Have you ever seen the like!? A "Brocken Specter" looms over the Atlantic Ocean waters at the Cliffs of Moher. What a special sight!
The image above was snapped by one of our readers, Sean Tomkins, at the Cliffs of Moher, in County Clare. In addition to capturing the natural beauty of the cliffs, the photograph shows a rare optical phenomenon called a "Brocken Specter".
This is defined as "a magnified shadow of an observer, typically surrounded by rainbow-like bands, thrown onto a bank of cloud in high mountain areas when the sun is low" by the Oxford dictionary.
The Cliffs of Moher are the most visited natural attraction in Ireland. Back in 2015, the County Clare national attraction was also voted the best 'cliff-view' on the planet by Condé Nast Traveler. What better reasons to visit a place than stunning views and the recommendations of over 1.5 million visitors annually?
The Cliffs of Moher’s height reaches 214 meters (702 feet) at their highest point at Knockardakin, just north of O’Brien’s Tower. At the southern end of the Cliffs of Moher stands Hags Head, a natural rocky promontory, which is said to resemble a seated woman when viewed from the north.
It’s little wonder so many travelers visit the 5 miles of coast on the Wild Atlantic Way, which offers dramatic views of the ocean that will take your breath away.
The viewing platform at O’Brien’s Tower is said to be the best place to see the sunset if you’re lucky enough to visit in the evening. The Tower was built at the highest point on the cliff edge in 1835 as an observation point for tourists by farsighted landowner Cornelius O’Brien.
Before arriving at O’Brien’s Tower, you could try a guided walk along the cliff paths with a Cliffs of Moher Ranger. The walks take just over an hour and, depending on the time of year, you’ll see puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes, chough, peregrine falcon, fulmar, and shags, among other birds.
Enjoy.
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* Originally published in 2013, and updated in 2026.
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