Strolling alongside a stretch of the eight-mile-long Cliffs of Moher final month, I paused and drank within the view. A smooth sprinkle of Eire’s famed rain solid a dramatic filter over the surroundings — becoming for the gorgeous website, which I first noticed in a drearily darkish scene in “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” when the boy wizard and Dumbledore go horcrux-hunting in an eerie cave.
Even within the rain, the greens of the grass appeared greener and the ruggedness of the cliffs appeared sharper right here on the UNESCO International Geopark website. As I traveled the Emerald Isle’s Wild Atlantic Approach alongside which the cliffs had been set, I used to be surprised by the sheer vibrance of the surroundings.
For a lot of vacationers flying into Dublin, the concept of navigating throughout the island nation to the western Atlantic coast is usually a problem, particularly when automobiles right here drive on the other facet of the highway than we do within the U.S. However a 13-hour day tour from the capital makes the journey a breeze — it’s no marvel that it snatched one of many high spots on this yr’s Viator Expertise Awards as probably the greatest excursions in Northern Europe.
Run by Wild Rover Excursions, which operates quite a lot of day excursions from Dublin, the Cliffs of Moher Tour Together with Wild Atlantic Approach and Galway Metropolis from Dublin is obtainable every day on a coach bus with Wi-Fi.
As soon as aboard and out of the city middle, the appeal of the Irish countryside begins to emerge, with fields of various inexperienced hues dotted with each sheep and ruins of historic buildings, like Bunratty Citadel.
The primary cease is on the 702-high Cliffs of Moher for a two-hour cease to discover and stroll the coastal pathway alongside the cliffs. It’s possible you’ll even spot puffins on a craggy island and dolphins leaping within the distance. (Professional tip: convey your individual binoculars since there are a restricted quantity to borrow from the knowledge sales space.) After taking in coastal views, hop again on the bus for a cease at The Burren Nationwide Park, the place you may discover 70 p.c of the nation’s endemic flowers.
Again on the bus, maintain your eyes peeled as sights like Dunguaire Citadel and Galway Bay cross you by earlier than arriving in Galway for a two-hour go to. The information will supply an non-obligatory strolling tour, however you’ll be able to escape by yourself and go to highlights just like the Galway Cathedral, Spanish Arch, and Eyre Sq., or possibly store the craft boutiques and seize a pint at a pub by yourself. (There’s an choice to remain in a single day, pending availability on the return journey.)
With 7,315 five-star evaluations, latest vacationers referred to as the tour a “good day journey” of the “lovely countryside of Eire,” noting that the information was an “superb storyteller holding everybody’s consideration.”
This expertise earned a high spot based mostly on common overview scores within the final yr and variety of bookings, amongst different elements. Different excursions that made the checklist of finest excursions in North Europe embrace Iceland’s South Coast Full Day Tour by Minibus from Reykjavik, London’s Harry Potter-themed Tour for Muggles, and Scotland’s Highlander Loch Ness and Culloden Battlefield 8 Seater Tour from Inverness.