Aillwee caves are the only display caves open to the public in Clare and the most well known. Poul na Gollum is the longest cave in Ireland. Poll an Ionian hosts the longest stalactite (6.7m) in the world.

Scrub is encroaching on limestone pavement in some parts of the Burren and poses a threat to the survival of some of the typical plant and animal species of the pavement. The reclamation of land for agriculture, development of land and land abandonment pose a threat to limestone pavement. Water pollution and the alteration of hydrology in limestone areas can affect limestone areas particularly cave systems.