Cliffs of Moher now Pay Per View!

Kernunos

It does not happen very often but I have to admit I was wrong. I did not realise that in a car of 5 people all of them are expected to pay the 6 euros. That does seem pretty ridiculous to be honest.

Although I wonder how it works for people in coaches or those that get the Bus Eireann bus down there? I pesume they wont have to pay, and how will they tell those people apart from the people who park in the carpark

Run_to_da_hills

Kernunos wrote: »

It does not happen very often but I have to admit I was wrong. I did not realise that in a car of 5 people all of them are expected to pay the 6 euros. That does seem pretty ridiculous to be honest.

Although I wonder how it works for people in coaches or those that get the Bus Eireann bus down there? I pesume they wont have to pay, and how will they tell those people apart from the people who park in the carpark

The car park fee will be incorporatedf in this new price structre except it is paid in a booth across the road.

Those arriving in coaches will also have to pay on entry. The new system is supposed to stop "freeloaders" who drop people off at the gate and come back an hour later to pick them up again.

Kernunos

and people who get the public buses up?

growler

i'm very dissappointed that CCC didn't seize the opportunity to install a large floating barrier and kiosk a few hundreed yards offshore to prevent boat passengers on trips from liscannor and private boat owners getting a glimpse of the cliffs for free, missed opportunity there lads, but no doubt one of your developer buddies could erect one for a few billion.

Now how are they going to fully fence in the Burren? thousands of tourists there every weekend, think of the lost revenues, prime opportunity for another visitor centre with err pictures of the burren. Coz when you visit areas of outstanding natural beauty, what you really want is an overpriced coffee in an underground bunker where you can see pictures of the natural beauty without having to see it for yourself.

dr.fuzzenstein

There should be an alternative website about Clare, how to avoid the toll roads coming in, what tourist attractions are free, which ones charge and how much, where you can go hiking and get sensible food, in general, areas that haven't been completely commercialised and turned into a circus.
Any suggestions? Have family coming over and I'll send them the link, them being German they like to plan ahead and be organised. :rolleyes:

carmel27

Loop head is pretty nice and you definitely couldnt call it commercialised. The roads alone back around there will tell you that:D But its a lovely spot. Try and send them there on a nice day though, as its quite bleak in bad or overcast weather.
And I dont think you can get much nicer than up around the Burren and Fanore.

AARRRRGH

Balagan wrote: »

Think you'll find Newgrange might cost you a bit more than the Cliffs of Moher.

At least you dont have to drive all the way to Clare to see it.
Clare doesnt have a whole lot. Its a nice county and all but it needs to draw the tourist there, not push them away.

AARRRRGH

growler wrote: »

i'm very dissappointed that CCC didn't seize the opportunity to install a large floating barrier and kiosk a few hundreed yards offshore to prevent boat passengers on trips from liscannor and private boat owners getting a glimpse of the cliffs for free, missed opportunity there lads, but no doubt one of your developer buddies could erect one for a few billion.

Now how are they going to fully fence in the Burren? thousands of tourists there every weekend, think of the lost revenues, prime opportunity for another visitor centre with err pictures of the burren. Coz when you visit areas of outstanding natural beauty, what you really want is an overpriced coffee in an underground bunker where you can see pictures of the natural beauty without having to see it for yourself.

i wouldnt worry about that. Most of those were probably on their way from or to the cliffs. Watch the numbers in the Burren drop now too.

Warper

It makes you wonder how is this sh*t getting through. What are we going to do next, charge people for getting a suntan from the sun, block all the beaches, ban open spaces?? It is sick and ludicrous to charge people money for something as natural, free and beautiful for the "privilege" of seeing the Cliffs. Whoever is in control and makes these sort of decisions need to wake the fcuk up.

Run_to_da_hills

Warper wrote: »

Whoever is in control and makes these sort of decisions need to wake the fcuk up.

Edited: Whoever is in control and makes these sort of decisions needs to wake the fcuk up to be fcuked out of power in the next general election and the cliffs handed back to the people of Clare.

growler

personally I think the walk from Kilkee up to dunlickey cliffs to be one of the best and most scenic in clare, and its free , you can park for nothing and there's no fences / wires / whistleblowers to stop you jumping into the atlantic should you wish.

Grumpypants

What i do is if i dont want to use the visitor centre i drive aroud the corner and look at the cliffs for free.

Run_to_da_hills

I am very surprised that they haven't tried the old supermarket trick, ie you cannot get access the cliffs with out walking through the interprative center.

Run_to_da_hills

In todays Irish Times.

dr.fuzzenstein

The figures speak for themselves really...

Run_to_da_hills

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

The figures speak for themselves really...

What ever they loose from foreigners not coming over they will definitally loose the home market, the Irish are pretty wise to being ripped off.

I have no intention of setting foot in this place again on principal but if I ever do it will be a long walk. .

Le_Dieux

91011 wrote: »

This is all a load of huff by a few people. Natural attractions worldwide have charges. Giants Causeway has £5 car park charge & there are feck all facilities there.

At least at the cliffs it has decent pathways, planty of safety features, wheelchair access, fairly good exhibition and one of the better souvenir stores with not too much plastic paddy stuff.

For locals they should have an annual pass similar to national stud (€70 per family for those in Kidare area)

Last time I were up at the Giants Causeway, there was a free bus service out to the attraction from the car park, the car park had a cafe, coffee shop, and the car park was supervised. I thought it was a decent return for a fiver.

Unless it has all changed in the last 2 years?

Carry

Le_Dieux wrote: »

Last time I were up at the Giants Causeway, there was a free bus service out to the attraction from the car park, the car park had a cafe, coffee shop, and the car park was supervised. I thought it was a decent return for a fiver.

Unless it has all changed in the last 2 years?

It has changed. Parking is 6 pounds (that's, btw, about 7.50 Euro), there are hardly any facilities (almost everything was closed, the place is a shambles), visitor centre is closed due to refurbishment (there are dodgy dealings going on and hence no definite plan as yet) and the shuttle down to the causeway costs 2 pounds return. You can walk though. And you can park your car elsewhere, if you don't mind to walk a bit more.
I've been there April 2010.

NCG

New "locals" pass announced this morning. Available from next week to anyone resident in Clare (photo ID and proof of address to be provided). It will cost E12, be valid for a year (actually to December 2011 for the first one), and provide unlimited access to facilities, parking, etc.

I think that is good value and would buy one to support the Cliffs anyway. Well done to them for taking the abuse, listening to it, and coming up with a reasonable solution quickly.

dr.fuzzenstein

NCG wrote: »

New "locals" pass announced this morning. Available from next week to anyone resident in Clare (photo ID and proof of address to be provided). It will cost E12, be valid for a year (actually to December 2011 for the first one), and provide unlimited access to facilities, parking, etc.

I think that is good value and would buy one to support the Cliffs anyway. Well done to them for taking the abuse, listening to it, and coming up with a reasonable solution quickly.

Not bad, but it only addresses the issue of local opposition to the charges.
The main reason for the complaints was overcharging of tourists and therefore driving them away instead of encouraging them to come.
It's a good thing for the locals and by no means unique, in Germany many visitor attractions are cheaper for the locals.
The point is lack of choice, the cliffs are a natural feature and it is obscene to charge for them in the first place.
The cliffs should be free and then Clare co co can charge one million Euro for the visitors center for all I care.

Balagan

According to Clare FM, the pass is, apparently, for residents of north Clare.

http://www.clare.fm/news/new-%E2%80%9Clocals%E2%80%9D-pricing-structure-cliffs

Le_Dieux

NCG wrote: »

New "locals" pass announced this morning. Available from next week to anyone resident in Clare (photo ID and proof of address to be provided). It will cost E12, be valid for a year (actually to December 2011 for the first one), and provide unlimited access to facilities, parking, etc.

I think that is good value and would buy one to support the Cliffs anyway. Well done to them for taking the abuse, listening to it, and coming up with a reasonable solution quickly.

This sucks of discrimination. What about us 'up countriers'? I used to go at least 3 times per year - could easily do Bunratty from Newbridge in 2 hours, and the Cliffs were always a day trip for us. We always had a meal there ( 4 adults plus a Child), so spent a few quid while there.

Sadly, NO MORE. The a**holes running this place have 'killed the goose that laid the golden egg'.

Run_to_da_hills

Balagan wrote: »

According to Clare FM, the pass is, apparently, for residents of north Clare.

http://www.clare.fm/news/new-%E2%80%9Clocals%E2%80%9D-pricing-structure-cliffs

I presume that this will also include town and not just the coast.

djiffou

I have been living in Ireland for close to 20 years and in Ennis for 11. What they have done to the Cliffs, with all the tarmac access is awful. It used to be a lot better when the visitor centre was not there and the small car park was on the other side of the road. The pricing is outrageous, whether for local people or tourists.
:mad:

Run_to_da_hills

djiffou wrote: »

I have been living in Ireland for close to 20 years and in Ennis for 11. What they have done to the Cliffs, with all the tarmac access is awful. It used to be a lot better when the visitor centre was not there and the small car park was on the other side of the road. The pricing is outrageous, whether for local people or tourists.
:mad:

Join the club, I haven't been there since August 2008 and have no intention of going back there for a good while either.

luap_42

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Join the club, I haven't been there since August 2008 and have no intention of going back there for a good while either.

There are other ways to see the cliffs. Get out a good map and investigate. Beware the angry farmer though. There is a public right of way to the cliffs from the main road and the entire length of the cliffs. No-one in their right mind will try to stop you walking there. Only CCC would think of doing such a thing.:cool:

dr.fuzzenstein

luap_42 wrote: »

There are other ways to see the cliffs. Get out a good map and investigate. Beware the angry farmer though. There is a public right of way to the cliffs from the main road and the entire length of the cliffs. No-one in their right mind will try to stop you walking there. Only CCC would think of doing such a thing.

Will investigate, sounds good, the signposting is definitely not helpful, quite the opposite. Lots of "STOP! NO ENTRY! PRIVATE PROPERTY!" signs.
Farmers hate right of ways with a passion because they think that every visitor will dig up a pocket full of earth and one day, whadda ya know, field gone!
I have been on the East Clare Way and some other walking paths, they are mostly obstructed with heather, a lot of them always seem to be covered in fresh cowsh*t and on some I have seen signs "Beware of the Bull!".
The farmers argument has been that they don't want people walking through their backyard.
I don't want to walk through their backyard either, I want to quickly cross a few meters of wilderness in the middle of nowhere miles from the farmer's house so I can get to the cliffs.
What the farmer wants is to get an entrance fee to his land, some even proposed turnstiles!
Once again, the attitude towards tourists, walkers, etc... stinks and to a European will seem greedy, bizarre and nothing but a rip-off and con.
You have to pay to see plenty of things in Europe, but the idea that a piece of landscape could be charged for and that you cannot walk through nature is like telling an Irish guy that pubs will be turned into health food stores.

luap_42

I may have confused things a bit there.

The public right of way is the one that goes past the kiosk and visitor's centre. They cannot stop you walking in there to the cliffs or walking the entire length of the cliffs. If you find another way in, then it's just a matter of common sense when it comes to farmers and walking across their land: Give animals a wide berth, don't damage the fences/gates, don't go there in vast numbers, dont block access, gates etc. and don't ever try to sue if you hurt yourself on their land.

Notwithstanding all this, there is one cranky farmer at the Hags Head end who will abuse and threaten you if he catches you in his field regardless of how careful you are.

dr.fuzzenstein

luap_42 wrote: »

I may have confused things a bit there.

The public right of way is the one that goes past the kiosk and visitor's centre. They cannot stop you walking in there to the cliffs or walking the entire length of the cliffs. If you find another way in, then it's just a matter of common sense when it comes to farmers and walking across their land: Give animals a wide berth, don't damage the fences/gates, don't go there in vast numbers, dont block access, gates etc. and don't ever try to sue if you hurt yourself on their land.

Notwithstanding all this, there is one cranky farmer at the Hags Head end who will abuse and threaten you if he catches you in his field regardless of how careful you are.

Right, no worries. I normally never cross fields in any case, I prefer official walking routes, just a shame there aren't many of those.
Well they're trying their hardest (with lots of No Entry signs) to stop people walking along the cliffs towards the Liscannor direction, where there is another tower similar to O'Brien's Tower.
It is a lovely walk all along the cliffs with some nice scenery and great views, I can only recommend it.
The last thing Clare Co Co want is people actually admiring the landscape and least of all (heaven forbid!) go for a walk!
They simply want you to come in and give them all your money and fcuk off again, but please come again and bring more money.
What they SHOULD do is develop that walkway towards Liscannor, maybe even further, there should be a choice whether to drive all the way to the Cliffs and pay for parking or park further away, pay nothing and walk there.
I'd do that and once I'd get there I would only be to happy to fork out for a tea and bun.

Jim Martin

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Right, no worries. I normally never cross fields in any case, I prefer official walking routes, just a shame there aren't many of those.
Well they're trying their hardest (with lots of No Entry signs) to stop people walking along the cliffs towards the Liscannor direction, where there is another tower similar to O'Brien's Tower.
It is a lovely walk all along the cliffs with some nice scenery and great views, I can only recommend it.
The last thing Clare Co Co want is people actually admiring the landscape and least of all (heaven forbid!) go for a walk!
They simply want you to come in and give them all your money and fcuk off again, but please come again and bring more money.
What they SHOULD do is develop that walkway towards Liscannor, maybe even further, there should be a choice whether to drive all the way to the Cliffs and pay for parking or park further away, pay nothing and walk there.
I'd do that and once I'd get there I would only be to happy to fork out for a tea and bun.

I believe that either local or national (or both) government/s are actively involved in including the Cliffs in an extension of The Burren Way walking route - watch this space!