At the south-western tip of County Clare, away from the main tourist routes, Loop Head is often overlooked by visitors. And yet... From Kilkee, a scenic drive takes you to the tip of the peninsula, where the wind usually blows hard. This narrow strip of land jutting out into the ocean offers spectacular coastal scenery. An ideal spot for a short hike.

Lighthouse. At the tip of the peninsula, this imposing lighthouse dating from 1854 is in perfect condition (open to the public in autumn and spring). The first lighthouse (1670) was coal-fired. It stands 90 metres above the ocean. The grandfather of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland (Enda Kenny), James Mc Ginley, was a lighthouse keeper here in the 1930s.

Church of the Little Ark. This is a small wooden hut on wheels, containing an altar, housed in an annex of the Kilbaha church. To better understand, this miniature church (1852) was transported to the beach at low tide, when English rule prohibited the construction of a Catholic church. For 5 years, mass, weddings and baptisms were held illegally on Kilbaha beach.

Bridge of Ross. A solitary sea arch on the north shore of the peninsula, renowned as one of Europe's best birdwatching sites. In late summer and early autumn, shearwaters, jaegers and petrels pass very close to the shore on their southward migration.