Natural Wonders in Co. Clare
9 places
1.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
2.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
3.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
4.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
5.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)
6.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
7.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
8.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
9.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