The Kilkee Cliff Walk (Map, Route + Parking)

The Kilkee Cliff Walk is one of the most popular things to do in Kilkee in Clare.

The coastal walk, which kicks off at the Diamond Rocks can be tackled on a short or long route (info below) and each treats you to magnificent sea and cliff views throughout.

And, thanks to the Kilkee Cliffs being no where near as popular as the nearby Cliffs of Moher, the chances are you’ll only meet a handful of people as you stroll.

The short Kilkee Cliff Walk

The short Kilkee Cliff Walk is a handy route that starts at the popular Diamond Rocks café in the town’s west end.

Park at the Pollock Holes car park (here on Google Maps) or there’s plenty of parking in the town itself, too!

This is an easy-going 1.8km linear trail that takes around 30 minutes in total to walk.

It follows the cliff path and offers a glimpse of a section of the famous cliffs (see map above).

The Kilkee Loop Walk

The Kilkee Loop Walk is a 4km looped trail that takes around 1 hour to finish.

It also starts at the Diamond Rocks cafe, however, it continues on past the viewpoint and out to the main road.

It then follows the main road back into the town and out towards Kilkee Beach.

Please be vigilant as you walk on the main road as, unsurprisingly enough, it’s used by plenty of cars.

The Long Kilkee Cliff Walk

If you’re after a hike that treats you to sections of the Kilkee Cliffs that the other two trails don’t, you’re in for a treat.

This is a 3-hour/12km linear trail that offers mighty views on the way out and back.

You also have two options for start points with this trail – you can begin at Diamond Rocks or from this quieter Kilkee Cliff Walk parking area.

On this trail, you’ll encounter several interesting sites, from Bishop’s Island and St Kee’s Well to Dunlicky Castle and plenty of craggy cliffs.

In my opinion, the section of cliffs at the point marked ‘C’ on the map above is where you’ll find some of the most impressive cliffs in Ireland.

An Interactive Kilkee Cliff Walk map

Above you’ll find an interactive Kilkee Cliff Walk with each of the trails mapped for you.

If you open the map above, you’ll be able to click on the different trails (these are rough outlines) to get a sense of what to expect. 

Things to do nearby

One of the beauties of the Kilkee Cliffs is that they’re a short spin away from some of the best things to do in Clare.

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from the Kilkee Cliffs (you’ll find plenty of places dishing out food and providing accommodation in our Kilkee Hotels guide).

1. Kilkee Beach

This horse-shoe shaped beach is famous throughout Ireland and beyond. It’s a Blue Flag beach, indicating high environmental standards, and is very popular in the summer months.

Treat yourself to an ice-cream and leisurely bare-foot stroll through the gently lapping waters or why not go all-in and take a dip? Lifeguards patrol the area in the summer.

2. Loop Head Lighthouse

You’ll find Loop Head Lighthouse at the top of the Loop Head peninsula.

It guards the entrance to one of the busiest rivers in Ireland (the River Shannon), and has been there since 1670.

In the early days, the lighthouse was a stone vaulted cottage where the light keeper and his family lived—the building equipped with a platform on its roof where a coal-burning brazier warned ships how close they were to the cliffs.

3. Bridges of Ross

The Bridges of Ross are on the west side of a natural harbour (Ross Bay) near to the village of Kilbaha.

At some point, the Bridges were three natural sea arcs in number, but two have since fallen into the sea although the plural name remains.

The viewpoint is very popular in autumn because seabirds pass very close to the shore, and so people flock (sorry) here to watch and wonder at the migration.