Mullaghmore Loop: Experiencing the limestone Burren near the Cliffs of Moher
The 191m high limestone hill known as Mullaghmore stands in folds against the blue sky as I approach it.
It reminds me of geography class in school, of contours to represent height, and I smirk at the thought that this must be the only mountain I know that looks in real life as it might be represented cartographically.
Hiking Mullaghmore Loop gives you a better insight into the Burren landscape in County Clare than simply driving through it. From the summit, you get a view of the lakes, many houses and the surrounding limestone mountains.
In the spring and summer time, the landscape is dotted with colourful flowers that are so distinct to the grey Burren.
Distance + Time needed:
This is a looped 7km walk, marked in blue.
I would allow 2 hours to complete this trail.
Difficulty:
Moderate.
How to get there (parking):
This walk and parking is best found using Maps, as there is no road signage for the Mullaghmore Loop.
There are two spots for parking, one here and the other one is here, where you can park on the side of the road, true Irish style.
There is also a free shuttle bus that runs from the Information Point in Corofin to Gortlecka Crossroads, allowing you to park in Corofin. The bus runs daily from March to August.
Follow the blue discs for the Mullaghmore Blue Route.
Getting on the walk:
There is a short distance you will have to walk on the tarred road before you get to the start of the walking trail.
You will then see the start of the route marked by a blue disk on the stone wall.
The start is just next to a distinct lake, called Lough Gealain.
What to expect from the walk:
You will be walking on limestone for most of this walking trail, which is a pretty cool experience. The ascend is not too steep, making this a very gentle hike.
Most people recommend hiking boots for this route, but I went up with trainers twice and had no problem.
I would highly recommend bringing a lunch and having it on the summit.
Watch out for “Father Ted’s house” on Mullaghmore’s opposing hills, the filming location from one of Ireland’s most loved and famous TV shows.
Public toilets:
There are no public toilets on this route.
Want to explore more of the Burren National Park? Hike the Burren Way from Ballinalacken Castle to Fanore.