Ireland’s Cliffs of Moher attract over one million visitors a year. And it’s easy to see why. These amazing cliff faces are 300 million years in the making. Made up by layers of siltstone, shale and sandstone they make an impressive addition to the Irish coastline.
On top of the cliffs you have lush green landscape as far as the eye can see. On the bottom, you have the raging Atlantic ocean crashing against it.
If the Cliffs of Moher look familiar, it’s because they have featured in many films. The most notable being Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.
Getting to the Cliffs of Moher from Dublin is fairly easy, just takes time. It’s an approximate three hour drive. Or there are plenty of bus and train options but they still take a few hours each way too.
Knew that it was going to be a long day any way that we went. Since we were already heading out into the Irish countryside, chose a tour with a couple of extra stops along the way.
We meet our tour group at Dublin’s Heuston station. Board our 6.30am train to Limerick.
When we arrive get a city tour and learn of its viking heritage. The town is also the setting of the book and movie Angela’s Ashes. We then drive north towards Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.
Bunratty Castle
The castle is the centre point and lies along the river Ratty. Folk Park with it’s historical type houses and farms surround it.
Walk around the village. It’s interesting to see what Irish life was like at the turn of the 20th century.
Then we go inside Ireland’s most complete medieval fortress. This greystone castle spans over five floors.
We see where they hold the nightly banquets. The castle shuts at 4pm each day to prepare for said banquets.
Admire all the genuine medieval furniture and objects. No replicas here!
Walk up the spiral stairs, to the top of the castle. Do you know why spiral staircases in medieval castles are clockwise? You see it makes it harder for someone coming up the stairs to draw a sword!
Then it’s on to Doolin, for some traditional Irish grub at Gus O’Connors pub.
Next stop is the Cliffs of Moher!
Despite the blue skies, it’s super windy and cold.
When weather is really bad the cliffs are off limits. Luckily that isn’t the case today, so off we go to explore.
Walk as far as we can.
Considering these rugged cliff faces go for 14km and we’re on a time frame, appreciate what’s in front of us.
O’Briens Tower sits atop the highest point of the 214m high cliffs.
There is a viewing platform inside the tower but was closed the day we went.
Not a problem though as there are plenty great views from outside!
Spend a good hour taking in the views before warming up inside the visitor centre.
Then we all pile back into our bus to head to the Burren.
A glaciated karst landscape that looks like you’re on another planet!
Make good time, arrive in Galway with time for a drink at a pub before catching our train back to Dublin. Finally arrive back at our hotel around 10.30 pm. ’twas a very long day. But worth venturing out to the Cliffs of Moher if you’re ever in Ireland!
To book tickets and moher on the Cliffs, check out this website 🙂