Walk 3 - Cliff's of Moher cliff top walk
Overview: The Cliff's of Moher are one of Clare's main tourist attractions. The cliff path from Moher Tower to O'Brien's Tower and beyond used to be part of the Burren Way, and is one of the most exhilarating walks in Ireland, but perhaps also one of the most dangerous. Recently it has been made increasingly difficult to gain access to this path, and yet it is still extremely well trodden, with many people choosing to ignore the signs at the visitor centre. Care should be taken if you manage to gain access to it, as is extremely close to the edge in places, and would advise anyone suffering with vertigo not to attempt it.
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Getting there: On approaching Lehinch from the Ennistymon direction you will approach a junction to your right for the R478 to Liscannor and the Cliffs of Moher. Follow this road through Liscannor and for a further 2 - 3 miles and you will reach the visitor centre and car parks. Car parking on the right was € 8 when I went in February 2009 and you could park here for the day.
The Walk: Including this walk has proved a dilemma. There is no doubt it is dangerous and there are issues of tresspassing if you choose to ignore signs at the visitor centre and likewise at its southern end near Moher Tower, where no tresspassing signs have also been erected across locked gates. Even so, this path remains extremely well walked as you can see at the southern end of the visitor centre with many people choosing to ignore the signs, which is why I have decided to include it. Distance between the two towers is approximately two miles and you should allow yourself about an hour and a half to walk from one end to the other. The ground underfoot is quite good but as the path is extremely close to the edge I would advise extreme caution and definitely discourage taking children on it.
The view's along the route are breathtaking as the cliffs are sheer and around 650ft at their highest point and while other sea cliffs in Ireland are higher - notably those on Mayo, Kerry and Donegal - none of these are as vertical.
Seawards the views across to the Aran Islands are superb and as the path nears Moher Tower on the southern end there are good views across to Liscannor and Lehinch. The ledges on the cliffs make ideal nesting places and vast colonies of seabirds, including fulmars, shags, kittiwakes, razorbills, guillemots and puffins inhabit Moher.
An alternative suggestion would be to walk from a point north of O'Brien's tower adding another mile to the length of the walk. For this I would avoid the car park at the visitor centre and park at a point approximately half a mile beyond the visitor centre on a minor road to the right of the R478 at the foot of a steep bend in the road. Cross the R478 from the minor road and through a gate (there aren't any private property notices here) and follow the track for approx 50 yds and through a gate on the left. Follow the fence down to a stile and cross this in the corner of the field. There is a fantastic view of the cliffs from this spot. Follow the path upwards and you will eventually reach the highest point of the path from which you will see a triangulation stone to your left, which you can walk to by crossing the fence. There is a good all round view from here. Back on the path carry on in a southerly direction till you reach O’Briens tower.
You are now at the Cliff's and visitor centre where you can carry on the walk along the cliffs to Moher Tower.
O'Brien's Tower with Moher Tower and Hag's Head in the distance
