The town with scenic cliff walks, ferry trips and B&B voted best in Ireland

THIS seaside town has scenic cliff walks, ferries to the Aran islands and a B&B voted best in Ireland.

The bustling town is known for its vibrant personality, with live music in pubs and locals that welcome visitors “with open arms”.

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Doolin is a village on the west coast of Ireland in Co Clare.

The small town is known as a gateway to the ancient sites on the Aran Islands, which are just offshore. 

And another major Irish tourist attraction is also bordering the town.

The Cliffs of Moher lie just southwest of Doolin. The cliffs run for about 14km and are located at the southwestern edge of the Burren region.

The cliffs were named winner of ‘Ireland’s Best Visitor Attraction’ in The Irish Independent’s annual Reader Travel Awards for 2023.

They provide a majestic backdrop and experience for any visitors to Doolin.

Doolin visitors can easily take a short ferry trip to the Aran Islands to see even more of the coastline’s beauty.

The islands consist of  Inis Mór (Inishmore – ‘Big Island’), Inis Meáin (Inishman – ‘Middle island’) and Inis Oírr (Inisheer – ‘East island’), and are one of the few places left in Ireland were Irish is spoken daily.

To explore the island and take a step back in time, you can take a guided tour, a trip on a pony and trap, or hire bicycles.

Two ferry companies operate journeys from Doolin Pier, to the islands.

The service operates generally from March until November each year and is the quickest route by sea to the islands.

Visitors can also do an excursion to the Doolin cave, to see the “Great Stalactite”.

CAVE EXPLORATION

The cave is just 4km from the centre of Doolin town.

There are full guided tours of the caves, bringing visitors over 200 feet under the limestone of the Burren landscape.

The Great Stalactite, which is in the cave, is the longest free-hanging stalactite in the northern hemisphere. It is 7.3 metres long and weighs an estimated 10 tonnes.

But there’s plenty to experience while staying put in Doolin village too.

The village is known for having a vibrant energy with locals full of character and stories, that according to Doolin.ie, welcome visitors with “open arms.”

The village is full of accommodation and food options, as well as independent local shops.

FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION

Restaurants in the village serve locally sourced Irish dishes.

And in all of the bustling pubs, there is traditional Irish music, with plenty of laughter, conversation and craic.

There are plenty of accommodation options, including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, caravans and campsites.

Sheedy’s Doolin Boutique B&B was ranked the #1 Best B&B in Ireland for 2022.

It’s just a five minutes walk from the village, with deluxe bedrooms and a hearty, gourmet breakfast for guests.

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