Kilkee & Loop Head

A Victorian seaside town on the southwest coast of County Clare, with a horseshoe bay and cliff walks. Drive out to Loop Head Lighthouse and the Bridges of Ross, or take a boat from the Shannon Estuary to look for bottlenose dolphins.

Kilkee lies on the Atlantic coast of southwest County Clare, Ireland. It grew into a Victorian seaside resort. Moor Bay, a horseshoe-shaped bay, is sheltered from the open ocean by the Diamond Rocks offshore, which keeps the sand beach gentle. In summer it became a getaway for residents of Limerick and the surrounding area. The Loop Head Peninsula stretches about 25 km southwest from the town, squeezed between the Atlantic and the Shannon Estuary. Along the way are sea cliffs, sea arches, and small fishing villages, ending at Loop Head Lighthouse. It is a landmark of the Wild Atlantic Way, and far less crowded than the Cliffs of Moher to the north.

A classic day: In the morning, walk the Kilkee Cliff Walk to see the layered rock folds and sea stacks. At midday, drive along the R487 toward the peninsula, see the natural sea arch at the Bridges of Ross, and climb Loop Head Lighthouse for the view. In the afternoon, take a boat from Carrigaholt to look for bottlenose dolphins that frequent the Shannon Estuary, or take a ferry from Kilrush on the east side to Scattery Island, where you can see monastery ruins and a round tower.

The best season is May to September, when the days are long, the lighthouse is open, and dolphin-watching and cliff walks are at their best. In winter, storms and big waves are common and many facilities close, though the storm surges and sea cliffs have a dramatic character of their own.

Getting there: Shannon Airport is about 1 hour 15 minutes away by car, and Galway is about 2.5 hours. Public transport is very limited, so you will mostly need a car. Stay 1–2 nights. Many cliff edges have no railings, so stay well back from the edge on windy days, and bring a windproof jacket.

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