A spur of the moment flight search landed us going to Ireland for a week. We all agreed that the Cliffs of Moher was the number one thing on our list to see so off to Liscannor we went! We stayed at the Cliffview Lodge B&B where we only had a 3km walk to the cliffs. They were one of the most magnificent landscapes I’d ever seen. It was like being on top of the world and the edge of the world all at once. From our drive from the airport, (and everywhere else for that matter), Endless miles of stone walls lined the roads. There was green grass as far as the eye could see, and more cows than I’d ever seen in my life. We stepped off the plane to sunny skies and 62 degrees. Ireland. The rainiest country in Europe (That might be a lie) and we got all sunshine. We thought for sure it was a fluke. Surely it would start down pouring any second, and if not the first day, certainly the second. But for an entire week straight it was sunny and blue sky! Not until we left a week later and got to the airport did it start to rain!

 

When in Ireland….. apparently you need to take cheesy jumping pictures… cause why not?! This is the B&B we stayed at! The Cliffview Lodge B&B!

And here are some friends we made!

The first few days we stayed around Liscannor and the Cliffs of Moher, if you’re going to the Cliffs, here are some tips! 

1. Pack Layers! And a Rain Jacket! Ireland weather changes quicker than you can change your socks. One second it’s raining, the next it’s windy, the next it’s sunny with puffy clouds. We got really lucky on our stay (but on my second visit to the Cliff’s I didn’t get so lucky!). Layers are your best bet to combat Ireland’s weather mood swings. 
2. Escape the crowds! Don’t just stay at O’Brien’s Tower and the Visitors Center! The paths along the cliffs warrant incredible views and the further you get form the visitor’s center the less crowded it becomes. Be sure to stay away from the edge though! You never know when the dirt can give way and you’d be a goner for sure! If the weather is bad, it can definitely be dreadful walking along the path, in which case you may opt to stay near the warmth of the Visitor Center and the many close overlooks there. If however, you get great weather like we did I highly recommend walking along the 12 mile coastal path traversing the entire length of the cliffs. You don’t have to do the whole 12 miles to get the great views, but you’ll be much happier not fighting the crowds.
3. Just do it. Seriously, out of the dozens of incredible places I’ve been, the Cliffs of Moher was one of my absolute favorites. The cliffs have a way of making you feel so small, as they majestically loom 702 feet above the wild Atlantic Ocean below.4. Visit the cliffs either in the morning or at sunset for optimal photos and less people. The sunsets are some of the most spectacular I’d ever seen and unless you enjoy harshly lit photos and a glare, then golden hour is the best time to go! It also slimmed out with visitors at night because most bus tours were gone by then. We walked up from our B&B so we had no time limit. Therefore we got to watch the sunset and it was one of my most memorable experiences of the trip! Here’s the lovely sunset!
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Stay tuned for parts 2, 3 and 4 of Lahinch, Burren National Park. the Aran Islands and Galway!