The Cliffs of Moher are Ireland’s most visited natural attraction. As beautiful as they are, they have a reputation for being dangerous and not child-friendly. So, can you visit the Cliffs of Moher with kids? \Everyone needs to make their own decisions about the safety of their children, but we had a very fun and safe visit to the Cliffs of Moher with our kids.
Keep reading for tips for visiting the Cliffs of Moher with kids, plus a short video from our family trip so you can see what it was like for yourself.
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Visiting the Cliffs of Moher with Kids
Initially, we were worried about the reputation the Cliffs of Moher have for being unsafe for kids. We believe in taking well-thought out, reasonable risks with our children, so we decided to investigate it further.
Are the Cliffs of Moher Safe for Kids?
Our first action was to check the Cliffs of Moher website to see what their position was, and it said, “The designated viewing areas are completely safe.” The designated viewing areas are a small area clustered around the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre.
At the Cliffs of Moher, visitors can currently enjoy 3.5 km of safe walking paths. The designated trails are short, paved pathways which go up and down the edge of the Cliffs of Moher which provide outstanding views of this natural wonder. Even if this is all you do, it’s worth coming just to see the cliffs as they are majestic.
If you follow our family adventures, you know we love hiking with our kids when we travel, so we were going to check whether it felt safe to go beyond the designated viewing areas.
Before you head out, read our best tips for hiking with kids and see what we actually pack in our guide to hiking gear for kids.
What It Was Like Walking Beyond The Main Viewing Area
Our kids are growing up in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, so we have a good deal of experience hiking with risk. On any given hike, if our kids (aged 3 & 6) are calm and showing good listening, we will proceed with taking well-thought out risks, such as walking near a drop-off. When hiking with our kids, we will always turn back when it no longer feels safe as it’s always better to live to hike another day.
We were pleasantly surprised that the non-designated areas at the Cliffs of Moher felt safer than we expected. We left the designated viewing area and walked south towards Hag’s Head. This area is officially closed – proceed at your own risk.
You could see evidence of an old gravel trail which runs dangerously close to the edge of the cliff, but it’s now blocked off. The hiking trail that is currently in use is well back from the cliff face and is lined with a wall of rock slabs about 4 feet high, preventing kids from getting too close to the edge of the cliff.
The views of the Cliffs of Moher are excellent for the adults, but one downside of the rock slabs is that the kids can’t see any views without being picked up.
Some sections of the trail do not have the rock wall, but in these areas the trail was so far from the cliff face, that we felt it was safe to proceed (keeping a close eye on the kids).
The weather was not the best on the day we visited and the wind was blowing inland so hard that at one point (well away from the edge), it blew our 6-year-old right off her feet.
When the line of rock slabs ended after 1.5 km (1 mile) and the trail moved closer to the cliff face, we decided to turn back due to safety concerns. Without the safety rocks, we weren’t comfortable taking the risk beyond this point.
You’ll have to decide how far you’re comfortable going. Even if you stay on the designated trails, you can have a very good visit to the Cliffs of Moher with kids.
Our Cliffs of Moher With Kids Video
Want to see what our family trip to the Cliffs of Moher looked like? This short video includes the areas we visited and gives you a better feel for the cliffs, the scenery, and what it was like exploring the Cliffs of Moher with kids.
After watching, keep reading for more Cliffs of Moher family travel tips, including how to get there and where to stay.
We’re slowly adding more of our family travel videos to our YouTube channel, so feel free to subscribe if you’d like to follow along.
How to Get to the Cliffs of Moher
Because of their remote location, many visitors choose an organized tour. Tours are available from Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Galway, and you can compare family-friendly Cliffs of Moher tours options on GetYourGuide.com.
We went the do-it-yourself route. After finishing a week-long self-guided cycling trip through Connemara, we picked up a rental car at Shannon Airport. It’s still doable to visit the Cliffs of Moher from Dublin, Cork, or Limerick, but you’ll need to start earlier.
If you are coming from Dublin or Cork, read more on how we spent our time in Dublin with kids and in Cork with kids.
The Cliffs of Moher parking lot is located across the highway from the Visitor Centre.
Where to Stay Near Cliffs of Moher with Kids
We wanted to see several parts of the Cliffs of Moher, so we decided to stay one night and split our visit over two days. We rented a three-bedroom vacation home near Miltown Malbay, about a half-hour drive from the Cliffs of Moher.
If you like the idea of separate bedrooms, laundry facilities and your own kitchen, you can browse the available Cliffs of Moher vacation home rentals.
If you are looking for a family-friendly Cliffs of Moher hotel, you’ll find a good selection on Booking.
Follow Along our Family Trip to Ireland
We arrived in the Cliffs of Moher after an amazing family bike trip in Ireland through the Connemara region. We only spent one day in the Cliffs of Moher with kids, before continuing on our family road trip through Ireland. After the Cliffs of Moher, our next stop was 2 days on the Dingle Peninsula with kids.
If you are planning a family trip to Ireland, don’t miss our favorite things to do in Ireland with kids. We also have a helpful family packing list for Ireland with kids.
Our Travel Journal for Kids
Based on our family travels, our kids helped us design this Travel Journal for Active Kids! This engaging travel journal encourages kids to document their adventures, spark creativity, and stay entertained on the go – grab yours now on Amazon!
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