Rising to 214 m. at their highest point and ranging for 8 km along the western coast of County Clare, the Cliffs of Moher are one of the grand sights along Ireland’s stunning Wild Atlantic Way and an iconic symbol of the Emerald Isle.

As such, the cliffs are the most visited natural attraction in the country and every year more than a million people come to take in the spectacular views from O’Brien’s Tower, the landmark building standing at the cliffs’ highest point, and to marvel at the sheer rock face and the thousands of birds that live in this special protected area.

While breath-taking at any time, the cliffs have a special allure in the early morning light and as twilight falls on them. The rising or setting sun casts mystical shadows and imbues the rock with pink and orange hues making them a thing of beguiling beauty.

Away from the crowds the senses are alive to the sound of the waves, the call of birds and the special atmosphere that has inspired a raft of folk tales about this dramatic landscape.

Avoiding the peak season and peak times has other benefits too. At off-peak times, visitors will pay half of the normal entrance price, skip the queues, and have space to wander at leisure through the eco-friendly visitor centre, which is nestled in the hillside, within which an exhibition brings the story of the cliffs to life.

A morning or evening visit also allows visitors to make the most of the day and the attractions of the area.

For example, keen walkers can enjoy a morning visit to the cliffs and then set off on the dramatic Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk. The full route spans 20 km but there are shorter stretches, from 5 km to 12 km, each departing from the visitor centre.

Doolin

Or follow an early cliff-top visit with a round-trip cruise from Doolin that allows appreciation of the full scale of the cliffs and reveals their sea-lashed sides and hidden caves. Back in the pretty village of Doolin, fresh seafood and traditional Irish music beckons in one of many friendly pubs.

Burren

The Cliffs of Moher are also part of a geopark that also includes the unique landscape of the Burren and visitors can easily combine a visit to both sites, beginning at the Burren National Park with its limestone pavements and fascinating fossils and ending with a spectacular view of the cliffs at sunset.

Take a virtual tour of the Cliffs of Moher.