Introducing the Cliff Coast – it’s nothing short of epic as you meander between Galway Bay and Tralee.
Be wowed with panoramic views from dramatic cliff edges. Feel blasts of the fresh sea air with lighthouse walks. Get up close to dolphins, grab a fireside seat at a traditional music session and walk along some of Ireland’s most exhilarating coastal scenery. Here come the cliffs between Galway and Tralee…
Day One
From the cobbled streets of Galway to the cool grey rock of the Burren, journey through beautiful landscapes, past fairytale castles and into the heart of Ireland’s neolithic past.
Medieval lives and delicious seafood
Famous for its culture, “craic” and laidback bohemian vibes, Galway city is perfectly suited for exploring on foot, and a walking tour is a great way to enjoy it. Get a history fix at the Galway City Museum, soak up the medieval atmosphere of the Spanish Arch overlooking the sea, or grab a bite to eat in Ard Bia, Kai or McDonagh’s – a top spot for fish and chips.
COME AT FESTIVAL TIME
Join the fun at the Galway International Arts Festival (July) when the City of Tribes becomes a festival of surprises.
See a fairytale castle
Perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking Galway Bay, Dunguaire Castle is the star of a million photos. This craggy, romantic 16th-century tower sits just outside the pretty village of Kinvara, and in the early 20th century was a meeting place for some of Ireland’s greatest writers, including WB Yeats, George Bernard Shaw and JM Synge.
IF YOU HAVE MORE TIME
Book ahead and make a night of it with dinner and literary readings at the Dunguaire Castle Banquet (seasonal).
Traditional Ballyvaughan and the moon-like Burren
The picturesque little village of Ballyvaughan is the perfect place to start exploring one of Ireland’s most incredible landscapes – the Burren, part of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark. Stark grey rock tumbles over the land here right down to the Atlantic Ocean, and following a walking trail from the village is a great way to experience this karst limestone region up close. In the village, stop off for a cake at the Alice in Wonderland-style An Fear Gorta Tea and Garden Rooms – it’s a delight.
DON’T MISS
If you’re visiting on a Saturday between May and October, the Ballyvaughan Farmers’ Market has everything you’ll need for a picnic!
Day Two
Journey to the centre of the earth – almost – then emerge to roar at the impeccably stunning Cliffs of Moher.
Venture into a magical underworld
You can’t visit this part of the world without going underground – at least for a little while. Deep down in the Aillwee Cave, nestled into a limestone terraced mountainside, you can seek out fossils, explore beautiful caverns and wander through the chasms and bridges carved through the limestone over millions of years. Don’t want to go below ground? Talk a Hawk Walk with a feathered friend at the Burren Birds of Prey Centre.
Feel the vibes of a trad music pub in Doolin
Passing through the lively village of Lisdoonvarna, the road winds around until you get to Doolin – one of the best places in Ireland to catch some traditional music. Stop for a bite to eat at the Wild Honey Inn, just outside Lisdoonvarna, then step into McGann’s or Gus O’Connor’s in the evening, and you’ll find a toe-tapping music session taking place, with a great warm atmosphere that keeps things going late into the night.
COME AT FESTIVAL TIME
Make a date – literally – at the brilliant Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival (September).
Roar at the Cliffs of Moher
Stretching out into the mist along the Irish coastline, the Cliffs of Moher are jaw-droppingly beautiful. Waves crash below, seabirds whirl above and paths wind along the cliff-edge with photo opportunities all the way. Unmissable. Take a walk along the incredible Cliff Path (8km) from Doolin – all that exercise is well worth it for the views.
IF YOU HAVE MORE TIME
Marvel at the scale of the cliffs from sea level with O’Brien Line cruises departing from Doolin.
Day Three
Watch the aqua acrobatics from this fine surfing hub, before journeying to a place called Lover’s Leap.
Laidback vibes in Lahinch
Boasting a scenic location at the tip of Liscannor Bay, Lahinch is a small and buzzy coastal village that’s a big hit with surfers. Surfing makes for a fascinating spectator sport, so pick your vantage point and watch the thrills on the waves – any time of year. Or perhaps you’d prefer to be on the greens at Lahinch Golf Club, a world-renowned links course that’s challenged many a great since opening in the 1890s.
DON’T MISS
Drop into the very friendly Barrtrá Seafood restaurant just outside Lahinch for deliciously fresh fish and shellfish.
Walk on the wild side in Kilkee
A favourite holiday haunt since Victorian times, Kilkee – the gateway to Loop Head – has seen Lord Alfred Tennyson, Charlotte Brontë, Che Guevara, Richard Harris and Russell Crowe all head here to refresh the soul and the spirit. Protected from the full force of the Atlantic by a reef called Duggerna Rock, take a walk on the wild side along the Kilkee Cliff Walk – an exhilarating 8km loop that takes you past natural swimming spots called the Pollock Holes, incredible blow holes along the cliff edges. Stunning.
DON’T MISS
Pop into Murphy Blacks in Kilkee for a great selection of seafood dishes – and to hear the secret of Kilstiffin – a hidden city that appears just once every 100 years!
Feel the power of nature at Loop Head
Follow the one main road, crisscrossed by quiet boreens (narrow country roads), and you’re at the place where the sheltered Shannon Estuary meets the Atlantic Ocean. This is Loop Head, where the views stretch out to the Blasket Islands in Kerry, and spotting dolphins, whales, seals and seabirds is commonplace. This is another spot with a World War II relic: large white letters spelling ÉIRE were placed on the peninsula to let pilots know they were entering neutral airspace. Climb to the top of the lighthouse and look down on Ross Beach, where sea urchins, barnacles, limpets, and the beautiful strawberry anemone rest. Nature at its finest.
DON’T MISS
Just past the lighthouse, you’ll find Lover’s Leap – a giant sea stack with an intriguing legend aptly called Diarmuid and Gráinne’s Rock.
Day Four
Let the Atlantic winds heighten your senses while out at sea with the dolphins, before taking a sip at the home of the Irish Coffee.
Say hello to the dolphins
At the very place where the Shannon River opens into the Atlantic Ocean is Europe’s largest group of bottlenose dolphins. A beautiful sight! Take a boat trip with Dolphinwatch at Carrigaholt, and see these wonderful creatures (and perhaps a few grey seals) in their natural habitat. Back on land, you might catch a glimpse of a herd of wild goats or even nesting seabirds. No surprise then that this place is one of the BBC Wildlife Magazine’s Top Ten Attractions in Ireland!
DON’T MISS
The Killimer-Tarbert car ferry not only cuts down travelling time, it straddles the counties of Clare and Kerry, taking in some terrific scenery all the way!
Aviation history and an Irish Coffee
“Is this Brazilian coffee?”, someone asked. “No,” replied Joe, “that’s Irish Coffee.” It’s one of the many tales you’ll hear at the Flying Boat and Maritime Museum in Foynes, County Limerick. Invented in 1942 by chef Joe Sheridan at Foynes Port, where planes en route from Europe to America would stop to refuel, he whipped it up one cold winter’s night for passengers who were delayed due to bad weather! Of course, the museum is also a haven for those enthralled with the brave stories from aviation history.
DON’T MISS
Tee off at Ballybunion Golf Club, played by Tiger Woods during his travels around Ireland, before making your way to Tralee.
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