The Cliffs of Moher is Ireland’s top tourist attraction, drawing nearly 1.5 million per year. But while the majority of visitors take in these stunning bluffs overlooking the wild waters of the North Atlantic in one of two common ways, there is a third, less traveled route you can take. This hike is the highlight of the Wild Atlantic Way and among the most stunningly beautiful natural excursions in all of Europe.
The Cliffs of Moher are a section of the Irish coastline that, at their highest point near the visitor’s center, rise 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. The cliffs themselves run for about nine miles, though the full hike from one side to the other runs just over 11 miles from Doolin to Liscannor.
The vast majority of visitors arrive by car at the visitor’s center. Most park there, explore the coast and take pictures, maybe wandering up the trail for a quarter mile or so in either direction, before hopping in the car and moving on. Of those who do opt to hike the Cliffs of Moher trail, most of them park at Doolin and hike south, reaching the visitor’s center and hopping the bus back to Doolin.
Your hack to avoid sharing the trail with them, and spend as little time as possible with the tour bus crowd, is to start from Liscannor and hike north. Whether you opt to turn back at the visitor’s center or proceed all the way to Doolin, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views and fewer people.
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