Dramatic cliff images from Europe

Incredible and majestic cliffs tower along European coast from the cold northern edges of the continent to the warm and sunny shores of the South. Looking up at the steep cliffs always makes me realize how small I am. With the powerful ocean behind me and the adamant rocks in front of me I feel full of respect and admiration for the stunning nature of our globe.

See below the most dramatic images of cliffs in nine European countries from the north to the south.

1. Scotland

Skye or the Isle of Skye, is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate out from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillin hills. Although it has been suggested that the Gaelic name describes this shape there is no definitive agreement as to its origins.

2. Ireland

Moher Cliffs

The cliffs rise 120 meters (394 ft) above the Atlantic Ocean at Hag's Head, and reach their maximum height of 214 meters (702 ft) just north of O'Brien's Tower, eight kilometres away. The cliffs boast one of Ireland's most spectacular views. On a clear day the Aran Islands are visible in Galway Bay, as are the valleys and hills of Connemara.


Mirror Wall

Ailladie is an area on the coast of The Burren in County Clare, Ireland, which is one of Ireland's most highly-regarded rock-climbing locations. It is also a popular location for beach-angling competitions, and, with its cliffs and view of Aran, is a popular photography stop for tourist coaches travelling through west Clare. It is situated between the villages of Fanore to the north, and Doolin to the south.


Slieve League

Located on the coast of County Donegal, Ireland, Slieve League, at 601 metres, has Ireland's second highest sea cliffs, after Croaghaun on Achill Island, and Europe's sixth-highest. Less famous than the Cliffs of Moher, in County Clare, Slieve League reaches almost three times higher than Clare's famous attraction.

3. Wales

4. England

White Clifs of Dover

The white cliffs of Dover are cliffs which form part of the British coastline facing the Strait of Dover and France. The cliffs are part of the North Downs formation. The cliff face, which reaches up to 106 metres high, owes its striking façade to its composition of chalk (pure white calcium carbonate) accentuated by streaks of black flint. The cliffs spread east and west from the town of Dover in the county of Kent, an ancient and still important English port.

5. Norway

6. France

Étreta

Étretat is best known for its cliffs, including a famous natural arch. These cliffs and the associated resort beach attracted artists including Eugène Boudin, Gustave Courbet and Claude Monet, and were featured prominently in the 1909 Arsène Lupin novel The Hollow Needle by Maurice Leblanc.

7. Portugal

Madeira

Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago in the mid Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the Autonomous regions of Portugal, with Madeira Island and Porto Santo Island being the only inhabited islands. Madeira is an archipelago with volcanic origins from a Hot Spot, so is not geographically part of a specific continent, but Madeira belongs and has belonged ethnically, culturally, economically and politically to Europe for 600 years despite being closer to Africa. Madeira is part of Portugal, so it is part of the European Union, as an Outermost Region.



Vicentine Coast
Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park is a natural park in Portugal. It is one of the 30 areas which are officially under protection in the country.

8. Greece

Porto Katsiki

Porto Katsiki on the Ioanian Sea island of Lefkada (Levkas in Greek, Venetian: Santa Maura, French: Leucade) is one of the most famous beaches in Greece and Europe in general. Translation to English means "Port of the Goat", due to the fact that before only a goat could reach this area.

9. Croatia

Island Kolocep

The island of Koločep is one of the three inhabited Elaphiti Islands situated near the city of Dubrovnik. Kolocep is the southernmost inhabited island in Croatia.

credited to opentravel.com and flickr users: cigronetpetit, smuddlepuddle, logicalrealist, michaelgslattery, jule_berlin, krishnamelkote, coreyfishes, snowcat, garibaldi, terraazul, myxi, oranges and lemon's