Clare North Video Travel Guides

Ireland


Great Videos and Photos of the Best Places and Things to see in Clare North Ireland. For the independent traveller who is interested in seeing places while planning their next trip. Or for anyone who likes to be close to nature and see the quieter parts of the country or city

Visit Co.Clare in the West of Ireland - stand above or below the world renowned Cliffs of Moher. Enjoy traditional Irish Music and some local craic





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Cliffs of Moher Coastal Path

The Cliffs of Moher coastal path stretches from Doolin Village north of the cliffs to Hags Head in the south. The path is well maintained and provides great views of the cliffs. The path can be picked up at the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre.

Cliffs of Moher Sea View

Cliffs of Moher Sea View

Cliffs of Moher Coastal Path

A great way to view the Cliffs of Moher is from below, by taking a trip on one of the ferries that operate from Doolin. The ferry takes you right underneath the cliffs and close to Branaunmore a large sea stack. The round trip time is about an hour.

Cliffs of Moher

Cliffs of Moher

Cliffs of Moher Coastal Path

Irelands highest cliffs plunge over 200 metres into the swelling Atlantic below.

Facing the swells of the Atlantic Ocean, the Cliffs of Moher stand 215m facing west and extend over a distance of 8km along the coast of Co. Clare.

Regardless of the weather the view from cliffs is always spectacular – whether it's the sun setting on the western horizon, the mist rising and clinging to the sheer cliffs, or the thousands of sea birds gliding hundreds of metres below to their precariously built nests on the rock faces  or the view of the Aran Islands, Galway Bay and the twelve Pins.

The Cliffs of Moher take their name from a ruined promontory fort "Mothar" which was demolished during the Napoleonic wars to make room for a signal tower.

Special Protection Area

The Cliffs of Moher are home to one of the major colonies of cliff nesting seabirds in Ireland. The area was designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) for Birds under the EU Birds Directive in 1986 and as a Refuge for Fauna in 1988.

Hags Head

Hags Head

Cliffs of Moher Coastal Path

The Cliffs of Moher stretch from just south of Doolin Village to Hags Head - around Hags Head they rise to about 120 metres while close to O'Briens tower they reach their highest point at 214 metres. At the tip of the head there is an old watch tower known as Moher Tower. A well maintained walk way stretches from Hags head back to Doolin.


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Doolin

Doolin village is situated close to the start of the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Path and along the Burren Route from Blackhead.

Doolin  Village

Doolin Village

Doolin

Through out the year traditional music can be heard in most of the pubs.

Doolin a small village with a huge music tradition lies on the coast a little north of the Cliffs of Moher.

The village has been at the centre of Irish Traditional music since the 60s. While the village is tiny, there are nevertheless three pubs which invariably have music sessions most nights during the summer and if you visit off season you may be lucky to step into an impromptu session.

The Great Stalactite

When in the village make sure you visit Doolin's cave and the home of the The Great Stalactite, which is over 7 m in length and is regarded as the longest stalactite in the northern hemisphere.

Potholers

The whole of the north Clare region sits above a huge cave network many of which still await to be discovered by the lone sheep dog, or the farmer out strolling or by the growing potholing community.

Doolin Ferries

Doolin Ferries

Doolin

There is a choice of ferries from Doolin Pier. Both operating services to the Aran Islands and a tour below the Cliffs of Moher. Tickets can be bought on the pier or in a number of locations in Doolin.

Surfing at Doolin

Surfing at Doolin

Doolin

In the last fifteen years surfing below the Cliffs of Moher and around Doolin has become popular for the experienced surfer. Aileen a big surfing wave can be found at times close to the cliffs.


Further Reading on Wikipedia : Doolin

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Burren Loop

Explore the Burren Loop - from Ballyvaughan west past Blackhead and down the coast to Doolin then across to the R480 route and head back towards Ballyvaughan stopping at Poulnabrone Dolmen along the way.

Ballyvaughan

Ballyvaughan

Burren Loop

On the edge of the Burren, Ballyvaughan is a small village offering accommodation and good food.

Ballyvaughan is situated in North Clare on the southern shores of Galway Bay.

The village was formerly a fishing port and still has two excellent stone piers. Lobster and crab fishing is still a supplemental economic activity for local farmers and residents.

Aillwee Caves

The Aillwee Cave system which is open to the public lies just a few miles from Ballyvaughan. The caves are reputed to be one of the oldest  at over 1 million years .

The cave began to form when streams sinking underground on Aillwee Mountain started dissolving channels through the lines of weakness in the limestone. Over the millennia these channels grew and became large tubes and tunnels.

The caves have been developed as a tourism resource helping to make a visit an enjoyable experience for the family.

Black Head

Black Head

Burren Loop

Enjoy the Burren Drive from Ballyvaughan around the coast past Blackhead and down to Doolin.

The Burren is an area of limestone rock covering mountains, hills and valleys.

The region has a wealth of flora and fauna – many flowers have cultivated niches in the microclimates within the limestone crevices (grykes). Spring time is an especially wonderful time to visit when the hills are covered with hidden Gentians,- Mountain Avons and an array of Orchids.

Megalithic Tombs

The landscape is dotted with megalithic tombs, forts- and monuments many dating to an era prior to the pyramids and natural formations such as swallow holes, caves and disappearing lakes and rivers.

A visit to the Burren Centre at Kilfenora is recommended.

Latitude Longitude ( Google)

53.072289,-9.186745

Fanore Beach

Fanore Beach

Burren Loop

The village and beach of Fanore lie on the westerly edge of the Burren. At low tide one can see the Burren Limestone pavements stretch down the beach and disaappear into the Atlantic - to reappear across the water on the Aran Islands.

Dereen Cliffs

Dereen Cliffs

Burren Loop

The cliffs around by Dereen are well worth viewing - though nothing as spectacular as the Cliffs of Moher. When driving south - pull into one of the car laybys along side the landward side cliff, then cross the road and field towards the sea. Becareful along the cliff face as the wind can be threacherous at times and the footing can be unstable due to loose or jagged rocks.

Poulnabrone

Poulnabrone

Burren Loop

The Burren is a lanscape unque in Europe, with its clints and grykes, underground rivers, swallow holes and dolmen. The best example of a dolmen or portal tomb is at Poulnaborne dating back to Neolithic times.

During Ireland's ice age, the  ice-cap moved into the Burren from the north-east  carrying  with it some debris, such as the granite boulders (Glacial erratics) on the coast line.

However, the main action of the glacier was to scour the rock clean off any superficial cover that formerly may have lain on the surface, thus exposing and smoothly polishing the underlying bedrock which we know today as the largest classic karst limestone pavements in these islands.

Pavements are made up of two separate but integral parts known as clints and grykes. Clints are the blocks of limestone that constitute the paving, their area and shape is directly dependant upon the frequency and pattern of grykes.

Grykes are the fissures that isolate the individual clints. The most dominant gryke system runs almost north to south and there is a secondary less-developed system at right angles to it.

Grykes can stretch for hundreds of feet until they suddenly terminate or are lost beneath superficial deposits. Grykes are usually straight but are occasionally curvilinear

Source: http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/the_burren/limestone_pavements.htm - which provides excellent information on the Burren


Further Reading on Wikipedia : Ballyvaughan

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Local Towns

Explore the local towns of Lisdoonvarna - famous for it's match making festival and Lahinch famous for its golf and surfing.

Lahinch

Lahinch

Local Towns

The village of Lahinch is an excellent base for exploring south Clare or the Burren areas

It is within close proximity to the Cliffs of Moher, The Burren, Ailwee Caves and many other local attractions.

There is an excellent championship golf course on it's doorstep and if you are the active type who likes to surf or skim or paddle a board then you won't be disappointed with the breaking waves and surfing water.

Lahinch is rapidly becoming- a major player on the European surfing map.

Lahinch  Golf Course

Lahinch Golf Course

Local Towns

When in the area visit the Lahinch Championship Golf course for a great round of golf and a friendly welcome

The Old Course at Lahinch Golf Club:

An Irish treasure loved by pros and amateurs alike

Playing the Old Course at Lahinch just a week before winning the 2009 Open Championship, Stewart Cink came away smitten with the club. The "first 10 holes at Lahinch are some of the coolest links holes I've ever played," Cink said. His comments only solidify Lahinch's status among the top links golf courses, not only in Ireland, but in the world.

Phil Mickelson rates Lahinch among his all-time favourite links layouts though that's what you'd expect from a golf course touched by the magical hands of Old Tom Morris and Alister Mackenzie. Lahinch is a traditional, out-and-back links and is a true classic and you'll relish every moment, specially the unique challenges of the par 5 4th followed by a blinding par 3 amidst the dunes.

Lisdoonvarna

Lisdoonvarna

Local Towns

For as long as anyone can remember Lisdoonvarna has hosted a matchmaking festival. If you are looking for love or ceol agus craic this is the place to be in September

Lisdoonvarna or colloquially known as Lisdoon was formerly a spa town – the Hydro Hotel on the edge of the town is close to the former baths.

Today – well in particular during September the town becomes known for its Matchmaking Festival.

This is certainly Ireland's and probably Europe's largest Singles festival and relegates speed dating to the lower divisions.

The festival runs for a full month and if you are still single at the end of the month you must have fallen asleep when opportunity knocked and you will be waiting a wee bit longer for the match.

For those who need a bit of assistance or a push, a visit to the matchmaking guru is a must – so if you don't trust your pulling powers trust the guru.

Apart from the festival Lisdoonvarna is a good base for touring County Clare, the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher



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