Experience Ireland’s Favourite Travel Destinations, the Moher Cliffs

World’s best museums, art galleries, medieval cities, Mediterranean beaches, quaint villages and friendly locals, do we need to say more about the experiences Europe has to offer? On a trip to Europe, one cannot miss out on exploring the jewel of Ireland, the magnificent Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs of Moher are imposing and dramatic, so you’ll want to make the detour to explore one of the best travel destinations in Ireland. The cliffs of Moher have inspired many artists, poets and musicians for generations, as well as various scientists and geologists. If you’re a Potter head, you would recognise the Cliffs of Moher from one of the Harry Potter movie parts. The Cliffs of Moher also served as the backdrop for one of the 80s cult classics, The Princess Bride. Arguably, the Cliffs of Moher is one of the top places to travel in Ireland and an absolute must on every traveller’s bucket list.

The Cliff’s name is derived from the Gaelic language Mothar, which means ‘the ruins of a fort’. The Cliffs of Moher is one of the biggest cliffs in entire Ireland, and it is hard to imagine the enormity of the cliff until you plan a trip to the natural marvel itself. The Cliffs of Moher is not just a geographical marvel, but the place is even designated a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds for being home to major colonies of nesting sea birds. If you are planning to walk along the top of the cliffs, climb a 19th-century tower or even watch a sunset, the Ireland tour package will get you covered. To help you plan your holiday, here’s everything you need to know about the Cliffs of Moher.

Throwback to the Cliffs of Moher’s Existence

The Cliffs in Ireland that we know popularly as the Cliffs of Moher serve as one of the most important parts of the coastal landscape in Ireland. It is believed that the Cliffs of Moher date back to 320 million years ago when Iraland’s ancient rivers laid down sediments on the seabed to form the sandstone, shale and siltstone that make up the magnificent cliffs of Moher. That said, the Cliffs of Moher takes its name from the ruins of the famous Mothar Fort, which was demolished during the Napoleonic wars in the early 1800s to make room for a signal tower at Hag’s Head.

If you look at the pictures of the cliff or walk along the cliff’s edge, you will notice long horizontal layers of rock, which are also known as Strata. The layers on the cliff are made up of siltstone, sandstone and shale. The textures on the Cliffs result from the tectonic plates' movement on the Earth’s crust, which you can now witness at the Cliffs of Moher. The place came to be known as a tourist destination when Cornelius O’Brien formally recognised the Cliffs of Moher as a tourist attraction in 1833. In order to make the natural tourist attraction more accessible, safe and attractive for all kinds of tourists, Cornelius O’Brien built an ornamental building, a viewing platform and an iron picnic table at the site. Since then, the Cliffs of Moher have been one of Ireland's best places to visit.

Things To Do at the Cliffs of Moher

When you venture to the cliffs of Moher, you will find endless things to do and places to visit around the cliff to make your holiday worth it. Some of the best things to do whilst visiting the Cliffs of Moher include:

Walk Along the O’Brien’s Tower

The O’Briens Tower, built by Sir Cornelius O’Brien, is the highest point on the cliff where you can look across the horizon at the Aaron Islands, the Inisheer Islands and Kerry Mountains. Once visiting O'Brien’s Tower, you can experience the splendid views of the place by walking along the paved pathway. To visit the tower, you would have to buy a separate ticket, as the entrance to O’Brien’s Tower is not included in the entry ticket.

Visit the Hag’s Head

Hag’s Head around the Cliffs of Moher, Ireland, is the most Southern point, which is named after a local legend of a woman who killed herself trying to follow her lover across the cliff. The Hag’s Head is home to a watchtower known as the Moher Tower, which offers a truly impressive view to the onlookers. To visit the Hag’s Head, you can drive up to the parking lot and then hike up to the location to enjoy the calm and quiet vistas the place has to offer.

Get Insights about the Cliffs at the Vistors Centre

The Moher Visitor Experience is another state-of-the-art underground exhibition centre that features various exhibitions, images and displays that tourists of all ages can enjoy. As you walk around the visitors centre, you will come across different aspects of the mighty cliffs, namely the ocean-made, rock formation, natural or man-made. During the self-guided tour of the facility, you will also be shown two movies that show detailed information about the beautiful spectacle. Ensure you leave enough time to visit the cinema room on your visit to the Moher Visitor Experience centre.

Admire the Stack

If this weren’t the first thing you had done before visiting the Cliffs of Moher, you would want to spend some time admiring the gorgeous views of the Stack (or An Branán Mor in Irish). The Stack is a beautiful and unforgettable experience that every traveller has to add to their bucket list. Due to its magnificent beauty, the location near the Tower of O’Brien has become of the best things to do at the Cliffs of Moher.

Indulge in Bird Watching

The cliffs of Moher are home to over 30,000 pairs of birds, among which 20 are nesting birds and 9 are sea birds. From the Southern platform from the Cliffs of Moher, you can watch hundreds of Puffins and other nesting and sea birds such as hawks, ravens, gulls, guillemots and choughs nesting on the Goat Island. Before visiting the Cliffs of Moher, keep a pair of binoculars to catch a glimpse of the beautiful and rare birds surrounding the region.

How to Get There?

The journey to the Cliffs of Moher, Ireland, is an experience in itself, and there are various options to choose from when it comes to reaching the destination. Here are some ways to get to the Cliffs of Moher for you to choose from that suit you best.

Rental Cars

Suppose you want to visit the cliffs of Moher situated on the Lislorkan north county Clare Ireland. In that case, you can rent a car at the Shannon Airport, easily accessible via Limerick and Galway. Upon arrival, you can park the car in the designated parking space and purchase an entry ticket to enjoy the beautiful views of the Cliffs of Moher.

Bus

Getting on a local bus at the Galway Bus Station is another best option to reach the Cliffs of Moher. If it suits you best, you can take the route from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher or from Shannon, Cork or Knock airports.

Bike

The cycling route around the region is also one of the most convenient and efficient ways to reach the Cliffs of Moher. The route also happens to be one of the world's top ten greatest cycling routes. If you own a bike, you can ride from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher, but if you need to rent one, you can rent one from nearby Lahinch, Kilfenora or Doolin.

Walking

If you like walking, you can also reach the Cliffs of Moher on foot. To reach the destination by walking, you can follow the path from Fisher Street in Doolin all the way down to the coast to the cliffs. If you decide to walk to the cliffs, make sure to wear comfortable shoes, carry a rain jacket and take plenty of drinking water along for the trip.

What to Pack for the Cliffs of Moher?

Deciding what to pack for your trip to the Cliffs of Moher can be a minefield. With consistently unreliable weather forecasts, keeping with your baggage weight limit can be a little overwhelming. To help you with that, here are some of the essentials that you need to carry if you are wondering about packing light and with the right kind of things.

Comfortable Walking Shoes or Hiking Shoes

Packing a good pair of walking or hiking shoes is the best choice for packing your luggage. Due to irregular weather conditions and uncertain rain in Ireland, carrying a pair of hiking shoes or a comfortable pair of walking shoes for an easy commute to various sightseeing places is recommended.

A Warm Winter Jacket

The temperature in Ireland tends to be chilly all year round, but as the Cliffs of Moher are situated at the windiest spots in Ireland, ensure to keep a warm winter jacket to keep you warm and comfortable.

Rain Jacket

No matter what time of the year you are visiting the Cliffs of Moher, it is essential that you carry a rain jacket on your trip since there is always a possibility of a rain shower in Ireland.

Hat or Headband

Besides keeping you comfortable with a pair of rain jackets, warm jackets or hiking shoes, you must also carry a hat or a headband. Since the Cliffs of Moher is situated at the highest point in Ireland, carrying a hat or headband can help you tame your hair from the gale.

A Pair of Binoculars

If you are interested in catching a glance at rare species of nesting or sea birds, carrying a pair of binoculars is one of the best ideas.

If you are liked what you read and want to experience the endless things to do and places to visit in Ireland, book your trip to Cliffs of Moher now. The famous Cliffs of Moher in Ireland are sure to leave you awestruck with their magnificent beauty and create memories that are going to stay with you forever.