Read about a road trip from Dublin to Clare by car. Travel from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher by car. See Cliffs of Moher puffins along the way. Drive from Dublin to Clare for a weekend.
Every once in a while, we'll hire a car and explore some far-flung part of Ireland. In this case, we were inspired to see puffins and decided to drive from Dublin to Clare.
We didn't know when we visited for the first time that the Cliffs of Moher are one of the few places in the world where you can see puffins from land at certain times of the year (May through July).
I'm fascinated by these wonderful little birds so we decided to build an Irish road trip weekend around a visit to see them. Here are some highlights from two days in the West of Ireland covering the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren in County Clare with a few pitstops along the way.
Barack Obama Plaza
Irish people are fascinated by U.S. President Barack Obama and his visit in 2011 was well-received and widely followed. Obama claims his ancestral home is in Moneygall and he famously downed a pint of Guinness while visiting the small town.
To commemorate the visit, the residents of Moneygall now have their very own Barack Obama Plaza (highway rest area) to call their own. It's conveniently located at about the halfway point on the drive from Dublin to Clare so we stopped in for a coffee and a snack.
Beating the Tourists to the Cliffs by Being an Early Riser
We started our drive from Dublin to Clare by 7 am in an attempt to beat the tourist hordes to the Cliffs of Moher. As you can see here, we did indeed benefit from being early risers.
We were nearly the only ones at the Cliffs of Moher when we arrived at around 10 am and were treated to a solo performance by this man and his dog with stunning views of the cliffs behind.
.jpg "Dublin to Clare Ireland: Cliffs of Moher Busker")
Straining to see the Puffins at the Cliffs of Moher!
We walked out onto the trail along the Cliffs of Moher in search of puffins. We heard that they lived on a small island not far from the visitors center.
As we were walking, I noticed an island dotted with small black and white spots. Straining to see with my binoculars, I soon excitedly realized that this island was simply covered in puffins!
I wish I'd had slightly better binoculars and a camera with a bigger zoom lens. My camera can do up to 50x and was able to capture the pictures below. Mission accomplished!
.jpg "Dublin to Clare Road Trip: Puffins at the Cliffs of Moher")
The Hike to Hags Head
Hags Head is between 1.5 and 2 hours from the Cliffs of Moher visitors center and is a fairly accessible hike. We drank in stunning views along the way.
While we visited early and the crowds were minimal, by the time we got back, the visitors center was swarming with tourists. The thickness of the crowds was directly proportional to the distance from the visitors center.
For a more serene visit, consider taking this beautiful hike. Just don't look down...Much of the trail runs along cliff's edge.
Picnic on the Edge in County Clare
En route to Hags Head, we spread out a picnic blanket in a grassy area and stopped for a peaceful picnic lunch with stunning views. A picnic is great way to break up the relatively long walk to Hags Head.
A Bit of Birdwatching in County Clare
In addition to puffins, the Cliffs of Moher are home to countless seabirds and other species. We were lucky enough to spot several species on our hike including this cheeky rook in the parking lot.
SIDEWALK SAFARI SPOTLIGHT: Looking for other ideas for a short road trip in Ireland? Have you considered driving from Dublin to Waterford and Wexford, Dublin to Dingle, Dublin to Kinsale, driving the Ring of Kerry to Waterville, Dublin to Sligo, or spending a weekend on Carlingford Lough?
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Creating a Personal Dolmen
As we were hiking out to Hags Head, we came upon the scene below. Scores of previous hikers had left behind little piles of rocks to mark that they'd been here.
We couldn't resist joining them and added our own personal dolmen to the collection using the rocks strewn about. Keep an eye out for it as ours is right next to the trail at about eye level ;-)
Wildflowers with a View
I love a great view. There is nothing I like more except maybe a view framed by wildflowers. Our hike to Hags Head at the Cliffs of Moher took us past riotous patches of summer flowers.
.jpg "Drive from Dublin to Clare: Cliffs of Moher Wildflowers")
Craft Brew in Lisdoonvarna
After all the excitement seeing puffins and taking a hike at the Cliffs of Moher, we continued our Dublin to Clare road trip and drove towards the Burren. We stopped in the colorful little town of Lisdoonvarna which is most famous for its matchmaking festival.
Here, Willie Daly, Ireland's most famous matchmaker, attempts to pair up love-seekers who visit this small town in rural Ireland. Legend has it that if you touch Willie's "love ledger", you'll be married within 6 months.
We took the opportunity to stop at the Roadside Tavern for a glass of craft beer (pick Gold, Red, or Black). We limited ourselves to just a glass as we were driving shortly after.
A Drive through the Otherworldly Burren
The Burren is a landscape unique in the world. Millions of years ago, it was actually on the sea floor. Cracked gray slabs of rock lead out to the sea.
Verdant pastures sit at the base of rocky hills. When various weather patterns roll in, the photographic effect is stunning. The Burren is definitely one of the "must see" highlights on a Dublin to Clare drive in Ireland.
A Dusky Walk at Fanore Beach
Fanore is a small town in the Burren in Co. Clare and would be our home for the night. We went down to Fanore Beach at dusk and drank in the spectacular views as we walked in the sand.
Many Irish people that I've talked to since remember Fanore fondly as a holiday destination from their childhood. I'm glad we had a chance to visit on our Dublin to Clare weekend and recreate this typical Irish family trip if only just for one day.
Fish and Chips at O'Donoghue's Pub
In Fanore, there is basically one place you can go for dinner...O'Donoghue's Pub. You can't miss this bright blue building with yellow trim as you're driving through.
We stopped in for their famous fish and chips. Ballyvaughan is the next closest town to get decent food. Seeing that road the next day, I'm really glad we stayed 'local' as the ride would have been slightly harrowing especially after a full day driving from Dublin to see the sights in County Clare.
Can you believe we'd packed all this in in a day and had left Dublin that same morning! O'Donoghue's was just what the doctor ordered to finish off our day.
A Spectacular Sunset
The nice thing about road trips is that you can pack more than a backpack (carry-on luggage size for Ryanair). We actually popped a bottle of wine in the boot of the car that morning and had a glass while watching the sunset at our Bed and Breakfast.
The experience was truly exceptional as we watched the sun slip below the horizon against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean and Aran Islands.
.jpg "Dublin to Clare Road Trip Weekend: Sunset in Fanore")
Hike in the Burren
We woke up early the next day, ate breakfast at our B and B, and took a hike nearby before checking out and beginning the drive toward home. Once again, the unique landscape of the Burren enchanted us as we explored the area on foot.
Aillwee Caves Birds of Prey Center
On the return drive from Clare to Dublin, we stopped at the Aillwee Caves Birds of Prey Center. It was about 30-45 minutes from where we'd been staying in Fanore.
We arrived in time to have a quick walk around to see the different birds of prey in residence up close before settling in for the show where handlers 'flew' different birds for the audience to see.
The best part is that audience members had the opportunity to 'have a go', don a protective glove, and have the bird land on it. I got to hold the African raptor in the lower center picture. The hawks are much lighter than they look. That fellow only weighed about four pounds.
The Center was really well-run and educational. We also went to see the Aillwee Caves on a combination ticket. That was also interesting but it you've seen one cave in your life, there isn't really much new to see here. The birds were definitely the highlight for us!
An Impromptu Stop and Fab Thai Dinner in Athlone
The other great thing about road trips is that you have the ultimate flexibility to stop whenever and wherever you want. Our stomachs were rumbling in the late afternoon on the return drive from County Clare to Dublin and we consulted the map for possible candidates for an early dinner.
Athlone stood out as the biggest town nearby. We'd seen the town in the past as the train passed through and were curious about it so decided to get off the motorway and check it out.
We had coffee and cake along the river, took a hike to Burgess Park to admire the locks along the River Shannon, and ate a fantastic Thai meal at Kin Khao before finishing the remaining 1.5 hour drive back to Dublin.
We accomplished a lot during a very short period of time out in the West of Ireland in County Clare. We can't wait to explore even more. Where should we head next?
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