The Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare, Ireland

Cliffs of Moher

Cliffs of Moher is one of the popular destinations of Ireland. And there is a very good reason why it is so popular. Always plan a visit on a clear summer day. According to The Cliffs of Moher website, these cliffs were formed 319 million years ago and the highest point is 702 feet from the Atlantic Ocean. Feels like they have been around forever. One more reason not to miss these cliffs on your next visit to Ireland.

                     

I personally prefer driving my own car rather than visiting on tour buses. As you enter the car park, you pay 8€ per person. Cliff's entrance is to the other side of the parking lot. The visitor center has plenty of craft stores, gift stores, and cafes. We stopped at a stall of handmade wire necklaces. For 10€, the artist proficiently bent wire in the shape of letters we asked for and added small clover leaves at both ends. But hey, it was custom made. The visitor center is neatly tucked underground and looks like it is part of the Cliffs. But the facilities inside are current. The delicately yet thoughtfully carved Cliffs of Moher Experience wooden sculpture outside the visitor center says it all.

O'Brien's Tower

As you pass the visitor center, towards the right is O'Brien's Tower, and towards the left is the coastal cliff walk. Walking to O'Brien's tower is a bit of an uphill. Be prepared to climb a few stairs but the path is paved and not very hard to walk. Cliff's views from O'Brien's tower were amazing. Admission to the tower itself is additional but not necessary. Views were magnificent at sunset when the sunlight hits the cliffs. Finish cliff walks first and visits the tower later in the day. However, if you are planning to walk the 8km trail to Doolin, it starts from O'Brien's tower.

Regular Summer Noon @ O'Brien's Tower

To the left of the visitor center is the coastal cliff walk. Cliff walks stretch from Liscannor (a village south of cliffs) to Doolin (a village north of cliffs) for around 20km or they can be as short as you want them to be.  Cliffs of Moher Visitor center is in the middle of Liscannor and Doolin. Best views of The Stack and O'Brein's tower can be seen from the coastal cliff walk towards Liscannor.  The cliff walk has two paths. The designated path has fields to it's left and stone wall to it's right. Guarding against the fall. Whereas, the undesignated path is open to the elements.

Magnificent Views

Most tourists choose an undesignated path because of the beautiful views which can be missed otherwise. This path is not for the faint of the heart. Winds can be very strong based on the weather and there were few landslides in recent years. While enjoying the views, pay close attention to your path as well.

Cliffs Coastal Trail

Visiting the cliffs is never complete without taking a ferry ride. Cliffs of Moher ferries leave from Doolin regularly. We booked Aran Island and Cliffs of Moher cruise combination from doolin2aranferries.com. If you are short on time, there is a one hour Cliffs of Moher cruise too. I enjoyed the cruise much more than the cliff walk. 

Beautiful Views From Coastal Trail

On our way back to Doolin from Aran Islands which I will cover in another post, we took Cliffs of Moher cruise. The ferry ride covers all beautiful views that the cliff walk falls short of. These cliff formations can never be seen from the cliff walk alone.

Cliffs - Up Close and Personal

The stack, which looks like a stack of rock from above, houses thousands of birds. These birds managed to comfortably nest between the layers of rock. Apparently, Cliffs of Moher holds the largest mainland colony of puffins. With the waves splashing, cool sea breeze touching your skin, and birds chirping around you,  this is an experience never to be missed.

The Stack - Up Close

A sea arch under Stag Head, The Stack, and magnificent cliffs can be viewed up close from a ferry ride.

Breathtaking Views

Howth Village And Cliff Walk, Dublin Co., Ireland

Howth Yacht Club Marina

Howth is a charming village half an hour away from Dublin. A short trip to Howth village is a perfect way to spend an afternoon. DART ride is the easiest way to reach the Howth village. However, a car is a good choice too.

Howth Village: Howth village is a cute little fishing village very near to Dublin airport. As soon as we arrived in Dublin, we drove directly to the Howth village. There is no point in wasting time elsewhere when the sky was clear and the sun was shining brightly. I fell in love with this charming village right away. Nothing can challenge its beautiful views, utterly delightful shops, and the best marina walk.  

Howth Marina Walk

The village has plenty of coffee shops, eateries, and taverns. There are a couple of golf courses in the Howth peninsular as well.  Also, a few small beaches to relax on a summer afternoon. Claremont beach is right next to the DART station and is easily accessible. The Balscadden bay beach is next to the marina walk and very good for rock pooling. As we relaxed on the beach, local kids geared up with the buckets and shovels in search of coastal treasures. Rock pooling in Balscadden beach is famous among locals.

Howth Lighthouse

Ireland's Eye: Ireland's Eye Ferries operate from Howth to Ireland's Eye almost every day from 10:30 - 5 PM. There is an option to just go around the island or land on the Island. Landing on the island might not be a possible option for everyone. We took a short 10 min. boat ride around the island. With amazing landscapes, beautiful birds, and a seal or two, Ireland's Eye boat trip was worth the visit.

Ireland's Eye

Howth Cliff Walk: Mesmerized by the charming Howth village, we decided to walk from the village center to the cliff walk trail in anticipation of beautiful views. The walk was long and steep. To our disappointment, most of the beautiful views were blocked by houses and high compound walls.

Howth Cliff Walk

Driving till the start of the cliff walk is the best option as you would save energy for the cliff walk itself. Plenty of free parking is available at the start of the trail. There is no paved path for the cliff walk. Nevertheless, the views from the top of the cliff were beautiful. Catch a glimpse of Ireland's Eye, lighthouse and beautiful Celtic sea from the top.

Butlers Chocolate Experience, Coolock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Butlers Chocolate Experience

If you are planning a trip to the chocolate factory, book the tickets for the morning tour between Monday - Friday. If you are considering touring the facility on a weekend, save your self some money and skip it. During my planning, the first thing I did was to buy Butler Chocolate Experience tickets. Being a chocolate enthusiast, and traveling with young kids, this was my first choice of things to do in Dublin. As I was trying to squeeze in a lot of activities, I had to schedule the tour on a weekend and it was a disappointment. Tour started right on time. All the guests were supplied with a white coat and hairnet. On weekends, tours would be along with a bunch of kids celebrating birthday parties. 

Decorated Elephants

The tour started with a short introduction video to chocolate. Kids enjoyed the samples before and after the video. The tour group was divided into half. One half visited the factory while the other half spent time in the museum. Museum had information about chocolate, and Butler's history and some fun things for kids. The major disappointment was the factory tour itself. There was absolutely no production on weekends. So you won't find even a single person on the factory floor and all the machinery was completely shut off. All you can see is videos of chocolate manufacturing on an average-sized TV screen. When our tour guide, who was otherwise amazing, asked us to use our imagination and understand how the factory works, I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry! Maybe that is why it is called Butlers Chocolate Experience instead of Butlers Chocolate Factory Tour.

Chocolate Samples From The Tour

Our tour ended with decorating hollow elephant-shaped chocolate. Guide gave a brief demonstration of how it was made. All guests, get to decorate their hollow elephant (Easter bunny, Santa for Christmas, bear, etc based on the time you visit). Nice packaging was provided along with the chocolate. Overall, it was a pleasant experience. However, It would have been ideal to visit the factory while it was operational. If you like to buy more chocolate, the ćafe has an exceptional collection.

Chocolate History

Mizen Head and Barleycove Beach, Goleen, Cork Co., Ireland

Welcome to the Wild Atlantic Way where the rugged beauty of Ireland lies. Mizen head is considered the South - Western tip of Ireland and is part of Cork County.  A trip to Cork Co. is never complete without visiting Mizen head. It is best viewed on a clear summer day. It takes around 2hrs to drive from Cork city center to the Mizen head. The drive can be hectic if you are a novice driver in Ireland.

Mizen Head in 15 Seconds - Derrick Path

Plenty of free parking spots are available right in front of the visitor center. The visitor center houses a small cafe and gift shop. Adult entry is around €7.50 and not too bad for such an amazing place. The main walkway is paved and is stroller accessible for the most part. There are several trails branched out from the main walkway leading to multiple vista points. Many of these branching paths have steep climb or stairs. Take time to visit all the vista points. They are well worth the climb.

The Wild Atlantic Way

Even though it is beautiful, Mizen head didn't look like a typical tourist destination. It might be the weather, inaccessibility, or sheer lack of marketing. This place does not draw as many tourists as it should. In a way, it could be a good thing. As I took my time to soak up the views.

Coast Line Cliffs

The visit takes around 2-3 hrs. But, take your own time to watch the ocean waves crash on the moss-covered rugged stone cliffs. Pink, white and yellow wildflowers add a tender touch to the rugged coastal line. No picture can ever do justice to this place. You need to be there to see it.

Mizen Head Trails - Bridge View Path

The main walkway has beautiful coastal cliff views. Cross the iconic Mizen bridge and at the end of the path is the signal station. Look out for seals swimming in the turquoise water underneath the bridge. On the way back, make a brief stop at the keeper's quarters, bird mural room.

Beauty and The Beast

Mizen Head - Sea Arch Path

On the way, make a stop at Barleycove Beach. This is a piece of heaven in Cork Co. with crystal clear waters, less crowd, and unspoiled beach. Destination I want to get lost in, just to find myself again.

Barleycove Beach

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Ballycotton Cliff Walk, Ballycotton, Cork Co., Ireland

I am unable to comprehend how TripAdvisor has 500 reviews on the Ballycotton cliff walk and 5000 reviews on Blarney Castle. The walkway has breathtakingly beautiful views and is a hidden gem in Cork Co. If I had one only a day in Cork, I would choose to spend it here. The true reason for a trip to the Emerald Isle lies in the beautiful rugged coastlines and never-ending green pastures. 

Ballycotton is a small fishing town an hour away from Cork city center. Bus Éireann has limited service 240 to Ballycotton. The best way to reach the cliffs is to drive. Parking is available on site and is free. A narrow walkway runs across the coastline for around 5 miles and takes around 4 hrs to complete the walk. The path is fairly easy to walk but stop and make way for people coming in the opposite direction.

Definitely choose a bright sunny day for the walk. When we reached the cliffs, thick floating clouds covered the coastlines like a veil covered the beautiful bride. With visibility around 10ft, I was quite disappointed. Luckily, it cleared up shortly revealing stunning coastlines. Navigating the path with young kids can be challenging.  The path is not wheelchair/ stroller friendly as there are many styles to cross. At the beginning of the path, there is a small park with benches. A good place to set up a picnic and spend a couple of hours listing to the sea. 

The cute little town of Ballycotton has numerous bars and restaurants. Consider touring the Ballycotton lighthouse on the island if you have time and blessing from the weather gods.  Tour starts from the Ballycotton pier from 10 AM onwards and lasts around 90 min. The pure joy of traveling to places like this reminds me of why I love2travel. 

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What To See Along M8 In Ireland

M8 is a part of the major motorway running from Cork to Dublin. It runs mainly through Cork Co and Tipperary Co but touches a part of Limerick Co and joins M7 in Laois Co. The drive on M8 was effortless. A lovely landscape of yellow-flowered Furze bushes on either side of the motorway with a green backdrop made the drive pleasant. We were able to cover these places in a day along M8.

• Rock of Cashel, Tipperary Co.
• Cahir Castle, Tipperary Co.
• Swiss Cottage, Tipperary Co.
• Mitchelstown Caves, Tipperary Co.
• Blackrock Castle Observatory, Cork Co.

Rock of Cashel: In the 5th century, Rock of Cashel was a seat for High Kings of Munster. Later, it was donated to Church. All the current building ruins are from the 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries. Adjacent to the church ruins in a graveyard. Rock of Cashel has a prominent place in history and it is quite interesting how this place held up over centuries of invasions, abuse, harsh weather, and black death. Take a guided tour of the remains.

Cahir Castle: On the banks of river Suir, stands one of the best-preserved castles of Ireland, Castle Cahir. Even though it was built in the 12th century, the castle was well maintained, restored, and still holds its original defensive structure. Guided tours of the castle are available daily. Take time to climb all the stairs and visit a vast variety of rooms in the castle.

Swiss Cottage: Around 2 km walk from Cahir Castle, is a charming 19th-century ornamental cottage surrounded by lush fields and flowing river. Away from the hustle-bustle of the town, this cottage is a place for nature lovers. The cottage is a small house with a tea room and a family room on the ground floor and two bedrooms on the first floor. The architecture is impressive but most of the cottage had been restored. The original cottage took a lot of beating over time and was vandalized.  Guided tours are the only way to see the cottage and no photography is allowed as most of the furniture is on loan from the national museum.

Mitchelstown cave: Like many others, these caves were discovered by accident. If this is your first time visiting a cave, you will definitely enjoy watching the formations. Having visited many of the best caves and caverns previously, it was a pretty quick stop for us. Good spot to get off the road and stretch your legs for a bit.

Blackrock Castle

Blackrock Castle Observatory: Visiting Blackrock Observatory is a great way to end your day. This is an old castle turned into an observatory with a functioning telescope. There is a separate castle tour and an observatory tour. The castle tour is very short and takes visitors to the top of the castle. You can get a look at the functioning telescope at the top and fantastic views of the River Lee. However, this telescope can be used only by Cork University students. The observatory is mostly self-guided and has a short guided tour in an inflated planetarium. 

Beautiful View of River Lee

Waterford House of Crystal, Waterford Co., Ireland

Waterford crystal is well known around the world for its quality and sparkle. Welcome to the birthplace of Waterford crystal. Photography is allowed both in the retail store and on the factory tour. I have toured many factories across countries throughout the years and photography is generally not allowed inside the factory tour.

If you have a deep appreciation for the crystal-like I do, take time to tour this facility. Waterford retail store is located in the visitor center and displays a huge collection of Waterford crystal from sports trophies to ring holders.

Take your time to see these exquisite pieces in display and appreciate the craftsmanship, even if you do not intend to make a purchase. A guided tour will start every half hour. In winter and early spring, crowds are thin.

Factory tours are guided and last roughly for an hour. Tour starts with a small video of the origins and the process of crystal making and how Waterford became a center of this craft.

The tour guide will walk you through the process of glass blowing, quality control, marking, cutting, and finishing. It is amazing to see the craftsman skillfully shape a hot molten blob into an elegant piece of crystal. The crystal has to pass stringent standards to go to the next stage. Else, they are rejected and smashed.

Cutting, the most complicated stage of all and a unique selling proposition of Waterford crystal. Watch the craftsman up close as they make complicated cuts on crystal and add finishing touches. The last part of the tour has more display pieces and the tour ends back in the retail store.