Extended Kilkee Cliff Walk – taking in the sights of The Candlestick and Bishop’s Island
The Kilkee Cliffs stand somewhat in the shadow of the Cliffs of Moher and the fact that there is no big visitor centre or over a million people coming to see them every year make them all the more desirable in my eyes.
You get some spectacular sights of cliffs, sea stacks and bird life all in a more secluded setting.
Kilkee itself also has some cool features like the Pollock Holes, which are natural swimming pools that get uncovered at low tide. Pack a swimsuit!
Distance
The Kilkee Cliff Walk is a 7km linear walk (so 14km from start to finish).
Calculate about 2-3 hours for this walk.
Difficulty
Moderate
How to get there
The seaside town of Kilkee is the home of the Kilkee Cliff Walk.
Chances are that you will pass it if you are driving on the Wild Atlantic Way between Dingle and the Cliffs of Moher. Might as well add a stop.
If you are not travelling by car and are dependent on busses, you can still reach Kilkee. Bus Eireann (Ireland’s state-owned bus service) drives between Lahinch or Ennistymon (villages close to the Cliffs of Moher) to Kilkee. The Bus Number is 333. Look up timetables here.
Map of the Kilkee Cliff Walk from Diamond Rocks Cafe to Illaunonearaun.
Getting on the walk
The starting point of the Kilkee Cliff Walk is the Diamond Rocks Café in Kilkee. You will see the paved walk heading to the Kilkee Cliffs from there straight away. Just follow along.
Just next to the Diamond Rocks Café are also the Pollock Holes; weather and tide permitting you might want to go for a swim here after your walk.
What to expect from the walk
There is a small paved footpath for the first section of the walk. You will meet many other walkers on this route.
After the second kilometre you will be walking on a quiet “backroad” (Dunlicky Road) – this is when you will start seeing all the main sites.
Marvel at the sea stack ‘Bishop’s Island’ and wonder if you can actually see erected walls on the top or if your mind is playing tricks on you.
Walk on and have a look at St Kee’s well. Here you will find out that rumours have it that this Saint used to live on Bishop’s Island.
A little further on stands ‘The Candlestick’, another cool sea stack formation.
Your last stop on the walk is Illaunonearaun. This is a designated Special Protected Area (SPA) that is host to a rich bird life.
The Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) winters here and is also the species listed as Special Conservation Interest on Illaunonearaun.
Great Cormorants, lesser black-backed gulls and great black-backed gulls use the island as breeding grounds.
At Illaunonearaun, turn around and retrace your steps back to Kilkee.
Public toilets
There are no public toilets on this route.