Mystical Visit to The Aran Islands

When touring along the west coast of Ireland, taking a boat trip to the not too distant Aran Islands should be a high priority for you. The Aran Islands are comprised of 3 islands, ranging from the smallest to the largest.

We decided to set sail to the largest island, Inis Mor - Gaelic for big island. You have the option to visit any of the 3 islands, which are located off the coasts of county Galway and Clare. For first time visitors, I recommend visiting Inis Mor.

Travelling to The Islands

The best option is to take the ferry, although, there is also a flight option from Connemara Airport. The ferry departs from 2 locations in counties Clare and Galway. From Galway - the option we took - the shuttle bus goes from the city centre to the ferry in Rossaveal, which is about 38 km from the city.

The journey is about 40 minutes - it goes by fast, as the countryside along the way is very natural and beautiful. If taking the ferry from county Clare, it departs from Doolin.

We went with Aran Island Ferries, tickets were about 60 euros for 2 adult day returns. It takes about an hour on the ferry to get across. To get the full value of the day ticket, you want to book the earliest ferry out and return on the latest ferry back.

The ferry times are seasonal, with fewer options in the Winter, there will be days when it's not even possible to travel with both high winds and waves. Bring a raincoat, no matter what time of year - as there is always potential for heavy showers. The sea can be quite choppy at times, so be prepared for a bumpy ride! The crew even hand out sick bags when this is the case.

Arrival to Inis Mor

The ferry docks in Kilronan, which is the small village on the island. It’s only a 5-minute walk from the ferry to the town. When it comes to touring the island, you have 2 main options, cycle or by bus with a tour guide. I’ve done both options in the past, and I prefer the cycling option.

However, on this occasion, we took the bus option as the weather was cold with occasional heavy showers passing through. There was sunshine at times too, like I mentioned earlier - be prepared for all conditions!

Some people took the cycling option, while other tourists joined us for the bus tour. The tour lasts around 3 hours and travels to most of the main attractions on the island. Cycling gives you more freedom to go as you please, and you are not restricted by the bus.

Bus Tour Highlights

We set off on the bus with our tour guide, who informed us that we would be making 6 stops in total along the way. The bus basically goes in a loop on the west side of the island - as this is where most of the things to see are.

As I previously mentioned, it was a cold day, and it wasn't much warmer on the bus - as the tour guide gave us information on the island - we all trying to warm up any which way we could. The following are my highlights of the tour.

Hike to Dun Aengus

The most popular tourist attraction on the island. Dun Aengus is an ancient hill fort, thousands of years old. It’s semicircular and located on a 300-foot cliff edge - it looks as impressive as it sounds. From where the bus stops, it takes roughly 20 minutes to hike up to the fort.

If cycling, you will park up your bikes in the same area where the bus stops, so the hike will be the same to the fort. There is a little museum at the start of the trek, giving some information about the history of the fort- its a nice introduction before you go and see what it's all about.

Reaching the summit of the hill is one of the highlights on the island.

The panoramic views from here are just amazing. Watching the wild Atlantic waves crash off the face of the Inis Mor cliffs, with mist spewing everywhere, is a sight you won't quickly forget. There are also fantastic views of the island itself, and the fact that a fort was built in this exact location is incredible.

It’s a great place for photo opportunities, with backgrounds of the cliffs and crashing waves adding drama. It can be very busy at times, but fortunately the day we went - it was super quiet. Let me tell you, there are benefits of visiting on a cold Winter's day.

Exploring Na Seacht dTeampaill - Seven Churches

Gaelic dialect that translates into the seven churches. These are ancient religious ruins. There are only 2 churches left standing, along with remnants of old buildings found around the site.

A fascinating site, and we spent time wandering around - areas like here on the island definitely make you feel like you are smack bang back to these ancient times. It was somewhat of a brief stop as the site isn't too big, and we had other stops to make before finishing up the tour.

Kilmurvey Beach

Situated close to Dun Aengus. The beach is small but picturesque. An ideal place to sun bathe if you are lucky enough to travel when the weather is nice and warm! On this visit, nobody was on the beach, which is understandable considering how cold it was.

Rugged Countryside

Once you leave the town, either by bike or bus, you will feel as if you have been transported back into a mythical land surrounded by a raging ocean relentlessly crashing against the cliffs.

The island is brimming with subtle gems and beauty.

I remember zoning out from listening to the tour guide and went off into my own little world, gazing out the window. Staring at the stone walls, green fields, the animals that inhabit the island, the ocean in the background, even the lighthouse further in the distance. Mesmerizing scenery and super relaxing.

Where to Eat?

There are many places to eat on the Island, however, my favourite place to eat is Teach Nan Phaidi, which is located close to Dun Aengus. After our hike, we stopped in here for lunch. It was very quiet, and we had no problem getting a table. In high season, this place is always very busy and can take some time to get a seat and served.

The home-made food was delicious, and I highly recommend eating here. The atmosphere inside was perfect for the day, the open fire added atmosphere and a chance for us to warm up again before we got back out in the elements!

Craic agus Ceoil - Music and Fun

Kilronan is famous for it’s live traditional Irish music and lively atmosphere. During the summer months, local bands will be play daily in the pubs around the town. It’s a great experience to listen to the traditional music and interact with both locals and other tourists.

On an interesting sidenote - the locals also speak Gaelic among themselves, and it was even kind of strange for me to watch local interact in this way - I'm far from fluent in Gaelic, but I could get the gist of what they were saying to each other.

We had some time to kill prior to taking the ferry back to the main land, so we stopped in Joe Watty’s pub and yes, the place is famous for 3 things - food, drink and music!

It was quiet when we arrived around 4 pm, but the pint of Guinness was delicious. Furthermore, it’s a great pub and is well worth a visit. The other pubs in the town have their own unique style - you’ll have fun wherever you land.

Summary

I think you’ll agree that a visit to the islands sounds enticing? I recommend visiting Inis Mor, especially if it’s your first time visiting. It’s the largest island, with the most attractions. If travelling during summer, give an overnight stay serious consideration. It’s a good experience to enjoy a night of traditional Irish music and fun.

A day trip is also a viable option, just give yourself the max amount of time on the island, so you get time to enjoy your visit, without having to rush so much around the island. To me, a visit to the island feels like a step back in time, and I’m sure you will have a fantastic experience also!