Why the Stunning Slieve League Cliffs Are One of the Best Sites in Ireland

You have probably heard of the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland.

They are kind of famous.

As a result they’re also quite busy and can get overrun with visitors — 1.6 million per year to be exact.

That’s a lot!

Slieve League are another set of sea cliffs.

You haven’t heard of them?

Well they’re not quite as well-known, that’s for sure.

In fact, these cliffs only see about 187,000 visitors each year.

But let me tell you — they are pretty damn amazing!

Let’s take a closer look at these spectacular works of Mother Nature.

 

Where are Slieve League cliffs?

These sea cliffs, known as Sliabh Liag in Irish, are located in the southern part of County Donegal.

And County Donegal is way up in the northwestern reaches of the Republic of Ireland.

This is why this destination doesn’t see as many visitors.

It’s simply harder to get to and is not on the typical Ireland tourist trail.

Slieve League is a bit out of the way as you will be out on some wee roads to reach it.

But it’s so worth it!

 

What is so special about these cliffs?

Cliffs may not be the right word as Slieve League is really more of a mountain.

While the Cliffs of Moher are definitely more dramatic since they are more vertical, Slieve League is special as they are much higher.

In fact, these cliffs sit at 596m (1955ft) which is 3 times higher than their more famous cousins to the south.

Slieve League are actually the highest sea cliffs on the island of Ireland.

How’s that for special?

 

What can I expect from my visit to Slieve League?

First of all, as I mentioned in the where section, you will need to either go with some kind of guided tour, or you’ll be driving to this destination.

And if you are driving, be prepared for some narrow roads.

You can park at a parking area below and walk up the road which does climb with twists and turns and is quite narrow.

It’s not for folks who are not used to this type of driving.

If you do park at the bottom parking area (very clearly seen on the left), you will be walking uphill and longer so be prepared.

Should you decide to drive to the upper parking area, do be sure you are okay with a steep, narrow, curvy road.

I parked up at the top area, but had a small car — which is helpful.

Once in the upper parking area, you’ll see a dirt trail.

You can follow this up to a viewing platform where you’ll have some stunning views.

Only experienced hikers should go farther up to One Man’s Pass.

From there you can hike onto the Pilgrim’s Path.

Interestingly there are ruins of an early Christian monastic site on the slopes of Slieve League with a chapel and beehive huts.

There are also some ancient stone remains that indicate the mountain might have been a pilgrimage site before Christianity came to Ireland.

I was pressed for time, so I didn’t walk too far on the trail up to One’s Man Pass.

But I am definitely putting this on the “next time” list as this trail takes you on top of the cliffs and rewards you with spectacular views.

I did walk far enough along this path to gain a bit more elevation for some fabulous pics.

Since my visit in 2017 they have made improvements to the parking areas and the trail.

And the biggest addition is a Visitor’s Center which is located in the town of Teelin.

So the best thing to do is stop by the Visitor’s Center then go on to the cliffs.

 

How much time should I allow for my visit?

My advice is to allow a few hours to visit Slieve League especially if you have good weather and if you want to hike up to One Man’s Pass.

If the weather is good and you are an experienced hiker, make this trek.

If the weather is good but you aren’t comfortable with the hike, then still allow time to perhaps have a picnic and enjoy the scenery.

However, if the weather is bad — as it can be in Ireland — you may want to forgo a visit altogether.

I had overcast weather, but it wasn’t raining.

So it was good enough to walk and get some magnificent views but not good enough that I would have hiked the trail.

Let the weather and your experience level guide you.

But do not rush your visit!

 

Does it cost to visit Slieve League?

No it doesn’t cost to visit.

How great is this?

However, if you want to take a guided walk of Slieve League, you can do so with Sliabh Liag Tours.

This will cost, but check with them for pricing.

 

When should I visit?

Well, this is Ireland so you can expect rain at any time of year.

Winter months will be colder, wetter and the days are shorter.

It’s also possible to see snow — although not very often.

Summer will bring the main tourist season so it may be a bit busier then.

Spring and autumn can be good times to visit Slieve League.

But…it’s Ireland so you just never know!

 

My thoughts on Slieve League

I had read about Slieve League for a few years before I made my visit.

It was firmly on my Ireland list.

So when I made that visit to County Donegal, I knew I would have to find the time to see these stunning cliffs.

I was definitely awed by Slieve League.

And it is a destination in Ireland I recommend to anyone traveling to County Donegal.

The Cliffs of Moher are a bit more dramatic in their vertical-ness.

But Slieve League are more special in their height, remoteness and the fact that they aren’t so damn crowded!

I can’t wait to go back.

 

Please note that Wander Your Way does not recommend travel at this time due to the current global health situation with the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, many destinations and attractions found on this website will not be operating although some places are slowly opening up. Please stay up to date using official sources like the WHO. I do plan to continue to write about incredible destinations and to offer tips on travel to Europe, so that you will find some solace in these posts — so you dream about travel and learn about travel. This way when we can all travel again, you’ll be ready to go! For now, stay home and stay safe!

 

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