The spectacular Cliffs of Moher on the west coast of Ireland rise up to 200m vertically from the Atlantic Ocean and are a paradise for birdwatchers.
The Cliffs of Moher are located on the southwest coast of Ireland in County Clare and are one of Ireland's most famous sights. Their rugged beauty attracts thousands of tourists to their spectacular precipices every year.
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PICTURES: Cliffs of Moher
The spectacular cliffs lie between the settlements of Doolin and Liscannor. The impressive cliffs stretch over a length of more than eight kilometres, rising vertically out of the Atlantic in most places. The lush green meadows, blown by the constant wind, end abruptly in dizzying precipices.
At Hag's Head in the south of the Cliffs of Moher, the stormy surf hits the steep cliffs at a depth of 120m, and a few kilometres north at O'Brien's Tower it is even 214m.
O'Brien's Tower was built in 1835 by Sir Cornelius O'Brien and is now one of the best viewpoints of the Cliffs of Moher. From the watchtower, on a clear day, you can see across Galway Bay to the Maumturk Mountains in Connemara, north of the Cliffs of Moher.
However, the ravages of time do not stop at the Cliffs of Moher and erosion is constantly nibbling away at the steep cliffs.
Worth knowing: The Cliffs of Moher are not the highest cliffs in Ireland. The Cliffs of Slieve League in Donegal and the Cliffs of Croagham on Achill Island are both over 600m high. However, these are not developed for tourism and so the Cliffs of Moher are far better known internationally.
Lively life at the Cliffs of Moher
The magnificent view over sky and sea is punctuated by countless black and white dots. The Cliffs of Moher provide a habitat for around 30,000 birds. Almost 30 different species nest at the Cliffs of Moher, above all the huge colonies of the famous Atlantic puffins. In addition to these black and white flying artists with their distinctive red beaks, gulls, alcoves and hawks also flutter through the salty air above the Cliffs of Moher. Or you can simply let your gaze wander into the distance, some 4,000km away lies the American continent.
Visit the Cliffs of Moher
Especially in the summer months, the thousands of birds are joined by hundreds of thousands of tourists, who number about 700,000 throughout the year. Near O'Brien's Tower is the underground information centre "Atlantic Edge", which maintains a car park for which a fee is charged. Especially in summer, this is populated not only by a large number of tourists, but also by masses of traders. Otherwise, "entry" to the Cliffs of Moher is absolutely free. If you go there on foot or by bike, you don't have to pay anything for the spectacular views.
Tip: Ireland's cool, damp weather is well known, but at the Cliffs of Moher the Atlantic winds also cut through. So make sure you have warm clothes in your luggage!
From the visitor centre, a number of paved walks lead to various viewpoints on the Cliffs of Moher. In the past, it was still possible to walk right up to the precipice without any protection. On the paved paths, this was stopped with stone slabs a good metre high. Daredevil tourists repeatedly ignore the safety devices and crawl right up to the crumbling edge, accompanied by an adrenaline rush, to cast an unforgettable glance downwards.
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