Often overshadowed by the popular Cliffs of Moher, the towering Slieve League Cliffs is one of Ireland’s best-kept secrets.
Situated in county Donegal, these impressive cliffs along the Atlantic ocean are considered one of the highest seaside cliffs in Europe, with an impressive height of 601 meters at its highest point, and standing here makes it feel as though you’re at the edge of the world.
The scenic cliffs are home to various hiking trails and viewpoints and are best enjoyed in a relaxed manner, by thoroughly taking your time to take it all in.
To help you experience the best of the Slieve League Cliffs, I’ve written this in-depth guide, featuring the best hikes and viewpoints, boat tours, when to visit, how to get there, and more.
Where are the Slieve League Cliffs
Located on the Donegal coastline, in the northwest of Ireland are the Slieve League Cliffs, a set of 600-metre high sea cliffs that are definitely a must-see for anyone road-tripping Ireland’s popular Wild Atlantic Way.
While Slieve League is slightly off your typical Irish tourist trail, it is still relatively easy to get there, as it’s only 1,5 hours drive from Sligo or Letterkenny.
Slieve League Cliffs entrance fee
At the moment of writing – April 2022 – the entrance fee to the Slieve League Cliffs is completely free.
While these impressive cliffs get more and more popular every day, the area itself is not yet commercialised, which makes it one of the best free things to do in Ireland.
How to get to the Slieve League Cliffs
CAR | As with most tourist attractions in Ireland, the Slieve League Cliffs are best reached on your own set of wheels.
For that reason, I’d highly recommend renting a car for the duration of your road trip along the Wild Atlantic Way, since it’s by far the most convenient way to reach all the highlights it has to offer.
For car rental in Ireland, I’d highly recommend Rentalcars.com, as they offer brilliant service, additional insurance options, as well as a wide selection of cars to choose from – check prices and availability here.
Upon arrival, you notice a small parking lot (which fills up quickly during the peak summer months).
While it’s totally possible to park here (the walk up is only 1,5 kilometres), there’s also a second parking lot, which is located directly next to the Bunglas Viewpoint.
Things to see and do at the Slieve League Cliffs
#1 Bunglas Viewpoint
Without question the most popular viewpoint at Slieve League, the Bunglas Viewpoint greets its visitors with the most stunning panoramic views of the soaring sea cliffs for which the area is famed.
Situated directly next to the second parking lot, this stunning viewpoint is super easy to access, hence its extreme popularity among travellers and locals alike.
With its insane backdrop, Bunglas Viewpoint is also the area’s number one spot for those after some serious landscape photography – so make sure to have your camera within hand reach and capture that next Instagram banger.
#2 The Pilgrim’s Path
Not for the faint of heart, the Pilgrim’s Path is a scenic unmarked path that makes for the perfect challenge for experienced hikers.
This impressive hiking trail is approximately 4 kilometres long and showcases county Donegal’s incredible scenic coastline, making it one of the best hikes in the region.
The hike takes about 2 to 3 hours round trip, depending on your overall fitness level, and the weather conditions. Do note that this trail is slightly dangerous under bad weather conditions.
#3 One Man’s Pass
If you want to turn it up another notch, opt for the One Man’s Pass hiking trail, an extremely narrow pathway that is considered a real risk for inexperienced hikers.
One Man’s Pass is an extension to the Pilgrim’s Path and runs over a sharp-edged path hundreds of metres above the Atlantic below – scary, but a real adventure for advanced hikers and thrill-seekers alike.
While I haven’t done this one myself, it is said that the hike is rather challenging, and should be avoided when bad weather conditions occur at all costs.
#4 Slieve League Cliffs Boat tour
Another great way to experience the towering cliffs of Slieve League is from the water, by joining an adventurous Slieve League Cliffs Boat tour.
When joining a boat tour, you will get extremely close to the shore, allowing you to experience the grandness of these cliff walls in full.
On top of that, there’s also a chance that you’ll encounter wildlife such as dolphins, whales, and seals during the tour.
Also, if you wish to swim at the foot of the Slieve League Cliffs, make sure you bring your swimming wear, as it’s possible to jump in the crystal clear waters during the tour.
In general, a boat tour of the Slieve League Cliffs takes around 1.5 to 2 hours to complete.
Where to stay near the Slieve League Cliffs
Since the Slieve League Cliffs are situated slightly off the typical Irish tourist trail, you have to set up base in one of the surrounding cities
Depending on your own Ireland itinerary, I’d suggest you seek accommodation in one of these popular cities; Sligo, Letterkenny or Donegal, where you’ll find everything from backpacker-friendly hostels, to family-run guesthouses and luxurious hotels.
To help you find the right accommodation, I’ve listed my favourite out of the bunch below;
Teelin
The Rusty Mackerel | This incredible hotel is located a 10-minute drive from the Slieve League Cliffs and offers comfortable private rooms, an ensuite bathroom, and an in-house restaurant and pub. Since there are only a few accommodations nearby Slieve League, the Rusty Mackerel fills up quickly, so make sure you book in advance.
Sligo
The Glasshouse | Situated in the heart of Sligo, the Glasshouse provides stylish, contemporary rooms, comfortable double beds, and all the essentials for a relaxing stay. All rooms come with excellent breakfast and the Manhattan-style View Bar boasts fantastic river views. Double rooms start at €144 a night.
Letterkenny
Radisson Blu Hotel | Located in Letterkenny, this modern-style hotel provides the perfect base from which to explore County Donegal, including the Slieve League Cliffs. Radisson Blu offers contemporary Irish style rooms with all the necessary amenities to unwind after a day of exploring. Make sure you check out the link to see how good this hotel actually is.
Best time of day to visit the Slieve League Cliffs
To me, the best time to visit the Slieve League Cliffs is early in the morning, when you have all the time to experience the various hikes and viewpoints.
The Slieve League Cliffs are open every day from 1000 till 1800.
Alternatively, the late afternoon is great for those that wish to visit only the main viewpoints at the start of the Slieve League Cliffs.
On top of that, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend visiting at noon, since the harsh sun reflecting on the Atlantic ocean often makes it pretty hard to capture the scene with your camera.
Best time of year to visit the Slieve League Cliffs
Although summer in Ireland is rather unreliably, the months of May to August are in my opinion still the best time to visit the Slieve League Cliffs.
Not only is the weather far more stable during these months, but the days are also longer, which makes exploring the Cliffs of Slieve League significantly more convenient.
On top of that, the shoulder months of March to April and September to November, still offer relatively comfortable weather conditions too.
However, it’s important to mention that the weather in Ireland is criminally unpredictable, meaning that heavy rainfall and strong wind gusts can appear out of nowhere.
Stay safe in Ireland | Travel insurance
Given travelling in Ireland is all about the outdoors, I recommend everyone to sort out good travel insurance before setting out on their own road trip adventure.
Where we prefer that everything goes smoothly during our travels, something unfortunate can happen at any moment, whether it’s an injury during a hike, a stolen camera, or an accident on the road.
For travel insurance, I use Heymondo, as they offer full covid-19 coverage, as well as a handy app with 24-hour medical assistance. Make sure you check it out – readers of WTSW receive 5% off any insurance policy too. Additionally, I also recommend World Nomads.
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