Things to do in Co. Clare
38 places
1.The Flying Alpaca
Home to Supreme Champion Alpaca 2023
A family-run alpaca farm near Kilkee, County Clare, where two Italians swapped city life for muddy wellies and a herd of charismatic alpacas. Book ahead for walks, cuddles, and even soap-making — all on the scenic Loop Head Peninsula.
- Highlights
- One of the few herds of rare Suri alpacas in Ireland
- Award-winning alpaca wool (Supreme Champion Alpaca 2023 — Jozi)
- Run by Italian hosts Barbara & Mike, with experiences in English, French & Italian
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
2.Cliff Walk Kilkee
214m-high cliffs with no barriers
A dramatic, crowd-free alternative to the Cliffs of Moher, the Kilkee Cliff Walk offers 8km of sheer limestone cliffs, sea stacks, and Atlantic panoramas — all free and open year-round right from the edge of Kilkee town.
- Highlights
- 214m-high limestone cliffs with no barriers — raw and uncrowded
- The Pollock Holes — natural tidal swimming pools
- Bishop's Island sea stack and nesting seabird colony
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
3.Cliffs of Campoy
WWII EIRE neutrality sign on cliff
Dramatic, unguarded cliffs on the wild Loop Head Peninsula — all the Atlantic drama of the Cliffs of Moher with a fraction of the crowds.
- Highlights
- Unguarded wild Atlantic cliffs without the crowds
- Loop Head Lighthouse tours (seasonal)
- WWII EIRE neutrality sign on the clifftop
4.Derg Isle Adventure Centre
white-tailed sea eagles nest nearby
A family-run adventure hub on the leafy western shore of Lough Derg where the Blueways meet the Greenways — paddle calm river channels, tackle a Fittest Family-style obstacle course, or simply hire a boat and explore the lake at your own pace.
- Highlights
- White-tailed sea eagles nesting nearby
- Direct lake access via sheltered channels
- Fittest Family-style obstacle course
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
5.Lough Avalla Farm
legendary apple tart at a farm tea house
A 5.2 km waymarked loop through a working organic farm in the heart of the Burren — hazel woods, limestone pavement, a holy well, and a legendary tea house with homemade apple tart waiting at the end.
- Highlights
- 5.2 km moderate loop through a working organic farm
- Purple-arrow waymarking with standing-stone slabs
- Holy well with drinking cups provided
6.West Lake Aqua Park Killaloe
Largest inflatable water park on Lough Derg
Ireland's largest inflatable water park, floating on the stunning waters of Lough Derg — 16+ obstacles, giant slides, and splash-filled fun for ages 6 and up.
- Highlights
- Ireland's largest inflatable water park
- 16+ obstacles including Everest slide & Thor jumping platform
- Second consecutive session half price
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
7.12 O'Clock Hills
Quirky compass-sundial at summit
A community-run hill-walking haven in East Clare, where three waymarked trails climb through forest, heritage ruins, and bogland to panoramic views across Munster — all anchored by a quirky compass-sundial at the summit.
- Highlights
- 309m summit with 360° views across Munster and the Shannon Estuary
- Unique compass-sundial for identifying distant landmarks
- Fairyland and Kindness Rocks trail for families
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
8.Bridges of Ross
Last surviving sea arch of an original trio
A lone natural sea arch on the wild Loop Head Peninsula — the sole survivor of three original rock bridges, carved by the Atlantic over millennia. A Wild Atlantic Way Discovery Point famed for raw coastal scenery and world-class autumn seabird migration.
- Highlights
- Last surviving natural sea arch of an original trio
- Internationally significant autumn seabird passage
- Unguarded, rugged Wild Atlantic Way coastline
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
9.Cliffs of Moher
Views of five counties from O'Brien's Tower
Ireland's most celebrated coastal spectacle — 214-metre cliffs towering over the Atlantic, with safe paved paths, a cave-like visitor centre built into the hillside, and views stretching to the Aran Islands on a clear day.
- Highlights
- 214m sheer drop at highest point, just north of O'Brien's Tower
- Voted Ireland's Best Visitor Attraction (Irish Independent 2023)
- Part of the Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark
10.Doolin Cliff Walks
Guided by a fifth-generation local farmer
A spectacular guided (or self-guided) coastal walk along the Cliffs of Moher from Doolin, led by fifth-generation local farmer Pat Sweeney — one of the most authentic ways to experience Ireland's most famous sea cliffs, far from the crowds.
- Highlights
- Guided by Pat Sweeney, a fifth-generation local farmer who created the trail
- Far fewer crowds than the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre approach
- Crosses working farmland with grazing cattle and sheep beside the sea
11.Pollock Holes
Sea pools carved into a 320-million-year-old reef
Natural sea pools carved into 320-million-year-old Duggerna Reef at Kilkee's west end — swim, snorkel, or simply marvel at these crystal-clear Atlantic pools, exposed only at low tide.
- Highlights
- Four large natural sea pools (1–2.5m deep, 20–50m across)
- 320-million-year-old carboniferous sandstone reef
- Water warms to ~20°C in late summer
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
12.Ballycuggaran Forest Car Park
Trailhead to Clare's highest peak
A gateway trailhead in the Slieve Bernagh Mountains with waymarked forest walks, access to Clare's highest peak, and sweeping views over Lough Derg.
- Highlights
- Panoramic views over Lough Derg
- Clare's highest point (Moylussa, 532 m)
- Three waymarked forest trails
13.Bothar nA hAillite
a wild, unfenced clifftop road above the Atlantic
A wild, wind-battered pull-in on the R479 clifftop road near Ballyryan, where bare Burren limestone meets the Atlantic with no fences, no queues and no admission gate. Stop on the drive between Doolin and the Cliffs of Moher and you can stand right at the cliff edge.
- Highlights
- Unfenced clifftop viewpoints right at the Atlantic edge
- Bare Burren limestone pavement underfoot
- Aran Islands and Connemara visible on clear days
- Facilities
- Good for kids
14.Burren National Park
23 of Ireland's 27 orchid species
A surreal karst landscape of limestone pavement, rare wildflowers, and ancient heritage — the Burren is unlike anywhere else in Ireland. Free to explore, with guided walks and a shuttle bus from the pretty village of Corofin.
- Highlights
- Europe's largest karst limestone landscape
- 23 of Ireland's 27 orchid species found here
- Seven colour-coded waymarked trails (30 min to 3+ hours)
15.Cliffs of Moher Walking Trail
See puffins from free clifftop trail
A stunning clifftop trail rising from sea level at Doolin to jaw-dropping views of the Atlantic, the Aran Islands, and Ireland's most famous sea cliffs — all walkable for free.
- Highlights
- Puffins nesting on grassy cliff banks (May–June)
- Doonagore Castle visible from the early section of trail
- Views to the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, and on clear days the Dingle Peninsula
16.Craggaunowen Castle & Crannóg
A leather boat that crossed the Atlantic
Ireland's original award-winning prehistoric park where you can walk through a reconstructed Bronze Age village, explore a 16th-century castle, and see the leather boat that crossed the Atlantic — all in one wooded, lakeside setting.
- Highlights
- Reconstructed Bronze Age crannóg lake dwelling
- 16th-century MacNamara tower house
- The Brendan Boat — Tim Severin's transatlantic leather vessel
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
17.Dolphinwatch Carrigaholt
98% dolphin sightings over 25 years
Ireland's premier dolphin-watching experience: a marine biologist-led boat trip into the Shannon Estuary, home to Europe's largest resident group of bottlenose dolphins — with a 98%+ encounter rate over 25+ years.
- Highlights
- Over 98% dolphin encounter rate
- Marine biologist-led commentary
- Gold-certified by Ecotourism Ireland
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
18.Doolin Cave
Europe's largest free-hanging stalactite (23ft)
Home to the Great Stalactite — at 7.3 metres (23 feet), the largest free-hanging stalactite in Europe — Doolin Cave offers a genuine underground adventure in the heart of the Burren.
- Highlights
- Europe's largest free-hanging stalactite (7.3m / 23ft)
- 125 steps down — equivalent to an 8-storey building
- Constant 11°C underground temperature year-round
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
19.Kilkee beach
Three natural rock-enclosed sea pools
A magnificent horseshoe-shaped Blue Flag beach sheltered by Duggerna Reef, Kilkee has been a beloved seaside resort since Victorian times — famed for its natural rock pools, cliff walks, and world-class diving.
- Highlights
- Blue Flag award for water quality
- 1.5km golden sandy beach in a sheltered horseshoe bay
- Pollock Holes — three natural rock-enclosed sea pools
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
20.Moher Hill Open Farm and Leisure Park
Meet Highland cows and ostriches
An award-winning, zoo-licensed 15-acre open farm overlooking Liscannor Bay, just minutes from the Cliffs of Moher — where families can meet everything from Highland cows to ostriches, rain or shine.
- Highlights
- Zoo-licensed 15-acre farm overlooking Liscannor Bay
- Just off the Cliffs of Moher road — easy to combine with the cliffs
- Indoor play barn with ball pool, bouncing castle & go-karts
21.Quin Friary
a 15th-century friary built inside a Norman castle
A remarkably intact 15th-century Franciscan friary built inside the ruins of a 13th-century Norman castle, in the village of Quin, County Clare.
- Highlights
- Among the most intact medieval Franciscan friaries in Ireland
- 15th-century cloister and bell-tower
- Built within the ruins of de Clare's 13th-century castle
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
22.Twomilegate
Blue Flag freshwater beach on Lough Derg
A Blue Flag freshwater beach and lakeside park on Lough Derg, combining safe swimming, woodland walks, and water sports just 3 km north of Killaloe.
- Highlights
- Blue Flag freshwater bathing area
- UL Sport Adventure Centre on site
- Lough Derg Blueway paddling trailhead
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
23.Wilde Irish Chocolates - Chocolate Factory, Hot Chocolate Cafe& Coffee Dock & Chocolate Shop
Build your own chocolate bar for €11
A working artisan chocolate factory on the shores of Lough Derg where you can watch chocolatiers in action for free, then build and customise your own bar to take home — all fuelled by a legendary salted caramel hot chocolate.
- Highlights
- Free entry to a real working chocolate factory
- Build and personalise your own chocolate bar (€11)
- 8 varieties of hot chocolate in the on-site café
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
24.Aillwee Burren Experience
10,400-year-old brown bear remains
A multi-award-winning Burren destination combining a 350-million-year-old show cave, free-flying birds of prey, and artisan cheese-making — all on a terraced hillside with sweeping views of Galway Bay.
- Highlights
- 10,400-year-old brown bear remains and hibernation chambers
- 850-metre guided cave route 90m below the mountain surface
- Harris Hawk flying to your gloved hand on a private woodland walk
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
25.Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
most complete 15th-century castle
Ireland's most complete and authentic 15th-century castle, paired with a 26-acre living-history folk park where costumed characters, rare-breed animals, and a full recreated 19th-century village bring the past to life.
- Highlights
- 15th-century furnished tower house — Ireland's most complete medieval castle
- 26-acre open-air Folk Park with 30+ historic buildings
- Costumed village characters and traditional Irish musicians
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
26.Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark
5,800-year-old tomb older than the pyramids
A 530 sq km karst wonderland where limestone pavements meet the wild Atlantic — home to the iconic Cliffs of Moher, 5,800-year-old tombs, Europe's largest stalactite, and a rich living tradition of music and food.
- Highlights
- 214m-high Cliffs of Moher with 800m of cliff-edge paths
- Poulnabrone Dolmen — Ireland's oldest dated megalithic monument (c. 3600 BC)
- Longest free-hanging stalactite in the Northern Hemisphere at Doolin Cave
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
27.Cratloe Wood Forest Park
oak beams used in Westminster Hall
A 700-hectare Coillte forest on the slopes of Woodcock Hill, with panoramic views over the Shannon Estuary and a superb eco-playground — a great family escape just 10 km from Limerick.
- Highlights
- Panoramic views over the Shannon Estuary
- Eco-friendly playground — Spraoi sa Choill
- Lough Gorteen with picnic tables and waterfowl
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
28.Doolin Ferry
15-minute ferry to the Aran Islands
The fastest ferry crossing to the Aran Islands — just 15 minutes to Inis Oírr — combined with award-winning Cliffs of Moher cruises, all from a family-run operation at Doolin Pier with over 50 years on the water.
- Highlights
- Fastest Aran Islands crossing from Doolin (15–35 min)
- Best Boat Tour in Ireland 2025 & Cruise Company of the Year 2024
- Family-run since 1970 — over 50 years on the water
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
29.Doonagore Castle
170 Spanish Armada survivors hanged here
A fairy-tale 16th-century round tower house perched on a hill above Doolin, with sweeping Atlantic views — one of only three cylindrical tower houses in the Burren. Privately owned and closed inside, but unforgettable from the road, especially at sunset.
- Highlights
- One of only three cylindrical tower houses in the Burren
- Built from distinctive warm sandstone, not limestone
- Panoramic views over Doolin Point, the Atlantic, and Aran Islands
30.Loop Head Lighthouse
74 steps to a 90m-high balcony above the Atlantic
A beacon on the edge of Ireland since 1670 — climb 23 metres to a balcony 90 metres above the Atlantic for views from Kerry to Connemara, then explore the light keeper's cottage and the wild cliffs of the Loop Head peninsula.
- Highlights
- 74-step tower climb to 90m-high balcony
- 360° views: Blasket Islands to Twelve Pins
- One of Ireland's oldest lighthouses (1670)
31.Moher Fort Site Telegraph Station
1808 signal tower with panoramic cliff views
A ruined Napoleonic-era signal tower perched on Hag's Head at the southern tip of the Cliffs of Moher — the free, crowd-free way to experience Ireland's most famous cliffs, with panoramic views south to Loop Head and north along the full sweep of the 8 km cliff line.
- Highlights
- Free, uncrowded alternative to the main Cliffs of Moher Experience
- Napoleonic-era signal tower (c.1808) built on site of ancient fort Mothar
- Panoramic views north along the full 8 km cliff line
32.Seafield Pier and Beach
Fossil hunting on 320-million-year-old rocks
A working fishing pier and two sandy beaches on a short peninsula along the Wild Atlantic Way — excellent for swimming, fossil hunting, and sweeping Atlantic views towards the Aran Islands and Kerry mountains.
- Highlights
- Green Coast Award beach with 'Excellent' water quality
- Two beaches either side of a working fishing pier
- Guided fossil tours among 320-million-year-old rocks
33.Vandeleur Walled Garden & Visitor Centre
Walk on a unique horizontal maze
A beautifully restored 19th-century walled garden hidden within 170 hectares of native woodland — a tranquil botanical gem with a compelling, bittersweet history just outside Kilrush.
- Highlights
- Horizontal maze — an unusual flat maze unique to the garden
- Victorian glasshouse on the site of the original heated lean-to
- 170 hectares of native woodland with marked walking trails
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
34.Caherconnell Stone Fort & Sheepdog Demonstrations
Clare's only sheepdog demo at 1,000-year-old fort
A 1,000-year-old stone ringfort paired with Clare's only sheepdog demonstration — all run by the same family for five generations in a stunning Burren valley.
- Highlights
- Clare's only sheepdog demonstrations
- 1,000-year-old stone fort, still being excavated
- Family-run for 5 generations by the Davorens
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
35.Ennis Friary
contains a rare medieval image of Man of Sorrows
A 13th-century Franciscan friary in the heart of Ennis town, home to an outstanding collection of 15th- and 16th-century limestone carvings — including the exquisite MacMahon tomb and rare depictions of St Francis and the Man of Sorrows.
- Highlights
- 15th-century MacMahon tomb with Passion panels
- St Francis stigmata carving
- Man of Sorrows — a rare Irish medieval image
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
36.Ennistymon Cascades
Hydro-powered hotel on cascades
A striking urban waterfall in the heart of a North Clare market town, where the River Inagh thunders over a limestone ridge — best enjoyed from the bridge, a riverside path, or the terrace of the historic Falls Hotel.
- Highlights
- Urban waterfall in the town centre — rare in Ireland
- Hydro-powered, carbon-neutral Falls Hotel overlooking the cascades
- 5 km self-guided Historic Town Walk
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
37.Poulnabrone Dolmen
5,800-year-old tomb older than the Pyramids
A 5,800-year-old portal tomb standing alone on the bare limestone pavement of the Burren — Ireland's oldest dated megalithic monument and its most photographed.
- Highlights
- 5,800-year-old portal tomb — older than the Pyramids
- Massive 5-tonne capstone balanced on standing stones
- Set in the surreal karst limestone landscape of the Burren
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
38.Clare Abbey
15th-century belfry with no internal staircase
A windswept Augustinian ruin on the banks of the River Fergus — Clare Abbey was the first, largest and most important Augustinian house in County Clare. Free, unguided and quietly atmospheric, it rewards those who like their history raw and unhurried.
- Highlights
- Square 15th-century belfry tower (no internal staircase)
- Three surviving 15th-century traceried windows
- Small carved human face above the east window