Explore Ireland 2015

The Cliffs of Moher with Dooline Ferries – Wild Atlantic Way Signature Point

No visit to Ireland, especially the wonderful Wild West, would be complete without heading to the Cliffs of Moher, one of nature’s true wonders. And the Wild Atlantic Way takes you right to the 8km stretch of some of the most rugged coastline on the planet. It’s a sight to behold!

The Cliffs of Moher are located in the County Clare’s rocky southwestern corner known as The Burren. Formed over 300 million years ago, these aged and worn, craggy cliff face are constantly being weathered by the relentless Atlantic waves creating the most fantastic forms and tunnelled innumerable caves by their action.

A wonderful way to appreciate these magnificent cliffs is by catching one of the O’Brien Line Doolin Ferries from Doolin town. A short one-hour cruise is a fantastic way to fully appreciate the vista of this seemingly impregnable wall of rock rises dramatically from the ocean.

These shale and sandstone cliffs reach heights ranging from 100 to over 200m. The highest point is at Knockardin, near O’Brien’s Tower, which is 214m from sea level. The views from here are breath taking: Bird nesting for migratory birds including the Atlantic Puff – March to July.

The constant erosion of the cliffs has created a number of interesting features. Arches have developed where softer rocks within the stratas have worn at a quicker pace then the other layers. Even these arches, such as Eye of the Needle, succumb to the power of the Atlantic. The constant pounding wears and weakens the arch top, eventually causing it to fall away leaving the ever shrinking supports looking like eirey stone sentinels.

While the view from the water is great, there is another way to view the Cliffs – from the number of viewing platforms. From the main platform, you can see the south cliffs and towards the Hag’s Head. The North platform is located at the highest point of the Cliffs, Knockardakin at 214m above sea level. It is also the location of the Tower viewpoint – O’Brien’s Tower, built by Cornelius O’Brien. From here, you can see An Branan Mor Sea Stack, home of the guillemots and razorbills.

You just need to stop and take in one of Ireland’s absolute best views. On a clear day, visitors can look out into the expansive Galway Bay and vast Atlantic Ocean and see the three Aran Islands off in the distance. Beyond those, the next stop is Newfoundland in Canada, where many Irish people migrated between the late 1700s and early 1800s.

The Cliffs of Moher are full of stories surround a number of natural landmarks. The Legend of Hags Head centres around a large rock near the southern end that looks like a woman’s head. As the story goes, an old hag called Mal fell in love with the great Irish hero, Cú Chulainn. Sadly for her, he did not return her feelings and Cú Chulainn ran over Ireland trying to get away from her! He finally escaped by jumping back to the Cliffs of Moher using the sea stacks as stepping-stones. Mal tried following but slipped, fell into the rushing waters and drowned. She returned as the distinctive rock, sitting and waiting for her true love.

The Cliffs of Moher are the crowning glory of the Clare coastline. They provide an unrivalled view across the vast boiling wildness of the Atlantic Ocean, a world unchanged since pre-Celtic times and another must stop location on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.

For more information about the Cliffs of Moher, visit: http://www.cliffsofmoher.ie and www.ireland.com.