Loop Head

Loop Head

Loop Head is the most southwesterly corner of County Clare, Ireland at the mouth of the Shannon River and the Atlantic. The approaches to Loop Head are perhaps more striking than Loop Head itself. The road ends with a large parking lot, but a gated and fenced lighthouse prevents you from going to the point. Loop Head is not a beach, but a high point of land with shear cliffs. I saw people going right to the edge, oblivious to the danger. Guard fences are not the norm.

Consider driving the secondary (or tertiary roads) to and from. After all, you can't really get lost. Worst case, you'll turn around and "waste" 10-15 minutes. Make this part of a drive that includes Kilrush, Carrigaholt, and Kilkee. In fact, from Carrigaholt you can take the shore road to Loop Head, though I encountered stretches of the road with good size rocks washed onto the road.

Crowd Rating
Interest Level

		Views toward Loop Head from Kilbaha.

		At Loop Head, looking to the north. Note the crashing surf and mist.
		Looking south with Dingle Peninsula on the horizon. And the cows crossing the road as I left Loop Head on a northern coastal orad.
	Obviously, the lighthouse.	All photographs available for purchase as prints or JPEG files. Original JPEGs are approximately 2.5 mb suitable for enlarging up to 20"x30".