4 Cliffs Of Moher Walks Worth Rambling Along

So, there are four main Cliffs of Moher walks and they range from moderate to hard.

Before I run through any of them, please take these words of caution seriously – do not, under any circumstance, go near the edge at the Cliffs of Moher!

There are strong winds and crumbling cliff edges, so please stay as far from the edge as is physically possible.

The four trails I’ll cover below are:

• Walk 1: The Doolin Cliff Walk (6.6km/1.5 hours)
• Walk 2: The Hags Head to Cliffs of Moher Walk (5.3km/1.5 hour)
• Walk 3: The Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk (19.5km/4.5 hour)
• Walk 4: The Liscannor to Cliffs of Moher Trail (10.4km/2.5 hours)

August 2024 update: Most Cliffs of Moher walks are a no-go

On August 22nd, 2024, a massive section of the Cliffs of Moher trail was closed due to safety concerns.

You can now no longer walk from the Liscannor side.

The walk from Doolin is mainly unaffected, however, the final section that takes you to the visitor centre cannot be accessed.

There is work due to commence to make the trails safer in the coming weeks and months. I’ll update this guide when I hear more.

An overview of the different Cliffs of Moher walks

The map above will give you a quick overview of where each of the trails takes you.

Here’s the quick need-to-knows on each (find maps further down):

The Doolin Cliff Walk (6.6km/1.5 hours)

• Starts: Near Fisher Street
• Trail type: Linear
• Length: 6.6km
• Time: 1.5 hours
• Difficulty: Strenuous 

The Hags Head to Cliffs of Moher Walk (5.3km/1.5 hour)

• Starts: Car park at trailhead
• Trail type: Linear
• Length: 5.3km
• Time: 1.5 to 2 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

The Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk (19.5km/4.5 hour)

• Starts: Doolin or Liscannor
• Trail type: Linear
• Length: 19.5km
• Time: 4.5 hours
• Difficulty: Strenuous

The Liscannor to Cliffs of Moher Trail (10.4km/2.5 hours)

• Starts: Liscannor Town
• Trail type: Linear
• Length: 10.4km
• Time: 2.5 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

The Doolin Cliff Walk

The Doolin Cliff Walk is the best known out of the 4 Cliffs of Moher walks, and for that reason it tends to be the busiest of the lot.

Although this trail is only 6.6km (one way) and takes 1.5 hours, it is graded as strenuous due to several very steep inclines.

It starts from the road adjacent to colourful Fisher Street in Doolin. You make your way onto a relatively flat section before crossing a kissing gate.

The the fun begins! This section of the trail hugs the coast and offers views of the Cliffs of Moher to the front and the Burren to the back.

The Hags Head to Cliffs of Moher Walk

The moderate Hags Head to Cliffs of Moher Walk is my favourite of the trails in the area as it tends to be about 50% quieter than the trail from Doolin.

You have the added bonus of seeing the cliffs after about 12 minutes, so you can admire the view for most of the trail.

There aren’t many inclines on this 5.3km trail and it’ll take you between 1.5 and 2 hours to reach the visitor centre from the starting point.

The Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk

The longest of the Cliffs of Moher walking trails is a hefty 19.5km/4.5 hour ramble that’s graded as strenuous.

Known as the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk, it can be started in either Liscannor or Doolin.

In my opinion, it’s best done from the Liscannor side as you 1, avoid having to climb up the inclines on the Doolin side and 2, get an eyeful of the Burren after you leave the visitor centre.

Part of the longer Burren Way, this is a trail best suited to those with good trail walking experience.

The Liscannor to Cliffs of Moher Trail

The last of the Cliffs of Moher walks is what is often referred to as the Liscannor Cliff Walk.

Starting in, unsurprisingly enough, Liscannor Town, it follows a narrow country road for the first hour or so before joining the Hags Head Cliffs of Moher walking trail.

This is a 10.4km/2.5 hour trail that, although moderate, is a bit of a slog, mainly due to the first section being relatively uneventful.

More things to do in Clare

There are plenty of other things to do in Clare after you’ve finished with Moher.

Here are some of my favourites:

• Walks: The Burren Walks and the Kilkee Cliff Walk
• Attractions: Doolin Cave, Bunratty Castle and Killaloe
• Islands: Get the ferry from Doolin to the Aran Islands