Cliffs of Moher & Irish Cottage Industries Private Luxury Tour

About This Tour

This private tour pairs the Cliffs of Moher with a proper, guided hour at one of four traditional Irish cottage industries - your choice when booking. The guide driving you is accredited and was born and raised in County Kerry, so the stories along the way come from someone who genuinely knows this part of Ireland.

You travel in a luxury Mercedes with WiFi and bottled water, door to door from your Dublin accommodation, with the itinerary including the Burren’s dramatic limestone landscape, the Wild Atlantic Way, Doolin village, and a selection of castles and beautiful west coast villages.

Your four cottage industry options are:

• Caherconnell Sheep Farm (Burren valley) - a working farm that’s been in the same family for over five generations, with sheep herding demonstrations from working border collies trained on site, plus a 5,000-year-old stone fort to explore
• Burren Perfumery - a family-run boutique perfumery and cosmetics maker using organic local produce, with a tea room, herb garden, and blending room; the Burren’s 70%+ of Ireland’s wild flower species are the source and inspiration
• Sean’s Bar (Athlone) - established in AD 900, this is the oldest bar in Ireland; the proprietor’s historical research uncovered the original Irish whiskey recipe, which you can sample (drinks at additional cost)
• Woolen Mill (Tuamgraney, Lough Derg) - a private tour covering both the historic and contemporary production of Irish fine wool

What’s Included

• Door-to-door private transport in a luxury Mercedes with WiFi and bottled water
• Accredited driver-guide born and raised in County Kerry
• One-hour guided visit to your chosen cottage industry
• Fully insured and serviced vehicle

What’s Not Included

• Gratuities

Itinerary

1. Pickup - Your driver meets you at your hotel lobby, Airbnb, or residence at the agreed time and outlines the day ahead. (10 min)

2. The Burren - The wild heart of the Wild Atlantic Way. Your guide will explain how this “lunar” limestone landscape was formed millions of years ago when the area sat beneath the sea. You’ll stop at scenic spots to take in the wildflowers, the seagulls, and the distant Aran Islands - the origin of traditional Aran wool. (60 min)

3. Cliffs of Moher - Standing over 220 metres high and running for 12km, the cliffs are home to thousands of nesting seabirds. The first observatory was built here in 1835 and the site now draws over 1.5 million visitors a year. Views stretch to the Twelve Bens mountain range, the Aran Islands, and the Atlantic Ocean. Time at the nearby visitor centre is included. (60 min)

4. Black Head Loop, Wild Atlantic Way - The Wild Atlantic Way covers around 2,000km across seven counties. The Black Head Loop is one of its most celebrated sections, with the dramatic Burren landscape set against Atlantic coastal views. (60 min)

5. Doolin Village - A must-stop for anyone who wants an authentic Clare experience. The pubs here host genuine traditional music sessions, and the village has a warmth and character that’s hard to explain but easy to feel. (60 min)

6. Your chosen cottage industry - One hour at whichever of the four options you selected at booking, with a guided tour from the in-house experts. (60 min)

7. Return to Dublin - Your guide brings you safely home with plenty of stories from the day. (10 min)

Good to Know

This is a private tour conducted in English. Specialised infant seats are available. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. Service animals are welcome. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible. Public transport options are available nearby.

Local Tips

Choose your cottage industry based on the direction that suits you. Sean’s Bar in Athlone and the Woolen Mill in Tuamgraney both add a meaningful detour from the main Cliffs route - your guide will build the day around whichever you pick. The Burren-based options (Caherconnell and the Perfumery) stay on the western loop with the rest of the day.

Doolin deserves more than a quick stop. Doolin has four pubs with trad sessions running most nights - Gus O’Connor’s has been going since 1832, and McGann’s seafood chowder is not a tourist gesture. If you have flexibility in the itinerary, this is worth lingering for a proper lunch before the afternoon leg. Sessions start around nine in the evening if you were to base yourself here overnight.

Sean’s Bar (if you choose Athlone) is the real thing. Guinness World Records named it Ireland’s oldest pub in 2004. The wattle-and-wicker section of the wall is behind glass and you can see the archaeology for yourself. The pint is the point, but the history is the reason to choose this option over the others.

The Woolen Mill at Tuamgraney sits beside Lough Derg. Tuamgraney is also home to the oldest church in continuous use in Ireland - St Cronan’s, built in stone between 949 and 964 CE, repaired by Brian Boru in 1012. If you have a few minutes after the mill, the church doorway alone is worth the walk.

Nearby on IrelandMe

• Doolin - Three hamlets, four pubs, and a genuine trad session going somewhere most nights - it’s the Clare village that put the west coast sound on the map.
• Tuamgraney - The oldest church in continuous use in Ireland sits beside the Lough Derg village where Brian Boru repaired the roof in 1012.
• Athlone - A Shannon river town where Sean’s Bar has been pouring since the year 900, and Thyme restaurant has held its Michelin Bib Gourmand for eight years running.