Located in the center of the Wild Atlantic Way, this coastal road 2500 kilometers long, County Clare has some tourist attractions such as the Cliffs of Moher or the fantastic limestone plateau of Burren and no less than 200 castles and 2300 forts... The desert landscapes alternate with picturesque villages and their garish houses. To escape the crowds, we offer you some walks off the beaten track.
To discover
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Hiking along the Cliffs of Moher
Visitors to the Cliffs of Moher come for two reasons: the staggering height of the rock face and the breathtaking view from the top. Chris Hill
It's one of the most visited places in Ireland, so you might as well take the side roads avoiding joining the hundreds of tourists who just stop at the visitor center to get a glimpse of the cliffs. Prefer the walk along the coastal path that runs along the top of the cliffs. Start at Hag's Head, along the way you can admire the three Aran Islands and strips of Atlantic puffins. The path is exposed to the wind and can be muddy. Leave equipped and well shod (avoid sneakers). The Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk Shuttle Bus will take you back to the parking lot. In summer, board one of the ferries that take you to the foot of the cliffs. The view below the walls more than 200 meters high is impressive and will give you an idea of the power of the waves that have created rock sculptures like the spur of An Branán Mór. For photographers, light is divine at sunset.
> More info about cliffsofmoher.ie.
Discover the Burren
A vast plateau dotted with rock formations, caves, fossils and an incredible array of plants, the Burren is one of Ireland's most captivating landscapes. Brian Morrison
In the far north of the county, limestone slabs spread along the coast and offer a desert landscape, sometimes lunar but beautiful. Burren comes from the Gaelic word and means "rocky place". The 26km long Black Head Loop is quite demanding but offers a variety of grassy paths and flower-covered mountain trails in the summer. Thanks to the silt carried by the wind into the cracks, rare flower species grow in the hollow of the slabs such as orchids or blood geraniums. On the way, the bravest will splash in the transparent waters of Fanore Beach. Wild goats, martens and Irish hares frolic freely.
> More info on nationalparks.ie.
Learn about perfume
The wildflowers of the Burren are the inspiration for The Burren Perfumery. MICHAEL_KOENIGSHOFER
The wildflowers of the Burren are the source of inspiration for The Burren Perfumery, a family workshop where perfumes, candles and soaps are handcrafted in beautiful handmade boxes. A ten-minute film presents the diversity of flora of the region. Then, go for a stroll through the organic flower and herb garden to learn the secrets of mixology of these plants. At certain times of the year workshops are organized to make your own perfume. A tea room offers a nice menu of organic dishes and cakes for lunch or afternoon tea.
> More info on burrenperfumery.com.
Pub crawl Doolin
This tiny fishing port is famous all over the world for the quality of its music. Tourism Ireland
This tiny fishing port is famous all over the world for the quality of its music. Gus O'Connors Pub, the best known, has kept its authenticity and offers live music every night. Order a Guinness at the counter, take a seat at a table and let yourself be lulled by the pretty chords strummed on the guitars. If it's too crowded, go to McDermott's Pub, run by the same family since 1867, or McGann's, with its old photos on the wall that give it an old-fashioned charm.
Visit the filming locations of The Banshees of Inisherin
The impressive Innishmore Cliffs in the Aran Islands. Tourism Ireland
Although the Aran Islands belong to the neighbouring county of Galway, it would be a shame not to go there knowing that the ferry reaches them in 30 minutes from Doolin (in summer). The largest, Innishmore, hosted the film crews for The Banshees of Inisherin. You will find some mythical scenes such as the one where Pádraic (played by Colin Farrell) and Dominic are sitting on the low wall with the cliffs in the background, is located at the fort of Dun Aengus. All the details of the scenes shot on the island are on the aranislands.ie website. Inishmaan, the less touristy island will give you a better idea of the local culture where the Irish language is spoken more often than English. Finally, the third Ininsheer, the smallest, can boast of offering the prettiest white sand beach in the region. Rent an electric bike and go with your nose to the wind to stroll between the stone walls.
> More info about ireland.com.
Do you know the Irish islands where The Banshees of Inisherin were filmed?
Practical notebook
The castle of Doonagore is a round tower of the sixteenth century located 1 m above the coastal village of Doolin. Brian Morrison
How to get there
Dublin Airport remains the best option as it offers many direct flights from the France (airfrance.fr; transavia.com; aerlingus.ie). It then takes 2h30 by car from Dublin airport to reach County Clare by the M7. Nearby, Ryanair flies to Béziers and Marseille by direct flight from Shannon (ryanair.com).
Where to sleep
The Wild Honey Inn has 14 guest rooms. Press photo
Wild Honey Inn (wildhoneyinn.com). Famous for being the only pub in Ireland with a Michelin star, it is also a lovely romantic address to stay in. Tel: +353 65 707 4300.
Where to eat
The Ivy Cottage (theivycottage.ie). The Clam Showder is the best we have eaten during our stay and you will never be disappointed by the fish of the day. Tel: +353 85 864 3269.
> More info about ireland.com.
See alsoWhen to go to Ireland? Temperature and weather, the best time by region
