Ireland is full of scenic spots, but the Cliffs of Moher is one of the most visited. The toughest skeptics fall under the spell of this ridge of coastal cliffs in County Clare, when the Atlantic waves crash onto the rocks. From the old Irish Moher (mothar) means «ruined fortress». The cliffs stretch for 14 km along the ocean line and rise 214 meters above sea level at their highest point. These reserved places are also famous for their rich nature. There hardy plants grow on the steep slopes, animals hide and birds nest even including the world’s fastest peregrine falcons.
Getting to cliffs of Moher from Dublin
The legendary cliffs can be reached from Dublin using the following options.
- A regular bus (it is better to use the express) will take you from Dublin to the Galway bus station, where you will need to make a transfer. Further to the rocks there is a bus route number 350. Stop: County Clare, Cliffs of Moher.
- It will be faster to get to Galway by train and after transferring to the same bus number 350 you can go to the cliffs.
- A comfortable option is to rent a car (you can book it here). There is also a parking lot on the cliffs.
- And the best way to visit the picturesque rocks is to book a tour. You can find out the nuances and book a trip by clicking on this link.
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The legends of cliffs of Moher
The history of the famous cliffs is long and beautiful. It is full of incredible legends. One of them is associated with a rock ledge called «Witch Head» as it looks so.
The witch Mal meekly fell in love with the great warrior Cuhullin, who served the king of Ulster. Mal’s love was so strong that the witch pursued the hero everywhere. But Cuhullin, escaping from the spell, was ready for desperate actions. While running away, he began to jump over the rocks, as if over steps. Mal did not lag behind, but she wasn’t so strong and clever. The witch stumbled and fell off the cliff and remained in the deep ocean forever. If you look closely, you can see a woman’s head in the outlines of the cliff.
The unique beauty of the Cliffs of Moher is reflected in the cinema. The trailer of the «Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince» began with amazing views of these rocks. Proud cliffs fascinate, looking at them you feel the power of nature.
The scenic rock statues have one more benefit. From the heights on a clear day, you can see other sights of the country. The Aran Islands, the valleys and green hills of Connemara, the beautiful Galway Bay. You can see it all from the Cliffs of Moher.
Back in the early 19th century, a descendant of the first Irish king and a large local landowner, Cornelius O’Brien, saw the potential for tourism development in the cliffs. People began to ground the environment for visitors. Till this day, the O’Brien Tower, built under O’Brien’s supervision, is still popular among travelers. A little later, a tourist center was opened on the rocks, The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience. There are several viewing platforms and you can even walk to their very edges.
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Cliffs of Moher ticket price
The Cliffs of Moher is a huge observation deck. It offers breathtaking panoramic views of the ocean and surroundings. The attraction is divided into three main areas. They are:
- well-known «Hag’s Head»
- north platform near the O’Brien’s Tower
- south platform with an amazing view of the O’Brien’s Tower, Goat Island and ocean waves.
Attention! To have a walk there you need to get a ticket.
The ticket price is €7.
Children under 12 years old visit the place free of charge.
A full day ticket can be bought at the main entrance or booked in advance here to avoid queuing at the box office.
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Facilities in the reserve
Make sure to check out the tourist center. It houses an interesting museum of the history of the nature reserve, which is filled with all kinds of exhibits, photographs, paintings and interactive areas. For the youngest travelers, the center has a children’s corner where they will get familiar with the world of wildlife.
There is a café and a gift shop in the center. You can bring food with you and have a picnic in the open air. There are tables and benches for these purposes.
Walking along the hiking trails and enjoying the views, pay attention to the telescopes scattered around the territory. They will help you to admire the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding beauty from a close distance. Devices are not free to sue, get some coins in advance.
Going on an exciting trip, do not forget about comfortable clothes and waterproof shoes. Take raincoats and a warm sweater, the weather in these places is changeable, gusty winds blow from the ocean. And obviously take your cameras for the most amazing pictures and videos.
Let the journey to the picturesque cliffs give you a lot of positive emotions and vivid impressions. A cruise from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher by ferry will help diversify the experience.
Have a fantastic adventure!
Eugene Tassart / Voyage10.com 
Androland °o° / Unsplash 
Bas van Breukelen 
Denys Nevozhai / unsplach.com
comiviajeros / pixabay.com
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