Kilkee is a picturesque beachside town around an hour south of where we were staying in Lahinch with stunning, and somewhat underrated, sea cliffs.
We actually came here on two different occasions to enjoy the beach on sunny days. The beach is a lovely sandy cove with calm water and the main street just one block back. It felt very much like a hidden gem, somewhere that’s been kept off the tourist radar; a summer destination for Irish families.
We would recommend it over Lahinch, where we stayed, as a beach destination. Lahinch is a small town with a large beach that is considered more of a surf beach, but it has a huge rock wall reinforcing the store line. At high tide the waves crash against the rocks and it can feel pretty wild. Kilkee Beach, being in a cove, felt a bit more protected and the town felt more spread out and walkable.
On the headland either side of the beach are the stunning sea cliffs. We only did a drive by after our day at the beach, pulling over for me to take some photos but there is a dedicated walking track along the top of cliffs.
I’ve been reading various facebook groups for Travel Tips in Ireland and many people lament how ‘touristy and over run’ the Cliffs of Moher can feel, with the huge numbers of tour buses that arrive each day. Many people say that the Kilkee cliffs are a much more authentic, lesser known option. While they didn’t seem as high as the Cliffs of Moher, they are still spectacular. (and don’t come with any admission. prices)
But I would recommended that if you’re able to venture of the track to Kilkee, then keep going south to the Loop Head Lighthouse which has even more incredible coastline scenery (read more about it in the next blog post)
