Article Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher form a cascade of successive jagged cliffs, at the top of which there is a footpath that provides visitors with a walk through these giants, all along their 8 km length. The beginning of the route is at its southern end at Hag's Head, known as the Witch's Head at a place called Jordan Denning Point.

The trail winds on the very edge of the cliff and is usually only a few meters wide, because it is lined with pens with grazing sheep, cows and horses of local farmers. These farm animals are an integral part of the character of the Irish landscape and thus co-create its unique character.

On the other side of the trail, visitors have views of the nearby Aran Islands, where ferries run, and the wide Atlantic Ocean, which stretches all around, and the next mainland is the American shores.

For a distant view and a generally better experience, I recommend you to leave a visit and especially a longer walk on the cliffs, in nice weather. After all, this tip of Europe often lies under rain clouds and thick fog, which prevents the supervision of even just another of the cliffs. It is necessary to pay attention to the strong wind, which is also common here, because the trail at its edge does not run along any of its railings.

The cliffs are also home to many species of birds. Their screams will accompany you throughout the visit. Undoubtedly, a telescope or a good camera lens will be used here to observe them and capture the acrobatic stunts they perform while fishing.

About halfway through the route is the main visitor center and O'Brien's Tower, which stands at the highest point of the entire Cliffs of Moher. The tower was built here by Sir Cornelius O'Brien in 1835 and the purpose was purely pragmatic – to increase local tourism. There is a sidewalk around the tower about 200 meters long, suitable for wheelchairs or prams.

From the tower you will get the classic view of the Cliffs of Moher, which you know from many photos and views. All the cliffs here are aligned in a successive cascade, which you can enjoy from the elevated hill by the tower.

Most tourists will have a visitor center (built into the hillside) located in the middle of the route as an entry point to the cliffs, because there is a large car park. Unfortunately, the parking lot, where you also have access to the center (which, however, is otherwise freely accessible to all) is paid and is relatively expensive – 8 € per person (but if you book online then only 4 €). Entrance to O'Brien's Tower is paid separately. This is the only tourist point on the entire route with classic souvenirs, restaurants and other attractions. It is worth visiting the interior of the visitor center, which in a nice way brings the history of the place and the life of animals around the cliffs.

Beyond the tower, further north, the path continues along the edge of the cliffs and has a downward trend, not in terms of the beauty of the views and the quality of the path, but in terms of the height of the cliffs. It provides another 4 km of undisturbed routes with a minimum of people, because most tourists stay only around the center.

The end point is the town of Doolin, where you will find a small campsite and several hotels for accommodation or pubs to soak up the Irish atmosphere over a pint of beer or whiskey. Doolin is a port town, so the restaurant offers many fish specialties, but from here you can also take a ferry to the Aran Islands (about 30 minutes cruise).