Unfortunately with travel restrictions I have not been able to go anywhere in the last couple of months.
Instead I will update you on all of my travels post Italy.
This one was August when the farthest I could travel, was to the island off of my county.
Enjoy
If you’ve ever travelled to the west of Ireland, you have probably heard of the Aran Islands.
They’re a couple of islands off the coast of the coast of Galway and are pretty good for a couple of days if you’re lucky with the weather.
The biggest island is Inis Mor and the one we choose to go to in August. Even though it is the biggest, it is not big.
Day 1
We got the aran shuttle bus to the ferry. Student tickets are €25 and adults are €30. These prices include the bus to and from the ferry and the ferry from Rossaveel to Inis Mor and back again.
Once on the island we headed towards the campsite (the road to the left). We decided to bring our own tent as we are students and broke. It cost ten €10 per person per night, we stayed two. I would advice bringing a soft surface to sleep on as the grass can be quite hard. There are glamping options but they’re not cheap and always booked way out in advance. But they are a nice option for those luxury seekers.
We rented bikes at one of the bike shops. They’re all the same price. They cost €15 for the day but we paid the extra charge to have them overnight so we wouldn’t be rushing back, would recommend.
We cycled to Dun Aonghasa, a famous hill-fort on the island. I would recommend cycling instead of getting a tour bus as the route is not long and you get to see the island much better. There also aren’t any things your tour guide can point out on the way so you won’t be missing out on any special information.
At Dun Aonghasa there are little shops, a restaurant and an ice cream shop. We ate in Teach Nan Paidi, it’s a little cottage. The food is nice, if anything a little expensive.
On the way back we stopped at the sea colony. There are seats where you can rest, take in the view and taking your luck at spotting the seals. We were lucky and managed to spot a few basking in the sun.
In the evening we decided to have a bbq. They’re available at the campsite at no extra cost. We did bring a disposable one but it was too windy to stay lit. We toasted marshmallows but a lot of them ended up melting onto the coals *sad face.
Day 2
Today our mission was the worm hole.
If you don’t know, the wormhole was used for the Red Bull cliff diving competition and is very cool to look at and even swim in if brave enough.
We were extremely lucky with our days on Inis Mor and stopped at the beach near the Wormhole to go swimming. Even though it was unusually hot, the water was still freezing.
Even though we asked a lifeguard for directions, the wormhole is not easy to find. You basically cycle to a red rope and then trek past a load of fields and rocks until you get to it.
It is pretty amazing to look at. You can also jump in and swim but the current is pretty strong so I didn’t chance it.
But I would recommend, even just for the views.
On the way back we stopped for a pint and a burger in Joe Wattys. A very Irish looking pub but the food was good and the staff were so friendly. Nice seating outside too.
That night, it rained very heavy. Luckily our tent was waterproof but a lot of others weren’t. Make sure your tent is waterproof before camping in Ireland.
Day 3
We got the ferry home.
The bus drivers are always very obliging and if you ask in advance they will drop you off near enough to where you want.
(And yes I am wearing shorts under my dress as I did not want to flash islanders on my bike)
Picture 1: Dun Aonghasa
Picture 2: Wormhole
Picture 3: Sunrise over campsite
Rating out of ten: Solid 8
jenaway 