I don’t recall having ever actually explored the Wild Atlantic Way south of Lahinch. With additional restrictions looming and the sun shining, I jumped in the car and headed for Loop Head.
First stop, Lahinch because the view was too good to pass by.
If you get a chance, take a walk along the promenade in Lahinch. It’s a really long beach and perfect for a quick stroll. I went straight on to Doughmore Beach. Where have I been that I didn’t even know this place existed? There is a small car park on site but no facilities. I got there around midday and every dog in the community was being walked. The beach there is incredibly long and I’m lead to believe it is a great spot for fishing. After a quick troll, I got into the car and continued on.
Loop Head is a 2 hour drive from Ballyvaughan and I’m not usually one for a drive but this one is outstanding. Every turn offers the most beautiful scenery and this was a thoroughly enjoyable drive. Next stop was Kilkee and the cliffs that I had heard so much about.
They did not disappoint. Parking my car at Diamond Rock cafe, I headed along the trail. This cliff walk reminded me of the Cliffs of Moher when I was younger. Back then, there were no safety walls and it wasn’t the commercial enterprise it is today. Kilkee cliffs are the same. There are plenty of people out walking but nothing like the cliffs in Moher. The walk was so enjoyable and you can enjoy the views without 10,000 people.
You could easily spend an entire day here. The cliff walk is 8km long but you can go however far you choose. There are pollock holes and if you are interested in bird watching, this is a great spot. After taking in more than half of the cliff walk, I drove on to Loop head.
Loop Head is one of only two signature discovery points in Co. Clare. There are fifteen signature discovery points along the Wild Atlantic Way and Co. Clare has both the Cliffs of Moher and Loop head. initially upon arrival, I was a bit underwhelmed. The lighthouse is closed due to COVID restrictions and there were a few cars in the car park but no people around.
A short walk put me on the cliff walk and this is remarkable. Outstanding scenery on show and miles of blue sea. Another place I wish I had a drone. It was slightly eerie that there wasn’t a single other person on the section I chose to walk.
I didn’t get any good shots of the lighthouse or the EIRE sign and when I return, I’ll bring a drone. As you can see from the pictures, there are no safety walls.
For my final stop, I took a small detour to the Bridges of Ross. Historically, Bridges of Ross referred to a trio of bridges carved out by the sea but two has since fallen leaving one single bridge. It is still worth a visit and despite being tired from all the walking, I loved this walk.
The lines and formations in the rock were so clear and there were loads of places to explore. The best thing about every place I went to visit was that there were all totally free! any one would make a great visit on their own but combined with the others it makes for a great day exploring. Here’s a look at it on Google maps;
If you had 2 days, it would be worth going the coast road from Ballyvaughan to Fanore on to Doolin, Lahinch and then follow the route. Any of these areas have accommodation and facilities. Whether you choose one or all or spend a few days exploring Clare, it’ll be worth it for the scenery. My final thought is that anyone who comes to Clare to visit the Cliffs of Moher and then leaves is wasting both their time and money. While the Cliffs of Moher are certainly worth a visit, there are better offerings in other areas. Hopefully we can will see an awareness campaign by the Visit Clare people soon to get this message out there!
Wild Atlantic Adventures 