prior to COVID (unrelated, just a time reference!), visitors drive to a parking lot to get on a shuttle bus. (There is a small visitor center there with restrooms.) I asked our driver about the shuttle buses and he told me that visitors were panicking and abandoning their cars halfway up the hill. You can imagine the havoc that ensued with cars blocking the already narrow “road” leading up to the lookout point. Once I was in the shuttle I wondered why anyone would want to drive up here with all the hairpin turns that seem 2 inches from certain death. I was glad to have left it to the professional.
This area, much like the Cliffs of Moher, has several things to do and see besides the cliffs themselves. There is a hike here as well. Visitors can hike up from the visitor’s center (we didn’t because rain was coming) and there is another hike along the cliffs. Most famous is Pilgrim’s Path. This will bring you a couple of kilometers from the Village of Teelin to the top, past an old “church” where Catholics who didn’t want to convert to the new Anglican religion would meet in secret. Ruins are still there. But as always, be mindful of weather changes. In our shortish time at the top of the cliffs, it went from sunny, to rain showers, to a double rainbow. And was windy, as noted by the water! (Ireland does nada for the hair!)
While in the area, visitors can stop by Glencolumbkille Village, which is replica of a thatched coastal village. A sort of museum with artefacts from various times and more spectacular views. We drove onto Port, a small tiny place right on the coast that ceases to exist for whatever reason. The remains of the village houses are still visible but when you are there you can understand why this might not have been the easiest place to make a go of it. Some have speculated the potato famine drove people out but that has also been disputed with additional stories of someone living there as late as the 1960s. If the latter is true, that person lived with few modern conveniences! Like any modern conveniences. In the picture below, in the right hand side, the rocks on the hill are the abandoned houses/village. This place is remote (but beautiful). Google maps worked for navigation but we passed more sheep getting here than anywhere else.
When visiting these two famous cliffs in Ireland, don’t rush through–don’t limit yourself to only the cliffs. Not only are they themselves terrific contemplative places, there are several things to see nearby. Immersing yourself in local culture is what travel is about!