Home › accommodation

Family Cottages in County Clare

County Clare is one of the finest counties in Ireland for a family self-catering break. Between the dramatic Cliffs of Moher, the lunar limestone of the Burren, and miles of Atlantic coastline, there is enough to keep children genuinely absorbed for a week or more. Family cottages in Clare give you the space, flexibility, and home comforts that hotels simply cannot match — a proper kitchen for early breakfasts, a garden for wet-afternoon energy-burning, and enough bedrooms so that adults get a quiet evening. This guide covers where to base yourself, what to look for, and when to book.

Why Self-Catering Works So Well for Families in Clare

A cottage lets you set your own rhythm. Toddlers can nap while teenagers take a bike out, and you are not losing money on a restaurant breakfast nobody finishes. Most Clare cottages sleep between four and eight guests, with bunk-bed options that children genuinely enjoy. Many come with enclosed gardens, log-burning stoves, and broadband — the basics that transform a rainy week from a disaster into a cosy one.

For a broader look at the full range of options across Ireland, see our self-catering Ireland guide and our general roundup of Irish cottages.

Lahinch and the Atlantic Coast: Surf, Sand, and Seaside Cottages

Lahinch is the obvious anchor point for families who want beach time. The town beach is lifeguarded during summer months, the village has cafés and a surf school where older children can take lessons, and the surrounding townlands offer a cluster of well-maintained self-catering properties within a short drive of the water. Cottages around Lahinch and the nearby villages of Liscannor and Doonbeg tend to be solid stone builds with Atlantic views and gardens that catch the western light on clear days.

The drive from Lahinch to the Cliffs of Moher takes under fifteen minutes — a useful reminder that the Clare coast packs an enormous amount into a small distance. See our County Clare accommodation page for a wider overview.

The Burren: Stone Walls, Wild Flowers, and Quiet Lanes

The Burren plateau in north Clare is one of the most distinctive landscapes in Ireland — limestone pavements split by fissures called grykes, with rare arctic-alpine and Mediterranean plants growing side by side. It sounds abstract until you are actually walking across it with children who suddenly become very interested in fossils. Villages such as Ballyvaughan, Kilfenora, and Corofin have small clusters of rental cottages, typically converted farm buildings with thick walls that stay warm regardless of the weather.

Ballyvaughan in particular makes a good base: the village has a pier, a handful of decent restaurants, and easy access to Aillwee Cave, which children find satisfying regardless of age. The Burren also connects naturally to Connemara across Galway Bay — if you are planning a longer West of Ireland trip, our Connemara accommodation page is worth bookmarking.

Kilrush and the Shannon Estuary: Dolphins and Quieter Roads

The southern strip of Clare, along the Shannon Estuary, is often overlooked by visitors focused on the Cliffs of Moher. That is an advantage for families: the roads are quieter, the cottages are cheaper, and the estuary itself is home to a resident pod of bottlenose dolphins that can be seen on boat trips from Kilrush Marina. Properties around Kilkee — a sheltered horseshoe bay with a natural seawater pool — and Kilrush offer genuine value and easy flat-road cycling for families with younger children.

What to Look For When Booking a Family Cottage in Clare

Not every cottage is set up for children. Before you commit, it is worth checking:

Enclosed garden or safe outdoor space — essential if you have under-fives
Cot and highchair availability — many owners provide these on request but confirm in advance
Number of bathrooms — for larger families, one bathroom is a morning bottleneck
Proximity to a shop — rural Clare is beautiful but some cottages are a twenty-minute drive from the nearest supermarket
Solid fuel or oil heating — Clare evenings can be cool even in July; a stove or reliable central heating matters

Our pet-friendly cottages Ireland guide is also useful if you are bringing a dog — many Clare properties accept well-behaved pets.

Planning Your Clare Family Holiday

A week is the sweet spot for County Clare. Three nights is enough to feel rushed; ten nights is long enough for the novelty of the cottage to wear off for teenagers. Most properties offer Saturday-to-Saturday changeovers during peak season, with more flexible short breaks available from September onwards.

If you are driving — which you almost certainly will be in rural Clare — our driving in Ireland guide covers the practical realities of Irish roads, including the narrow boreens that lead to many of the best cottages. For a complete trip outline, the family Ireland itinerary page offers a ready-made structure you can adapt.

When to Book

Demand peaks between January and March for the following summer, particularly for school-holiday weeks in July and August. If you have fixed school-holiday dates, book as early as possible — the best-equipped, best-located Clare cottages are taken quickly. Shoulder season (May–June and September) offers lower prices, fewer crowds at the Cliffs of Moher, and often more settled weather than mid-summer.

Find and Book Family Cottages in Clare

Check prices & availability

We may earn a commission from bookings made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.

FAQ

Q: How many bedrooms do family cottages in Clare typically have? Most family-oriented self-catering cottages in County Clare offer three or four bedrooms, sleeping between six and eight guests. Two-bedroom options are available but suit smaller families or those with young children sharing a room. Always check the sleeping configuration before booking — a cottage that “sleeps 6” may include a sofa bed in the living room.

Q: Is County Clare suitable for families with very young children? Yes, though it requires some planning. Beaches such as Lahinch and Kilkee have calm, lifeguarded sections in summer. The Burren has easy walking trails suitable for buggies on firm ground. Most cottage owners are experienced with family guests and can advise on local facilities. The main consideration is that some rural properties are genuinely remote — confirm supermarket and pharmacy distances before you book.

Q: Do Clare cottages require a car? In almost every case, yes. Public transport in rural Clare is limited, and the county’s main attractions — the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, the Shannon estuary villages — are spread across a wide area. A car is not just convenient; it is effectively essential for a self-catering family holiday in Clare. See our getting around Ireland guide for car hire advice.