Visit the Atlantic coast from the Nest.

From the Nest, you can visit either the south or the west coasts within a 90-minute drive.

This feature describes how you can visit a section of the Wild Atlantic Way, on the west coast of County Clare. You should allow a full day to take in all that the north western part of County Clare has to offer.

Suggested driving route

Take the M7 and M18 motorways to Ennis via Limerick.

Follow the N85, signposted to Ennistymon.

Either follow the Wild Atlantic Way via the Cliffs of Moher OR follow the signs to Lisdoonvarna and join the Wild Atlantic Way at the R577.

Follow the Wild Atlantic Way north, via the seaside town of Doolin and a beautiful beach at Fanore.

Pass through Ballyvaughan and Kinvara.

Follow the signs for Gort. On arrival in Gort, follow the signs for Portumna via the R380 and the R353.

At Portumna, follow the N65 (signposted to Nenagh), which will take you over the River Shannon.

Around 10km after Portumna, at Carrigahorig, take the R493 towards Terryglass. This road is the ‘Lough Derg Drive’ which will bring you back to Puckane.

Ennistymon

As you near the Atlantic coast, you will pass through the town of Ennistymon. It is a pretty town, with several coffee shops and gift shops. Its most iconic sight is The Cascades, which are rapids on the Inagh River. It’s a great spot to pause and admire the view!

Lahinch and Doolin

As you reach the Atlantic coast, you will pass through two archetypal Irish seaside towns, namely Lahinch and Doolin.

Lahinch includes a number of gift shops and coffee and ice cream sellers. It also features a beautiful seaside path which is perfect for strolling along as you enjoy your ice cream! At the southern end of the town there are a series of small cliffs.

Doolin is noted for its live music scene, with several pubs featuring traditional music on a regular basis. It is also home to the Doolin caves, which are well worth a visit, and is where the ferries sail from to the Aran Islands, and also to view the Cliffs of Moher from the sea.

The Cliffs of Moher

On the Wild Atlantic Way between Lahinch and Doolin lies one of the most famous beauty spots in Ireland, namely The Cliffs of Moher.

The Cliifs are 200m high, and offer spectacular views across the Atlantic Ocean to the Aran Islands and County Galway.

A word of warning. The Cliffs can get very busy especially in peak season, and parking can be pricey. However, you can reduce the price by visiting at quieter times of day, ie before 11am or after 4pm, and your visit will probably be more enjoyable with fewer people around! As an alternative, you could also view the cliffs from the sea, with regular sailings with Doolin Ferry from nearby Doolin.

The Burren Coast

Between Doolin and Ballyvaughan is one of the most spectacular coastal drives Ireland has to offer. To the west/north, you can see the vast expanses of the Atlantic Ocean, with views of the Aran Islands and Connemara. To the east and south are the hills of the Burren, which are Limestone uplands noted for their unique ecology, and the area is a UNESCO Global Geopark.

There are many places along the coast where you can pull up at the roadside and go for a wander on the limestone pavement, venturing towards the cliff edge. Or you can head uphill on one of the many ‘borreens’ (ie small roads which were developed to access the areas where cattle graze). This link includes several maps detailing good hikes in the Burren. Note, however, that the walks to the Cliffs of Moher are not open at the time of writing due to urgent repairs being carried out.

For a more sedate walk, we can highly recommend the beach at Fanore, which combines beautiful sands with Burren landscapes.

Other Burren Highlights

There is more to the Burren than just the coast, however.

Hazel Mountain Chocolates operate a coffee shop and a chocolate factory, selling artisan chocolate. And if you are from overseas and want to avoid difficulties with packing your precious cargo, you can even arrange for your purchases to be shipped home.

The Burren Perfumery manufacture soaps and perfumes in a beautiful out-of-the-way setting. It’s worth a visit just for the drive! And they have Tea Rooms offering good quality food and drinks.

Aillwee Burren Experience offer perhaps the most famous caves in Western Ireland, which are well worth exploring, as featured in the sitcom Father Ted. The site also offers displays of birds of prey and cheese making.

Ballyvaughan and Kinvarra

As you near the end of the Burren coastal drive, you will pass through two beautiful coastal towns, namely Ballyvaughan and Kinvarra.

Both are great for just pausing and wandering around, and if you fancy a spot of dinner before heading back to The Nest, then we can highly recommend The Pier Head in Kinvarra.

Driving back via Southeast Galway and Portumna

From Kinvarra, it is approximately a 75-minute drive back to The Nest. You can return on the motorway via Corofin and Ennis, and cross the Shannon at Limerick. But we recommend taking in some more scenery by travelling across south eastern Galway to Portumna.

As you head to Gort from Kinvarra you will see the Burren lowlands. Gort is a market town. Then from Gort, cross through extensive woodlands, passing by the historic 13th Century ruined Abbey at the (aptly named) village of Abbey. Then you will arrive at Portumna, where you will cross the River Shannon. The bridge opens several times a day to allow river craft to pass, and it is always fascinating to see the boats sailing by. As the bridge stays open for a few minutes, you will have time to get out of your car and enjoy the goings-on. Once you have crossed the river you are back in County Tipperary, and it is a short drive back to The Nest.