What to Wear to the Cliffs of Moher: The Ultimate Packing Guide for Every Season

Dún Aonghasa, perched dramatically on a 300-foot cliff on the southern edge of Inis Mór, is a prehistoric marvel that transports visitors back in time. This semi-circular stone fort, enclosed by massive dry-stone walls, is thought to date back to 1500 BC, making it one of Europe’s most significant archaeological treasures.

Here’s the honest answer: it depends. It depends on when you’re going, what the Atlantic is feeling like that day, and how much you mind being cold. What doesn’t change, ever, is the wind. The cliff-top path is completely exposed, and even on a calm day, there’s a chill to it that catches people off guard. Doolin feels like a different climate compared to the edge of those cliffs. Layering isn’t just a suggestion here. It’s the whole strategy.

Think of it as three layers working together. A moisture-wicking base, a warm mid-layer, and a waterproof shell on top. Get those three right, and you’re in good shape for any season. Miss one of them and you’ll know about it pretty quickly. The specifics shift depending on when you visit, which we’ll break down below. And if you’re still figuring out timing, this guide on the best time to visit the Cliffs of Moher is a good place to start.

Summer is glorious here. It really can be. Long evenings, wildflowers along the path, the Aran Islands sitting out on the horizon like a postcard. June through August brings temperatures somewhere between 15°C and 18°C along the Clare coast, and according to Met Éireann, July tends to be the warmest month. But here’s the thing nobody tells first-time visitors: warm in Clare still means wind. And wind at 200 metres above the Atlantic has a personality all of its own.

Pack for the version of the day that goes sideways, not the one in the brochure.

Here’s what to wear to the Cliffs of Moher in summer:

• Base layer: Lightweight and moisture-wicking. Avoid cotton if you can. It holds water and turns clammy fast, which is miserable when the drizzle rolls in.
• Mid layer: A light fleece or packable down jacket. You might not need it at noon. You will probably need it by 3 pm.
• Outer layer: Waterproof. Windproof. Non-negotiable. This is the one item that will save your day if the weather turns, and it will earn its place in your bag regardless of what the forecast says.
• Bottoms: Light walking trousers or jeans are both fine. Shorts, though? Leave them for the pub garden later.
• Accessories: Sunglasses for the bright days, a buff or light scarf for the windy ones. A compact umbrella is tempting, but genuinely becomes a hazard in strong gusts. Skip it.

Travelling with a group or thinking about going guided? Worth checking out this piece on the best way to see the Cliffs of Moher before you decide.

Winter here is not for everyone. But for the right kind of traveller? It’s incredible. No queues, dramatic skies, waves crashing up the cliff face with a force that genuinely stops you in your tracks. There’s a rawness to it that summer just can’t compete with. Temperatures between December and February usually sit somewhere between 5°C and 10°C, and that’s before wind chill does its thing. Sunset can arrive by 4 pm in December. The days are short, and the weather means business.

Come prepared, and it’ll be one of the best things you do in Ireland. Don’t, and it’ll be a very long, very cold walk back to the car park.

Here’s what to wear to the Cliffs of Moher in winter:

• Base layer: Thermal. Merino wool, if you can stretch to it. It regulates heat brilliantly and doesn’t get that heavy, damp feeling that cheaper synthetics can.
• Mid layer: A properly insulated jacket or heavy fleece under your outer shell. Standing still on a cliff top in January is a different experience to walking around. You’ll cool down fast.
• Outer layer: Fully waterproof, fully windproof, with a hood that doesn’t blow off your head the moment you step outside. In winter, this is the difference between a good day and a terrible one.
• Bottoms: Thermal leggings under waterproof walking trousers. Jeans are genuinely a bad idea in winter. They absorb water and stay wet for hours.
• Hands and head: Warm hat, waterproof gloves. Not optional. A January wind off the Atlantic on bare skin is a persuasive argument for both.

Accessories: Neck gaiter or scarf for extra warmth. Hand warmers in your pockets if you really feel the cold. Small thing, big difference.

This one matters more than people realise. The path is a mix of paved sections and rougher terrain, and depending on recent rainfall, it can get genuinely slippery in places. Spend five minutes reading through visitor threads on Reddit, and the same story comes up over and over again: wrong shoes, regretted it. Sandals, canvas trainers, flat-soled anything. People learn the hard way.

You don’t need to show up in full hiking gear. But you do need grip, waterproofing, and something that’ll keep your feet dry and stable on uneven ground.

• Best option: Waterproof hiking boots or trail shoes with a solid rubber sole. Merrell, Salomon, and Keen all make reliable mid-range options that handle wet, rocky paths well.
• Acceptable option: Waterproof trainers with a grip sole. Fine for the main path, less ideal if you’re planning to walk further along the coastal trail.
• What to avoid: Sandals, flip flops, high heels, anything smooth-soled. Just don’t.
• Socks: Wool or synthetic hiking socks. Cotton holds moisture and gets cold. It’s a small swap that makes a real difference, especially in winter.

More on what to expect from the site itself over in this Cliffs of Moher facts article.

Clothing sorted. Good. But there are a few other things worth throwing in the bag before you head out.

A dry bag or waterproof cover for your backpack is one of those items that feels unnecessary right up until the moment it isn’t. Light drizzle gets into standard bags faster than you’d think, and keeping your camera and spare layers dry is worth the small extra effort. A portable phone charger is another one. Signal can be patchy along the path, and cold weather drains batteries quicker than usual. A power bank is cheap insurance.

Sunscreen and sunglasses tend to get left behind because, well, Ireland. But UV exposure on a bright Atlantic day is real, particularly with the reflection off the water below. And snacks. Bring snacks. There are facilities at the visitor centre, but if you plan to walk any distance along the trail in either direction, pack your own. It stretches further than most people expect.

On the day itself, check Met Éireann that morning rather than relying on a forecast from earlier in the week. The West of Ireland weather is localised and moves quickly. A same-day check is genuinely more useful. In summer, early arrival pays off as the wind typically builds through the afternoon, and the crowds do too. In winter, keep an eye on sunset times. The path is not somewhere you want to be navigating in the dark.