Why You Should Add County Clare to Your Irish Bucket List

County Clare is possibly one of the most popular Irish county amongst tourists, and rightly so. There is so much to do and see in the Banner county, from it's history to breathtaking landscape, and of course an abundance of little country pubs, where you can guarantee to get a good pint of Guinness.

We took the three hour road trip from Dublin to Clare for a weekend away, early in February and, although we didn't have the best weather (we arrived in the middle of Storm Ciara), we still fell in love with where we were.

Take a read why we think you should definitely add County Clare to your Irish bucket list.

1. Doolin Village

Doolin, otherwise known as the capital of traditional Irish music, is one of the more popular villages in co clare. During the summer, tourists flock to the village, so much so that at times it can be as busy as Temple Bar.

Doolin is the perfect spot to stay, as it is in the middle of all the tourist attractions of clare. The Wild Atlantic Way runs through the village, the Burren, Doolin Caves and the Alliwee Caves are only a short drive away, as are the Cliffs of Moher. You can also start the Cliffs of Moher walk from Doolin, and if you wanted to take a trip to the Aran islands, ferries run from Doolin pier daily.

Note: The Ferries from Doolin are seasonal, only starting in March through to November. We learned that the hard way, after we had booked our stay on Inis Mor. Disaster. Luckily enough the storm came along and they we're more than happy to reschedule our stay.

However, if you are looking to book a trip to the Islands during the winter months. ferries do run from Rossaveal in Galway, or you can fly over too, if you're feeling adventurous.

Doolin village itself is a colourful seaside Irish village, typical to what tourists would expect to see from Ireland. Pubs on every corner, with live Irish traditional music every night.

McGanns pub was one that stood out to us. We sat by the open fire, drying ourselves off after being caught in the rain. The hospitality from the staff was second to none, and they made us toasties even after the kitchen had closed! Although there was no live music that night (it was off season), we were happy to sit back and enjoy our pints in the traditional Irish pub.

There's plenty of accomodation options in Doolin, from hostels, to B&bs and hotels. We stayed in the lovely Doolin Village Accommodation guest house, only a couple minutes walk from the village. The host Sarah was lovely, as was the room we stayed in. Would definitely recommend staying it to anyone visiting!

2. Cliffs of Moher

One of the main reasons people take the trip down to Co Clare is to visit the famous Cliffs of Moher. As one of Ireland's top tourist attractions, the Cliffs of Moher attracts over one million visitors each year.

If you're feeling adventurous, and the weather is good, you can hike the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk. The 13km walk, from Doolin to Hags Head, allows you to take in the breathtaking views of the cliffs, and the atlantic ocean, and on a good day, the Aran Islands in the distance.

For the less adventurous or, like when we visited, the weather is particularly bad, the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre is the perfect spot to still be able to take in the views.

The Visitor Centre costs €6 admission for adults, but children under 16 are free. Here you can take in the breathtaking views of the cliffs from its highest points, at O'brien's Tower. Inside the centre itself offers an abundance of information about the flora and fauna amongst the cliffs, through different exhibitions, and you can also find a variety of gift shops, built into the hillside.

It can be windy on the cliffs, even on a good day, so when we visited, I'm surprised we weren't blown away. Probably not our most clever idea.

Note: You can also take day trips to the Cliffs of Moher from Dublin, with tour companies such as the paddy wagon or wild rover tours. They will bring you to the Visitor Centre.

Doolin Ferry Co. also does ferry tours, where you can see the Cliffs from below.

3. The Burren

A quick drive from Doolin, and you will find yourself surrounded by the stunning Karst landscape of the Burren. The name 'Burren' actually translates to 'a rocky place', and it certainly lives up to its name.

The rocky terrain, likened to something you would see in a Lord of the Rings movie, is far different to the green hills you would normally see on an Irish road trip. Beautiful greenery grows in between the clints and grikes, and it is home to many caves, some which you can visit.

The Wild Atlantic Way drive will bring you through the picturesque limestone pavements of the Burren, with rocky hills on one side of you and beautiful views of the Atlantic ocean on the other. There are plenty of spots to pull in along the way, to get that perfect Instagram photo.

You can also visit the Burren Visitor Centre, in Kilfenora, at the heart of the Burren, where you can learn about its history, and embark on a choice of walks around the UNESCO Geopark.

4. Aillwee Caves

Located in the heart of the Burren, the Aillwee Caves are Ireland's largest known cave system.

They were discovered in 1944 by a local man named Jack McGann, who chased his dog into a rabbit hole, and today they are a popular tourist attraction.

Visitors can pay €15 (adult) for a guided tour of the cave system. Along the eerily lit tunnels you will see Bear bones from two different time periods (don't worry, there's no bears in Ireland today), breathtaking underground streams and waterfalls, and stunning calcite formations. It is definitely worth the money to visit the popular tourist attraction.

We were lucky to get a private tour when we were there, as it was off season and they don't get as many visitors at that time of year.

You can also visit the Birds of Prey experience when you are at the caves, and see the famous 'Very Dark Caves' sign from the Irish tv show, Father Ted.

Although it is indoors, and great for a rainy day activity, the bad weather can also be a downfall when visiting the caves. When we visited in February, half of the cave was flooded, and subsequently closed off.

5. Doolin Caves

Doolin caves are the lesser known cave system located in the Burren, but they are definitely a must see.

The caves are home to Europe's largest Stalactite, known as the 'The Great Stalactite', which dangles over seven metres from the ceiling, and when the light shines on it, it resembles a chandelier.

The guided tour brings you down winding stairway shaft, where you then need to put on a safety helmet, to protect you from the low ceilings. We bumped our heads several times so we were glad to have them on, even if they weren't very stylish. Along the tour you get to see small calcite formations, underground streams, and even fossils embedded within the stones, before being presented with the jaw dropping 'Great Stalactite'.

Back up in the fresh air, you can walk around the nature trail, or enjoy a coffee in the café.

In our eyes, the Doolin caves are a must when visiting Co. Clare.

6. Father Teds House

If you are familiar with the hit Irish Tv show, Father Ted, a trip to Co Clare would not be complete without a stop off at Father Ted's iconic parochial house.

Contrary to what you might think, the house is not on 'Craggy Island', but located about a 30 minutes drive from the Aillwee Caves, along narrow country roads, but it is exactly as you would imagine from seeing it on Tv. Unfortunately it is private property, so you can only admire the house from the front gates. We did feel a little odd taking photos of a strangers house, but I am sure the owners are well used to tourists gathering outside.

You can, however, book in advance to go to afternoon tea in the house, with the owners, where you can take a look around and see some familiar scenes from the show.

There is much more to do in Co. Clare, from surfing in Lahinch, or visiting Bunratty Castle, but overall, we would definitely recommend adding it to your Irish Bucket List. 

Food Recommendations:

Danny Mac's Pub in Lahinch does an amazing chowder, perfect to warm you up after a windy walk along the Cliffs.

Accommodation Recommendations:

Doolin Village Accommodation guest house.

Cliffs of Moher Hotel, Liscannor.