The Aran Islands are three rocky outcrops that lie on the Atlantic coast of Ireland, and are part of the Burren region (meaning great rock) that spans both Clare and Galway. But to describe them so perfunctorily is to do the Arans a massive disservice…
Poets and playwrights have been writing about the unbridled beauty of these three island communities – Inis Mór, the largest, Inis Oirr (Inisheer), the smallest, and Inis Meáin completing the trio – for centuries.
Yeats, Synge and Lady Gregory all wrote about the islands, with Synge writing in his 1903 play Riders to the Sea of the deep connection (and isolation) that the residents felt to the surrounding waters here. When Bartley pronounces that ”This is the one boat going for two weeks or beyond it”, you get a sense of how rugged things were on the Aran Islands.
And that sense of precious, precipitous beauty exists to this day; in August of this year, the Aran archipelago was voted amongst the ‘The 50 Best Islands in the World’ by Big 7 Travel, coming in at 15th on the list and finishing above some world-famous islands, including Santorini, the Maldives and, erm, Bali.
“These three remote islands off the west coast of Ireland are like stepping back in time, with rural charm and breathtaking scenery,” said the guys at Big 7 Travel. “Here, visitors can cycle along the pretty road lined with hand-built stone walls. They can also listen to the local Gaelic language, savor fresh seafood, and enjoy the simple things in life. The steep cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the famous local hospitality make this a must-see for anyone who loves Ireland.”
Yep, we’re rather baffled by the arbitrary nature of such a list, too, but if it’s praising our beloved Aran Islands, we’re very much here for it. And in the spirit of lists, here’s our roundup of the best things to do when visiting the Aran archipelago.
RENT A BIKE AROUND INIS MÓR
The rugged, rural landscape of the Aran Islands deserves to be appreciated up close and personal, with the wind in your face and hair and a certain song of freedom in your lungs.
Inis Mór (Inishmore) is the largest of the three small Aran Islands, and the best way to get around the island is to rent a bike at Aran Islands Bike Hire Services. Some of the stops on your bike ride should include:
- The Worm Home – Also referred to as ‘the Serpent’s Lair’, the wormhole is a natural rectangular shaped pool at the bottom of the cliffs south of Dun Aonghasa on Inis Mor.
- Kilmurvey Beach: No visit to any island would be complete without a trip to the beach. The most popular is Kilmurvey Beach, which is a short 20 minutes cycle from Kilronan Village. The beach is another 10 minutes from another must-see site, Dun Aengus (more on that in a moment).
- The Seal Colony is one of the most popular attractions on Inis Mor Island. It is located on the coastal road, around a 10 minute cycle prior to Kilmurvey beach.
- The Black fort This impressive cliff side ruin on the southern side of the island and simply has to be seen to be believed.
EXPERIENCE ONE OF THE BEST OCEAN VIEWS IN THE WORLD
Dun Aengus is perhaps the most popular tourist site on Inis Mór, with many experts believing it to be one of the finest prehistoric monuments in all of Europe.
This impressive cliff side ruin on the southern side of the island even made it onto National Geographic’s roundup of the Top 10 Ocean Views in the world. Here’s what they said about it;
“One of Europe’s most splendid cliff forts, consisting of stone walls built in three semicircles, Dun Aengus sits atop an unclimbable sea cliff rising 328 feet out of the ocean. The innermost court affords superb views over the island of Inishmore and the distant Connemara coast.”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
GO ISLAND HOPPING
After experiencing the largest of the three, it’s time to hop over to the Aran archipelago’s other two islands. Several rapid ferry services now operate in the area, offering visitors an opportunity to hop from one island to another.
You can get on the ferry from Inis Mór to Inis Meain in around 15 minutes. Inis Meain to Inis Oirr is a similar distance, taking a quarter of an hour whilst Inis Mór to Inis Oirr will take you a little longer; the ferry time is 30 minutes or so. Check with the timetables of the Doolin Ferry Co. or Aran Islands Express Ferry for further details.
Read: 6 ways to be transported to Ireland without leaving London
TACKLE THE LÚB DÚN FEARBHAÍ LOOPED WALK ON INIS MEAIN
If you’re alighting at Inis Meain and have a morning or afternoon spare, it’s essential that you check out the Lúb Dún Fearbhaí Looped Walk, which is an easy to moderate hike taking 4 to 5 hours. Take a detour and a pew at Synge’s Chair – a beautiful view point – and back on the loop, Dún Chonchúir is a spectacular stone fort that’s well worth checking out.
Then, hop over and stay the night in Inis Oirr, the smallest of the islands, but still packing a punch; it’s home to a fort, a castle and a shipwreck!
CELEBRATE THE SOLSTICE
Because of their Celtic and Christian heritage here, the Aran Islands are home to a number of sacred sites and ruins. During the pagan times, life was governed by the movements of the sun, and, as such, the Celtic calendar celebrated these movements.
The summer solstice is just one of eight Celtic festivals celebrated on the Aran Islands. Every year, big bonfires are lit on the island, people pray to the Sun Goddess, and the Solstice is celebrated in the Irish way. If you’re wondering when the ideal time to visit the Aran Islands may be, then late June is certainly it.
THE FATHER TED FESTIVAL
No doubt you’ve seen Father Ted, the sitcom where a group of irreverent priests live on the fictitious Craggy Island, a remote enclave off Ireland’s west coast.
Can you guess the Aran Islands role yet? While there is still some debate over which of the three islands can claim to be the inspiration for Craggy Island, what isn’t disputed is the fanfare and fame that the TV series brings to the Aran Archipelago.
The Friends of Ted Festival, otherwise know as Ted Fest, is an annual celebration of Father Ted that sees fans of the show descend on the Aran Islands, most of them dressed up as characters from the show. Next year, it’s expected to take place on Inis Mór between the 3rd and 6th of March. We’ll see you there…we’ll be dressed as Father Jack!