Adare to Galway via Cliffs of Moher

26th August
Adare to Galway via Cliffs of Moher
We woke to clear sunny skies - perfect for our plans. But we are used to the changes that Ireland can throw at you and so we made sure our raincoats were at the ready. We headed for the Cliffs of Moher on the coast of County Clare. We drove around the edge of Limerick and then on towards Shannon. On the way we passed Bunratty Castle. This is a place you can spend the whole day, but it was a day set aside for cliffs not castles so on we drove. Ennis was the last of the big towns and from there the roads got very narrow and the country side rocky, rugged and beautiful. We arrived at the Cliffs of Moher carpark - the size of the any large supermarket carpark - and walked the 500 meters or so to the visitor/information centre. It is really well set out with photos and stories of the birds and wildlife and the local people and their lives. A 10 minute audio visual gives you a birds eye view of the cliffs and then from under the sea to the whales and dolphins and fish of the area. It is really good - like a ride at Luna Park.
So off to view the real thing....the paths lead you along the cliff edge with fabulous views across to the Aran Islands and Galway in the far distance. This is a must see place and over a million people visit the Cliffs of Moher each year. There are 'extreme caution' signs everywhere and 'do not enter' which people take no notice of and step over the fence and walk along a deep well worn track (without any form of safety barrier and strong winds blowing) along the cliff edge. The cliffs are 214 meters at the highest point and stretch for 8km. Puffins nests in the cliffs as do many other sea birds. Wild goats are sometimes seen there, not today, and also sometimes seals are about, also not today. We were not disappointed though as it was a spectacular place and certainly lived up to what we had been told to expect.
From here we drove through a pretty village of Doolin, then onto Lisdoonvarna for lunch in the Irish Arms Hotel. Back on the road towards Galway we passed Dunguaire Castle in Kinvarra. Past more incredible scenery. We wound our way down 'corkscrew hill' - interesting watching 2 buses trying to go in opposite directions on a hairpin bend on a narrow road.
Galway is another huge city. We had little idea where our B & B was but managed to get there eventually. It would have been easier if we had known that 20 years ago they had cut the road and the section of road we were looking for was now part of a different street. Makes sense if you are Irish!!!!
We got settled and went for a walk into town. The Latin Quarter is a pedestrian mall full of interesting shops, people and a variety of buskers. We had a coffee and people watched for awhile and then wandered about deciding where to have some tea. It was a nice little quiet quaint restaurant was our choice. Our waitress was very pleased to meet some Australians. She explained that her cousin was moving to Melbourne in a few weeks time to live. From there we walked back to our B & B and on to the beach of Galway Bay. It was cold and windy so just a quick look and back to our B & B and get ready for tomorrows adventure.