OCTOBER 2024
I don’t think anybody skips the Cliffs of Moher while on an Ireland roadtrip. While we liked our visit to Cliffs of Moher, we loved our visit to the Kerry Cliffs. The Cliffs of Moher look exactly like the pictures, which is impressive, but it therefore wasn’t a surprising visit. The Kerry Cliffs are less famous, less visited, but the way you can visit them, makes them more impressive. I will explain all about the differences in this blogpost!
Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher are one of the most famous sights of Ireland. I somehow wasn’t very excited to visit them, but they were on route to our next destination so we made a stop anyway. Tickets for off-peak periods are cheaper if you book online. The tickets include parking, making the visit really easy. No problem parking our campervan at all!
As expected, the cliffs looked exactly what I expected them to look like. Which of course is a bonus, but somehow this took the element of surprise out of the visit. Though very beautiful, they did not make me feel a certain way. We visited at 4PM, which is off-peak, but it still is really crowded. There is a small path, that is used in both directions, so you really had to wait a lot, which was annoying. I am sure the visit is better if you visit really early in the day! There is a low stone wall that you are not supposed to cross over, but you will see lots of people doing it anyway to get a selfie with the cliffs. It is really dangerous, people have died falling over the cliffs, so please don’t! For me it took away part of the fun. We kept Hugo safe in a backpack and didn’t like the bad examples people set.
As I am making this blogpost I do get why they are more popular than other cliff formations, because they look incredibly good in pictures. It is very easy to take a beautiful picture here. If you are visiting Cliffs of Moher, don’t skip the visitor’s center. It is very interactive, fun for kids too, lots of beautiful photos and interesting information regarding the geology and nature.
Kerry Cliffs
If you are driving the Ring of Kerry, the Kerry Cliffs are a short detour, which should be added to your drive. Tickets are € 6 per adult and parking is free. The surroundings are absolutely breathtaking and it is possible to camp at the Kerry Cliffs with a campervan or tent (you can enquire at the entrance booth). The viewing platforms at Kerry Cliffs rise above the cliffs, giving an extra dramatic view. Because you have a better vantage point you can see the waves crashing into the cliffs, there is more action going on than at Cliffs of Moher. When I was on the viewing platform I got a feeling I could fly and I became a bit emotional. We visited at around 3PM and the light was a bit harsh, I can imagine that the views are even better in the morning. I found the rock formations more colorful than the Kerry Cliffs and therefore offering more contrast and interest. I must admit I found it very hard to capture the beauty of the Kerry Cliffs, I am definitely not a landscape photographer, but I promise you it is all about the feeling that you get when you are looking over the cliffs!
There are some little activities at Kerry Cliffs as well, as you can enter a typical beehive hut and there are alpacas greeting you at the entrance!