Around the big places

The Cliffs of Moher, and the castles nobody stops at

Everyone goes to the Cliffs of Moher. A few minutes down the road are castles on hills, old walks and wells, and most of the cars drive straight past them.

By Rickie · Discover Alone

Ballinalacken Castle, a few miles from the Cliffs of Moher. Picture: Wikimedia Commons

Go, by all means

The Cliffs of Moher are famous for a reason. Go.

Just know that the car park, the ticket and the crowd three deep at the wall are only part of what's there.

What's a few minutes away

Doonagore Castle above Doolin — Doonagore Castle, above Doolin. Picture: IrishKeep, Wikimedia Commons

Doonagore Castle, a round tower house on the hill above Doolin, looking out over the sea. Ballinalacken Castle on its rock. Old holy wells. The cliff walk out of Doolin.

No ticket office. Most days, hardly anyone.

Do both

Do the cliffs in the morning before the coaches, then spend the afternoon on everything around them.

Put the cliffs in the middle of the map and look at what's within five miles. You'll do more in an afternoon than most visitors do in a week.

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