A fantastic day trip to the Cliffs of Moher

When I first saw the Cliffs of Moher years ago on a picture I was like “I wanna go there!”. Many years passed by and I finally got the chance to go there. Thus, when I got to know we are going to Ireland, the Cliffs of Moher was for sure a stop on our trip.

The Cliffs of Moher were located on the west coast of Ireland in County Clare, near Doolin. They are famous for being one of the tallest cliffs in Europe and are set in around fourteen kilometers across the coast of Ireland.

Thus, before going there we did a bit of research what is the easiest way to get there. We checked buses and trains going there, but most of them were reached, Galway. From Galway, we had to catch another bus or train, so it was not a good option, as it was taking around 5 hours and was also quite expensive. Therefore, we decided to check local tour agencies that provide daily tours to the Cliffs of Moher and we found one that had a pretty high rating and had a reasonable price for what it offered. Furthermore, going to the Cliffs of Moher by using the services of an agency would not only save us money but also time, as the trip would take around 3 hours of travelling one way. Thus, it was quite a good option.

Consequently, as soon as we arrived, we went to their office at 5 Beresford Place, Lower Gardiner Street in Dublin and booked a day tour to the Cliffs of Moher, which costs 45 euros or 40 euros for students. The tour agent was nice enough to explain to us the program and even gave us advice on what to wear, as it might be quite windy there and the weather is not always nice.

When the day came we had to get very early and go to the office again and wait for our bus driver to come. It was quite chaotic, but sort of cheerful and in most of the time we didn’t know what was happening. Our bus was late for some time and we went to get on it the driver asked us for tickets, but we didn’t have any, as we forgot to ask for them with our receipt. Thus, we told him that and he looked at us strangely, but then started laughing and said “Ohh I trust you guys! Get on the bus!”. I guess this was the way Irish people were making jokes.

We went inside the brand new bus, that had absolutely anything you would need and our trip started. The bus driver was also our guide and he was very nice and funny, so we couldn’t go to sleep, because we wanted to listen to his jokes.

Anyway, after some time we had to stop for a break and he walked us around the Bunratty Castle, which was a fifteenth-century tower built in the city of the same name. It had the typical Irish style of architecture where everything was made out of stone and in most of the cases was in a square shape.

After that, we continued to the city of Doolin and stopped for a lunch break at Fitzpatrick's Bar, where our driver and guide suggested us to get the Irish Stew for lunch. It was one of the greatest food options ever! Basically, it is a stew made out of nice sweet potatoes and vegetables and lamb meat. Absolutely delicious.

When we were done with our amazing lunch we headed to the Cliffs of Moher where he let us have an hour and a half at our disposal, which was absolutely enough. However, since there were two paths that you can take at the Cliffs of Moher we asked him for suggestion and he said that the right one is the best. Thus, we got our tickets, which are eight euros on a regular price or four euros if you have your student identification.

Finally, we went on to explore the magnificent Cliffs of Moher from the right side and it was truly amazing. The day was sunny and quite warm, which is quite unusual for the Cliffs of Moher, so we were lucky. Soon after we started our walk we reached the O'Brien's Tower, which was an observation tower built in the nineteenth century.

Then, we went further hiking to the Pollboy Lookout and then to another viewpoint at the Cliffs of Moher from where we could see the Aran Islands in the distance. The Aran Islands, as our guide explained were famous for having ancient ruins left from fallen castles and were one of the coolest places to visit. He also told us that his predecessors were usually coming here to beg for the peace of the sea.

During our walk at the Cliffs of Moher we saw lots of bird species flying around and among them were the seagulls and the kittiwakes. However, we were hoping to see the famous Atlantic puffins that usually nests here, but we were not so lucky.

After our sort of windy walk, we went inside the Tourist Information office that looked more like a futuristic museum. There you can learn a lot about the history of the Cliffs of Moher and how the cliffs formed in such a way. The museum is divided into different interactive rooms that are named Rock, Ocean, Nature and Man.

At last, we headed back to our green bus, yes it was green. I think that Irish people are obsessed with this lucky colour. Thus, our trip continued further and while travelling we saw lots of beautiful ocean views on one side and the vast green fields of Ireland on the other side. Then, our driver stopped around Doolin Pier point, where joked that we can see the “baby Cliffs of Moher”. Actually, he was kind of right, as these cliffs, although tiny, very much resembled the notorious Cliffs of Moher. At this place, the sun started setting and created a very beautiful picture in front of us. Unfortunately, we had to go back to the bus, as we had to go back to Dublin.

After some time, our drive guide stopped in the village of Kinvarra for a break. At the port of the city, we saw very interesting Irish boats and he explained to us that they were one of the main attractions of the city. Locals called them “Galway Hookers” and in front of us was another medieval castle. He told us that the Dunguaire Castle was known for the many parties that were held there in the past.

Eventually, we got back to the bus, so we can go back to Dublin. Even though we were not walking all day, we were quite tired of the trip. Thus, when we got back to Dublin around 8 pm we immediately went back to our place, so we can rest.

Tips for visiting the Cliffs of Moher

First and foremost, always check the forecast. Before we went to book our tour we first checked the forecast and what the weather will be like over there, as it is on the other side of Ireland.

Second, don't underestimate Mother Nature. Wear a couple of layers of clothes and if possible, get a windproof jacket. The wind at the Cliffs of Moher is quite strong and even we were lucky and it was sunny, it was still quite cold.

Last but not least, don't go near the edge of the cliffs. Probably, the staff of the tourist center will also tell you that and you better listen to them. In some places, the path is not so secured and it is quite dangerous. Furthermore, the soil is not so stable and every year parts of the cliffs fall into the ocean. Thus, the saying "Safety first" is seriously valid for this place.

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