Cliffs of Moher ~ where's the best place to stay?
 

We're looking at 2 nights for the Cliffs of Moher area.

Would like a place with a dramatic sea view. Dinner either where we stay, or walkable into or within a small town or village.

Any recommendations?

Doolin is probably the closest village, and has several options of B&Bs with pubs attached. They are mostly in the center of (a very small) village, but they are a bit touristy. However, the music is lots of fun!

I'll suggest staying near Liscannor. We stayed at the Moher Lodge B&B. It was an excellent location and had a nice host and great breakfast.

It's been a few years since we were there, but it was our favority B&B in Ireland. I believe the husband of the proprietor also ran the local pub.

We just returned from Ireland and one of our stops was Doolin. This is where you want to stay for the Cliff of Mohers. We stayed at the Hotel Doolin and it was great!! There are other nearby B&Bs that are close to the village and within walking distance to the village, the pier and the pubs. The Cliff of Mohers is about a 10-15 minute drive. You should really enjoy Doolin.
If your driving in Ireland,do yourself a favor and get a GPS.

I'm looking at Ballinalacken Castle Hotel at the moment. Not within walking distance to Doolin, but does have it's own restaurant and looks to have great ocean views.

Doolin Hotel doesn't look as if it has close ocean views, Moher Lodge maybe a little further away from the ocean then I would like from what I can see from the pictures.

What about the village of Ballyvaughn, is it as attractive as Doolin?

jpc0398 we WILL get a GPS, we used one in Switzerland last year and it avoided many "discussions" between DH and myself!

I think Ballyvaughn is smaller than Doolin, but I'm not certain. Much farther away from the Cliffs, but beautiful views of Galway Bay. Monk's Pub has great food :)

Gregan's Castle is a good place to stay in Ballyvaughn....

gracejoan3 I've been looking at Gregans also ~ have you stayed there?

There's a great trip report somewhere on Fodor's (I can't seem to get the search function to find it :-( that recommends the Ballinsheen House in Lisdoonvarna. (I copied the relevant paragraph for my notes but didn't bookmark the thread, and the search function won't find Lisdoonvarna or Ballinsheen.)

el

wrenwood:

My one trip to the cliffs we stayed right near the cliffs at a wonderful B&B called the "Moher Farmhouse". No sea view.

If you want a walking village, then that should put you back in Doolin.

Searching for Ballinsheen gave me nothing here, nor did it bring up anything on Tripadvisor. And the website
www.Ballinsheenhouse.com as listed on one of the Ireland accomodation sites came up as an nonexistant domain. Must be out of business?

Ballyvaughan is further from the cliffs than Doolin, but a good base to explore the entire Burren area. It's a very nice village, with a more traditional configuration than Doolin, larger, with a town square etc.

(Doolin really only has Fisher street, and a scattering of homes, B&Bs as far as the church.)

Gregans castle is between Doolin and Ballyvaughan, with great views of the Aran islands in one of the most scenic parts of county Clare - but quite remote.

If you're looking for a base in Ballyvaughan town, convenient to Monks etc - try Hylands. It is more basic than Cregans, and would not have the views, but it's bang in the town centre.

Ballyvaughan is very close to the beautiful areas of Fenore & Bishop's quarter.

However, another major advantage of Doolin (apart from proximity to cliffs) is that ferry service from Doolin pier to the Aran islands - and the views of the cliffs from the beach on Inis Oirr are very striking, and should not be missed if you have the time.

Try to visit the little village of Kilfenora, it has it's famous crosses that are located in the church in the village centre, housed beneath a reinforced glass roof.

When lit in the evening time, it creates a very atmospheric sight, and this village also has the unusual accolade of having the pope as its bishop!!

One area that is often overlooked on the county Clare coast line is the Loop Head area - probably one of the most dramtic drives along the entire Clare coast line, and home of the terrific Loop Head light house, bridges of Ross, and the very pretty village of Carrigaholt, and it's possible to look as far as Dingle from the tip to the south.
www.loopheadclare.com


Hope that this helps.

We have stayed at Gregans and it is very nice, though remote as previously mentioned. We really like the seaside village of Lahinch, which is convenient to the Cliffs. A lovely B&B (with an ocean view) just south of town is Moy House.

Between Doolin and Ballyvaughn, but closer to Doolin, check out Rocky View Farmhouse, outside of Fanore. http://www.rockyviewfarmhouse.com . Noel drives tour buses so knows the area, and it's right in the Burren.

Cliffs of Moher ~ where's the best place to stay?


Well back from the edge. Its a long way down!

Apart from that I think most of the other posters have summed up things fairly well. If it was me, and if it was off-season, I'd be inclined to stay in Ennis. Its not so far away and has a lot of charm. More importantly it has things to do on rainy/windy days.

Well, we finally decided, we're booked at Ballinalacken Castle Hotel in room 16 which is supposed to have the best view. It is a little pricey but looks wonderful and gets great reviews on TA.They did give a slightly better rate for 2 nights B&B and 1 dinner.

So we will have one dinner there, any suggestions as to dinner in Doolin? I found McDermotts, McGann's, O'Connor's, and Cullinan's mentioned on other threads
( first 3 are pubs? good food?) I've also read that O'Connors may not be as nice as it used to be?

http://www.aranview.com/
We stayed at the Aran View Hotel in Doolin and loved it. Beautiful views, cozy room, good price and wonderful food. Lots to do in Doolin for the day.

Have fun,
Robbyn