Loop Head Peninsula, Co Clare

Nominated by Mary Redmond, who wrote: "Beautiful, wild and unspoilt with three beaches , the wonderful cliff walk in Kilkee, and loop head walk at the light house and the ruins of Carrigaholt Castle."
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WHAT THE IRISH TIMES SAYS
Loop Head is a peninsula in Co Clare, with dramatic sea cliffs flanking the north side of the peninsula, and the softer shores of the Shannon estuary on the south side, making for two very different landscapes as you circumnavigate it. The centre is gently undulating lowlands, made up of small farms and there is an impressive lighthouse at its tip. The south side also has impressive wetlands leading into the Shannon estuary, a haven for birdlife. It is not very built-up at all, except for its seaside town of Kilkee near at the top of the peninsula. It is very welcoming. This is not really an area for shopping, more for getting in touch with nature and wildlife. Dolphin watching trips on the Shannon, which leave from Carrigaholt, is a unique feature of Loop Head, and a leading provider of sustainable and ethical wildlife watching in Ireland.

There is a bus service to Kilkee with Bus Éireann, as well as a Loop Head bus/taxi service called Around The Loop (aroundtheloop.ie) which is not only a minibus taxi service, but also leads eco tours around Loop Head. There are easy driving routes around the back roads although the best way to get around is by bike, using the Loop Head Cycle Way. You can hire bikes at William’s Hardware Bike Rental in Kilkee.

Loop Head rates pretty well in terms of accommodation as it is off the normal tourist trail. Food prices are pretty much in line with the rest of Ireland. There are a few small shops, but no mass supermarkets.