Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk from Liscannor
“Should I do the Cliffs of Moher coastal walk or just see the cliffs from the visitor centre?” If this is a question you are asking yourself and are moderately fit, the answer is 100% do the walk. You will miss out on the most spectacular views of one of Ireland’s top rated tourist destinations if you only go to the visitor centre.
This article is focused on the Coastal Walk starting from Liscannor (there is also a coastal walk from Doolin). If you are a photographer, Liscannor might also be your desired starting point, as you will have the sun shine on the Cliffs, as opposed to having the sun in your lens if you were starting the walk from Doolin.
*IMPORTANT UPDATE: As of September 2024, the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk is CLOSED to the public. The local government is in the process of upgrading the safety of the walk. It is uncertain when the walk will re-open.
There are many more stunning walks close to the Cliffs of Moher. Consider any of these:
This section of the Burren Way
Distance:
The walk is linear and measures 12km both ways. Calculate roughly 2.5 hours to complete the walk.
Difficulty:
Because the trail is so close to the cliff edge, I would class it as moderate to difficult.
I would not recommend this walk to families travelling with young children.
How to get there (parking):
You will definitely need your maps app to find the car park for the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk, as it is located along some back roads.
Find parking under “Cliffs of Moher Walk Liscannor parking” in Google Maps.
Here you will find a private carpark with about 30 parking spaces. Parking your car for the day costs €3, which needs to be paid in exact coins.
Getting to the start of the Cliff Walk from Liscannor without a car will definitely prove a bit harder, as the the nearest bus stop in Liscannor is about 6km away.
Getting on the walk:
It is some 500m to get from the car park to the beginning of the walk, which starts at Moher Tower.
Already, you will be greeted with a spectacular view of the Cliffs and are able to explore the area around the tower.
It is pretty straightforward from thereon. Just follow the path leading towards the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre.
Map of the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk from Liscannor. See highlighted the location of parking, Moher Tower and the visitor centre.
What to expect from the walk:
This is an all off-terrain walk. Depending on the weather, it is definitely advisable to wear hiking boots as the path gets very muddy after the rain.
There is no barrier between you and the cliff edge, so extreme caution is advised.
There is not a very steep incline, so it is rather comfortable approaching the Cliffs from the Liscannor side.
Beware that the last stretch just before the visitor centre is very narrow and when many people are on the walk, it can be quite a squeeze. However, this part of the walk has a wall towards the cliff side.
Public toilets:
You can use toilets free of charge at both the car park in Liscannor and at the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre.
Additional info:
My top tip is definitely to get there early. After 12pm it gets very busy and the Cliffs of Moher are enjoyed that tiny bit more when they are not packed with people.
Got any questions on the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk from Liscannor?
Feel free to drop me a comment below.