Walk to the Edge of Ireland: A 5-Day Hike Through the Burren to the Cliffs of Moher

Arrive in the charming seaside town of Ballyvaughn and drop your bags at the hotel. Get a taste of what you’ll see in the next few days by hiking the Wood Loop, an easy trek from Ballyvaughn and back along wide dirt roads and through woods of hazel trees.

Halfway through the loop, about three miles from Ballyvaughn, make a stop at Aillwee Cave to adventure through the chasms to an underground waterfall. Stop for lunch at the cafe on site before going to meet Aillwee’s feathery residents. Their Birds of Prey Centre is home to owls, eagles, vultures, and hawks; you can choose to meet the latter up-close and personal on one of the center’s hawk walks, where you can indulge in the ancient art of falconry.

Head back to town for a pint and a traditional Irish session before an early bed in preparation for tomorrow’s long hike.

Have a hearty breakfast at your hotel, pick a sandwich to pack in your bag, and lace up your hiking boots—you’re heading into The Burren proper today.

Leaving Ballyvaughn behind, follow a country road along the base of the gentle limestone rise of Cappanawalla. After two and a half miles, you’ll take a left, following a path uphill and into the Burren’s distinctive landscape. This portion really makes me feel like an adventurer in some medieval-adjacent novel, following stone walls winding between pastures dotted with horses, cows, and sheep.

Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, it’s good time for a picnic lunch at the hilltop among an expanse of the Burren’s iconic karst. Dip down into Caher Valley before picking your way up another limestone hill. At the top, the stone slowly gives way to grassy meadows dotted with ruins of forts, castles, and tombs too numerous to count. Views of the Atlantic will be on your right as you traverse the ridge, and you’ll be periodically greeted by the local cow population.

After an hour walking through this bucolic scenery, you’ll meet a winding road—follow it down to the shores of Fanore, where you’ll rest your head tonight. Pop into O’Donohue’s Pub for dinner before hitting the hay.

Consider waking up in time to take in the sun rising over the ocean; you won’t regret it! From there, fuel up with a full Irish before heading back into the Burren.

You’ll start on a road paralleling the shore, with grassy fields sloping down to towns and the sea beyond on your right and picture-perfect pastures on your left before winding your way through a landscape sprinkled with ancient tombs and the ruins of forts from long ago. The Burren Way technically winds south of Doolin Cave, but you could easily make a detour to go spelunking should you wish.

You’ll arrive in the famous village of Doolin in time for lunch. Consider saving one of the traditional pubs for tonight, when they’ll have live music. Or, hey, go to one pub for lunch and another for dinner, I certainly won’t judge!

After having a bite and checking in at your hotel, follow the town’s coastline to Doolin Pier. If you can see the Cliffs of Moher on your left, you’re on the right path. Next to the pier, you’ll find Wild Atlantic Seaweed Baths lined up along the water. Pop into one of the upcycled whiskey barrels (yes, really!) and enjoy this old Irish tradition: the perfect way to end two back-to-back hiking days. From the baths, you’ll enjoy views of crashing waves and the Cliffs of Moher while you ease your muscles in the hot water.

When you’ve had your fill… remember that live music I mentioned earlier? Rinse off from your bath and pick which of the four traditional pubs you’ll head to for dinner and an Irish session. You can’t go wrong with any of them.

Have breakfast at the hotel (cannot recommend staying at Doolin Inn enough for the adorable tiered tray of delicious pastries that comes with the complimentary breakfast!), then pack a light day bag and make your way to iconic Fisher Street to explore its candy-colored shops overlooking the sea. If you wanted to pick up any Irish crafts as memorabilia, this is the place to do it! Skip the Aran sweaters for now; you’re heading to the eponymous islands next, which have a plethora of shops stocked with their famous knitwear.

Pick up the island ferry from the pier, right next to where you had a seaweed bath yesterday. If you’re lucky enough to be traveling during one of the few days of the year when ferries are running between Doolin and Inis Meáin (and reach out to me if you want to be sure to arrange for that!), take advantage of the opportunity to see the least-visited of the Aran Islands for yourself and explore its huge stone ringforts.

Else, pick between renting a bike on Inis Mor to enjoy the 2-hour loop around the island, being sure to stop and say hi to the island seal colony, or exploring the remains of the Plassey Shipwreck on Inis Oírr. Regardless of your choice, get a window seat—the ferry ride will treat you to a sea-level view of the awe-inspiring Cliffs of Moher. Seeing them from this perspective, I think, allows you to appreciate their scale even more than you do from the top.

After you’ve exhausted yourself with island exploration, catch the ferry back to Doolin, and follow Fisher Street until you see the vine-covered stone walls of the aptly named Ivy Cottage, where you can stop for a locally-caught seafood dinner before turning in for the night.

When you pack up this morning, make sure your camera is somewhere easy to access: today you’ll be hiking to one of the most iconic views in the world. The cliff walk from Doolin is easy to follow and heartbreakingly beautiful. While yesterday’s ferry trip let you see the imposing Cliffs of Moher from a unique sea-level angle, today’s vistas are all the 700 foot (literally!) view.

Following the winding path gives you, in my opinion, the best views of this iconic landmark without the crowds you’ll have to weave through by the better-known viewpoint of O’Brien’s Tower. At a normal walking pace, the hike to the visitors’ center takes just under two hours, but you’ll want to plan plenty of extra time to stop and savor the hidden coves and magical views of the cliffs rising out of the mist.

As the crowds pick up, you’ll know you’re approaching the halfway mark of today’s trek. The “Visitor Experience” includes two restaurants and is the perfect place to stop for lunch and a bit of people watching. Across the street, you’ll find a selection of locally-owned artisan shops built right into the hillside, should you wish to pick up a souvenir.

The afternoon promises views just as dramatic as the morning’s. Stop at Hag’s Head to admire the view from all angles—breathtaking, and with half the crowds as there are around the visitor center viewpoint!

From there, follow the path inland a few miles to the beach town of Liscannor. Have dinner with a view of the bay, then bed down to dream of your next adventure!