Clare County

Itineraries

A journey around County Clare is a walk through time from the first prehistoric landscapes to the best modern has produced, filled with music and colored on bright nights. It does not matter if one has a weekend to spare in this county or will stay much longer; it is able to provide full-fledged routes, and each will be a lot of discoveries.

Weekend Getaway:

  • Day 1: Kick off in Ennis, using that as a home base for a little narrow-street exploration and a visit to the Clare Museum. Head on over to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park for a typically Irish historical immersion, topped off with a medieval banquet in the castle.
  • Day 2: Go to the Cliffs of Moher early to beat the crowds, then take a fantastic scenic drive through Burren National Park. Pay stops at Poulnabrone Dolmen and Burren Perfumery. End your day with a traditional music session in Doolin.

Family Adventure:

  • 1st Day: Morning spent in Aillwee Cave and Birds of Prey Centre with underground tours and flying exhibitions of raptors. Spend your afternoon in the little seaside village of Lahinch. Several hours can be lazed away on the beach, or you could even take a surf lesson.
  • Day 2: Take the ferry from Doolin to the Aran Islands. Rent a bicycle on Inis Oírr and pedal around to see the island’s castle ruins and shipwrecks. Return to Doolin for dinner, followed by more music.

Cultural Exploration:

  • Day 1: Start the day at the Ennis Friary and soak up some history of the town. Proceed to visit the Burren Centre at Kilfenora to learn of the unique ecology and archaeology that this region has to offer. Spend the evening at a traditional ceilidh either in Kilfenora or at a neighboring one in Lisdoonvarna.
  • Day 2: Travel to the Loop Head Peninsula, which is home to some of the most breath-taking views around and houses the Loop Head Lighthouse. Later that afternoon, you may take a walking tour around the historic town of Kilrush and later explore the river at Scattery Island by taking a boat tour to this island home to a monastic ruin and a working lighthouse.

A Week in Clare: Combine the above itineraries, adding days to explore the market town of Ennistymon with its cascades and its galleries, and the music-rich town of Miltown Malbay. Dedicate a day to hiking in the Burren or along the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk for unparalleled natural beauty. Experience the Micho Russell Festival in Doolin for a deep dive into traditional music, or spend time in the fishing village of Carrigaholt on the Loop Head Peninsula for a chance at sea angling or dolphin watching.

These routes offer a taste of the diverse experiences County Clare has to offer: from the natural and historical landscapes to the musical heritage, whose wealth sends most visitors home with wonderful memories of this great Irish county.