Co.Clare Ireland

Day 80/Ireland 13

Travelled:162km on Wild Atlantic Way and Shannon Estuary Way, Co. Clare

Visited: Kilkee Cliffs, Bridges of Ross, Loop Head Lighthouse, Carrigaholt Bay, Labasheeda Quay, Kildysart

Stay: Kildysart Quay parking/picnic area N52.6697 W9.1011

We where lucky to have walked the Cliffs of Moher yesterday as this morning was once again overcast and rainy. After a quick coffee we where on the road with a quick stop in Lahinch (8am everything was closed) and then continued on to Spanish Point and had some breakfast. It was named after the Spanish who died here in 1588, when many ships of the Spanish Armada were wrecked.

 The coast from here to Kilkee is focused on holiday makers, providing lots of accommodations (hotels, B&B’s and caravan/mobile home parks) and places to eat and shop. It is also not very motorhome friendly with most carparks having height barriers. We were happy that we travelled through this area early in the morning on a rainy day, so there was minimal traffic. 

From Kilkee we took the coastal path, also called Loop Head. The road offered some great views of the Kilkee Cliffs. We stopped several times along the way. At the lookout fishermen where catching lots of mackerel. 

Further in we had a look at the Bridges of Ross, although only one remain from the three that used to be here. 

At the very tip of the Peninsula was Loop Head Lighthouse where we could once again admire the dramatic cliffs and beautiful coastline. 

It is situated at the mouth of River Shannon and was built in 1854. We then doubled back and then followed the WAW South to Carrigaholt Bay. The Castle here was built in 1480 and is still well preserved but can’t be visited inside. 

At Kilrush we left the WAW and followed the Shannon Estuary Way. We popped in to have a look at Labasheeda Quay. 

We then continued a little further to Kildysart/Killadysert named after a Monastery founded here. We ventured into the only open pub from four to have a pint and then settled in at the Quay for the night.