Need to get out of the fast lane for a few days? Doolin, located in the Clare country near the world famous Burren, is a fantastic place to visit. Better yet, there’s plenty to do. This article describes just a few of the many attractions in the area.
The Burren: The name Burren comes from the Irish word “Bhuireann”, which means stony place. Stoney certainly is: 300 square feet. kilometers of field covered with limestone. However, it is not as desolate as it seems. Rare Mediterranean and alpine plants flourish together. A guided tour is essential. Unless you are a botanist, you will be amazed by its rocky beauty, but without a guide you will miss out on the incredible flora. If you’re feeling energetic there are many mapped walks through the Burren.
Aillwee Cave: if you have children you should visit Aillwee cave. Jack McCann, a local, originally discovered the cave and investigated it by candlelight. However, Jack kept the find from him a secret for decades and only showed the cave to others in the 1970s. The cave was opened to the public in 1976 and extends for at least 1 km underground. This hugely impressive cave contains waterfalls, stalagmites, stalactites, brown bear bones, and much more. Surrounded by a woodland walk with a restaurant on site, it’s a half day of entertainment in itself.
Cliffs of Moher: The Cliffs of Moher rise more than 200 meters above the Atlantic Ocean. There is a new visitor center with an excellent interpretive display of the Cliffs of Moher:“Edge of the Atlantic”. The Virtual Reality Cliff Face Show – “The Ledge” – not to be missed. After that, a walk along the cliff edge offers stunning views of the cliffs and the Atlantic. Don’t worry, it’s walled in and safe for kids.
Boat trip on the Cliffs of Moher: drive to Doolin Pier and you can book a boat trip to the base of the Cliffs of Moher. Once there, you can’t help but be amazed by the size and rugged beauty of the cliffs. Tourists on top of the cliffs are but distant specs and you can get an up-close view of the bird population of Atlantic puffins, gulls, guillemots, shags, ravens and choughs. You can also book trips to the nearby Aran Islands from the Doolin pier. These trips range from ½ day to overnight.
Doolin Pubs: Doolin’s pubs have been a breeding ground for world-renowned traditional Irish musicians. There are three traditional pubs McGanns, O’Connors and McDermotts in Doolin. They all have a lot of traditional music and homemade food. Children are allowed until 9:00 pm.
The Burren Perfumery: a very interesting visit with all the flowers and herbs that form the basis of locally sourced perfumes and soaps in the Burren. There is a small tea room and a herb garden.
The Burren Interpretive Centre, Kilfenora: there is an excellent “walk through time” Burren exhibit, a video, craft center and tea room.
a visit to Lahinch Beach on a summer day it is reminiscent of Hawaii with surf schools lining the beach.
Liscanor Stone and Rick Shop: full of precious stones, semi-precious stones, local stones and lots, lots of prehistoric fossils. As you drive back from one of the many other attractions in the area, you can simply call to watch! But be warned, you’ll probably come away with a 10,000-year-old fossil keepsake!
The best of all these attractions is that none are more than half an hour’s drive from Doolin. Doolin can get very busy in the summer, but it’s a great place to visit and lots to do. You might consider spending a few days outside of the bustling summer season, and if you’re lucky enough to have good weather, you’re guaranteed a great time.