Loop Head Lighthouse
Kilbaha, Ireland
The lighthouse at the tip of the Loop Head peninsula, with sea cliffs, a sea stack and dolphins often seen offshore. Tours up the tower run in summer; the road beyond Kilbaha is narrow but quiet.
Loop Head Lighthouse stands at the tip of the Loop Head peninsula in County Clare, where the Shannon estuary meets the Atlantic. The tower is 23 m high, and the light sits 84 m above the sea. It has been automated since 1991 and is operated by the Commissioners of Irish Lights. According to Discover Ireland, the beacon's origins go back to 1670 and a first tower was built in 1802; Wikipedia dates the present tower to 1854. Nearby lies the rock known as “Diarmuid and Gráinne's Rock”, also called “Lover's Leap”.
The lighthouse is a “Signature Discovery Point” on the Wild Atlantic Way. An interactive exhibition in the keeper's cottage tells its story, and you can climb the tower; parking is free. One to two hours are recommended for a visit. Tower tours can be booked online; check times and season on the lighthouse website.
- Nearest town
- Kilbaha, Ireland
- Category
- Scenic viewpoints
- GPS
- 52.5610, -9.9300
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually May–September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Ireland: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels. Drive on the left. Barrier-free toll on the M50 around Dublin. Motorway limit for cars: 120 km/h.
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Pierce's Caravan ParkMotorhome stopover18 km from Loop Head LighthouseMotorhomes
- McEnery'sMotorhome stopover19 km from Loop Head LighthouseMotorhomes
- ParklandsMotorhome stopover20 km from Loop Head LighthouseMotorhomes
- Casey's Caravan parkMotorhome stopover20 km from Loop Head LighthouseMotorhomes
- Green Acres Caravan & Camping ParkCampsite21 km from Loop Head Lighthouse · 40 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterNo dogsWi-Fi
- Pure SpaceCampsite24 km from Loop Head Lighthouse · 2 pitchesTentsMotorhomesDogs allowed
All campsites in Ireland · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Loop Head Lighthouse?
Loop Head Lighthouse is in Kilbaha, Ireland, at GPS 52.5610, -9.9300. It is about 23 km from Kilkee.
Can you camp near Loop Head Lighthouse?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Pierce's Caravan Park, about 18 km away; within 25 km there are 23 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Loop Head Lighthouse?
Loop Head Lighthouse is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: The Burren and Loop Head on the Wild Atlantic Way.
What is there to see near Loop Head Lighthouse?
Places worth a stop nearby: Cliffs of Moher (57 km), Gap of Dunloe (61 km), Slea Head Drive (61 km) and Muckross House and Gardens (68 km).
When is the best time to visit Loop Head Lighthouse?
No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually May–September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)