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Aran Island Ferries

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Attraction | "Getting to Inis Mor"

David & His Mom Boarding the Ferry to Inis Mor Photo - Aran Island Ferries, County Galway, Ireland

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Folks wishing to tour the Aran Islands have one of two choices . . . by air or by sea. We opted for the convenient and less expensive ferry from Ros a Mhil in County Galway. It is also possible for visitors to travel from Doolin in County Clare, although some have reported trips from there may be more weather dependent and therefore less reliable. Additionally, the ferry from Doolin is tide dependent, and with low tide arrivals/departures it may be necessary for passengers to be taken by tender to the ferry. For us, the ferry from Ros a Mhil was very convenient and comfortable in spite of what seemed to be gale force winds on our crossing to Inis Mor.We took the 1:00pm ferry over in wh...Read More

Folks wishing to tour the Aran Islands have one of two choices . . . by air or by sea. We opted for the convenient and less expensive ferry from Ros a Mhil in County Galway. It is also possible for visitors to travel from Doolin in County Clare, although some have reported trips from there may be more weather dependent and therefore less reliable. Additionally, the ferry from Doolin is tide dependent, and with low tide arrivals/departures it may be necessary for passengers to be taken by tender to the ferry. For us, the ferry from Ros a Mhil was very convenient and comfortable in spite of what seemed to be gale force winds on our crossing to Inis Mor.

We took the 1:00pm ferry over in what can only be described as overcast and rainy conditions. Once aboard the boat and heading across the bay, the winds really kicked up, slamming waves against the ferry while creating quite the turbulent motion. At one point, it seemed as if the boat crested with the wave only to be crashed down with a thud. People aboard could be heard with an audible gasp as we smacked back down on the the water surface. I likened it to a ride at Disney World or Six Flags.

The crossing took a short 45-50 minutes at a cruising speed of 30-33 MPH. (David had his Garmin and was able to monitor our movement and speed throughout the ride.) Once at the dock on Inis Mor, we disembarked and walked up the sidewalk to meet our driver Gerald.

I was most disappointed that the weather prohibited taking any photos while riding the ferry. Luckily, our return the next afternoon was on smooth waters with clear skies. What a difference a day makes. I did take several photos as we left the port as well as of the harbor lighthouse as we passed it.

Aboard the ferry there is a small snack bar where you can buy a beverage or light snack. I didn't see anyone really buying anything as most seemed to carry their snacks with them. I saw one family with what looked to be a month's worth of groceries. I suppose with only one grocery store on the island, prices are probably pretty high there. Shopping in Galway may be the best way to go for large purchases.

The price of the ferry for a round-trip journey is €25 with discounts for seniors and students. They also provide van transportation to/from Galway City for an additional fee. For information on the sailing times, which are dependent on time of the year, check out their website: www.aranislandferries.com . It should also be noted that if you drive to Ros a Mhil, you will have to pay to park your vehicle in one of two lots available near the ferry dock. This is the case for daytrippers as well as overnighters to Inis Mor. The price is €5 per day or fraction of a day.
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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 13, 2012

Aran Island Ferries
Ros A Mhil
County Galway, Ireland
+353 91 568903

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Dun Aonghasa

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "#1 Attraction on Inis Mor"

Ellie & I Enjoying the Wait Photo - Dun Aonghasa, Galway, Ireland

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Every visitor to the Aran Islands and Inis Mor in particular have seen the spectacular aerial photos of this fort on the Atlantic Ocean coast. Dun Aonghasa is a World Heritage Site. Built sometime between 1,500 and 2,000 BC it stands today mostly in ruin as a reminder of the accomplishments of prehistoric man living here in Ireland. The concentric limestone walls are still impressive today given the volume of rock that was used and the expansive area that was protected from attackers.What struck me the most, was the fact that the inhabitants of this area felt the need to build a fort for protection given this area is 300 feet above the sea and would seem naturally protected by the sheer...Read More

Every visitor to the Aran Islands and Inis Mor in particular have seen the spectacular aerial photos of this fort on the Atlantic Ocean coast. Dun Aonghasa is a World Heritage Site. Built sometime between 1,500 and 2,000 BC it stands today mostly in ruin as a reminder of the accomplishments of prehistoric man living here in Ireland. The concentric limestone walls are still impressive today given the volume of rock that was used and the expansive area that was protected from attackers.

What struck me the most, was the fact that the inhabitants of this area felt the need to build a fort for protection given this area is 300 feet above the sea and would seem naturally protected by the sheer cliffs. The views from up here are pretty amazing . . . and to think that David stepped right up to the edge to take photos down into the ocean. Thankfully, there was little wind or he could have been blown right off the cliffs!

OK a bit of reality check here . . .

This OPW (Office of Public Works) Heritage site is only accessible by a kilometer long walk/hike which is on a mostly gravel uphill path. I say "mostly" because the final 100 meters or so were more than a gradual uphill walk, requiring some pretty sure footing and climbing from rock to rock. David's mom and I made it within about 50 meters when we decided not to risk going the rest of the way. As much as I really wanted to do it and felt I could get UP there, it was the coming down that had me a bit worried. Ellie had already had one bout of vertigo getting this close, we were all concerned for her ability to safely make it the rest of the way and back. So we found a nice stone step and took a seat while David continued the rest of the way up.

Once he returned, we learned that we definitely made the right choice given the strenuous nature of the climb plus the additional climbing necessary to fully see the fort on the inside. I am also glad I was not there to see him walk close to the edge for those photos he took looking down the 300 foot cliffs into the Atlantic.

On our walk up, we passed one other couple. As we walked down, however, we passed more than 15 people in groups of two to four. The tourists had arrived on the 11:30 ferry and made their way here as one of their first stops. Our plan worked perfectly since we had the place relatively to ourselves for our entire visit.

I'm guessing that some of the couples we met on our walk down would find themselves, as we did, unable to make the full hike into the fort. There were even a couple of elderly ladies with canes who I couldn't imagine making it even as far as we did. That said, it was a lovely walk for the first half and I would encourage anyone interested in just getting out and walking a bit, to still take this trip and enjoy the day. One of the things Ellie and I noted while sitting waiting for David was the quietness. Other than the ocean waves crashing against the cliffs in the distance, we only heard an occasional bird. The stillness and solitude was nice.

As an OPW Heritage site, there is an entrance fee to Dun Aonghasa. For those planning visits to other Heritage sites, I encourage you to consider purchasing the Heritage Card for €21 per person. With the 11 OPW Heritage sites we visited while in Ireland, we saved a significant amount of money. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on May 13, 2012

Dun Aonghasa
Kilronan
Co. Galway, Ireland
+353 99 61104

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Failte Bus Tour

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Good Service - Memorable Experience"

Gerald and the Failte Bus Tour Van Photo - Failte Bus Tour, County Galway, Ireland

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With just two days on Inis Mor, the largest of the three Aran Island, we had to make the most of our time without killing ourselves trying. Being a relatively small island (just 12 square miles in total), many visitors hike or cycle the island during their stay. That was not an option for us for a number of reasons. Booking our arrangements in advance of arrival with Gerald of Failte Bus Tour was a perfect start to our time on the island.Arriving on the 2:00pm ferry from Ros a Mhil, Gerald was there as scheduled to meet us. A windy, cold and rainy afternoon, it was nice to have him there to take us to the Aran Islands Hotel to check in, drop off our bags and freshen up a bit. When he ...Read More

With just two days on Inis Mor, the largest of the three Aran Island, we had to make the most of our time without killing ourselves trying. Being a relatively small island (just 12 square miles in total), many visitors hike or cycle the island during their stay. That was not an option for us for a number of reasons. Booking our arrangements in advance of arrival with Gerald of Failte Bus Tour was a perfect start to our time on the island.

Arriving on the 2:00pm ferry from Ros a Mhil, Gerald was there as scheduled to meet us. A windy, cold and rainy afternoon, it was nice to have him there to take us to the Aran Islands Hotel to check in, drop off our bags and freshen up a bit. When he returned, we were off for a three hour orientation and exploration of Inis Mor. I was really happy that we had our van tour scheduled for this afternoon, as the weather was marginal at best. It was even nicer to have scheduled the tour as a private tour, although we did share him for one small segment later in the day.

As we left our hotel, the first and most striking thing to note was the miles and miles of stone walls. Gerald told us that there were more than 7,000 miles of the stone walls on this small island. They were used to segment the land so that everyone had "some good with some bad". The land is generally too sparse in vegetation for sheep, so cows are raised here. They are not kept for dairy purposes, however, but instead to birth calves that are sold on the mainland for human consumption (beef).

Our first stop was the old lighthouse and fort, located atop the highest point of the island. Today the lighthouse is no longer in use as it served little purpose being so far inland. Built in 1818, today it sits more as a ruin to be explored and climbed. From atop, an expansive view of the entire island can be had.

As we drove along the narrow roads of Inis Mor, we passed a number of thatch roof houses, including a couple that had fallen due to lack of upkeep. One of the more famous thatch room houses here is the Man of Aran Cottage, which today is a B&B. The house was built in the early 1930's for the movie "Man of Aran".

We were taken to the area known as Seven Churches, perhaps the most important monastic settlements on the island. The first of two church here dates back to 8th century and while largely in ruin, can still be entered through the remaining standing walls. There were also other buildings constructed on this site, all of which are in ruin; many only documented through archeological research.

We drove along the shoreline hoping to see the seals, but it was high tide so there really wasn't much to see there. At the far western end of the island, we got out at a fishing peer that was lined with lobster pots. In this area of Inis Mor, the landscape looked much more like what we has seen at The Burren. Inis Mor is believed to have broken off the Irish mainland and the limestone rocks found here today are given as scientific testament to that theory.

From this end of the island, we drove to the far other end, the area closest to the other two Aran Islands. In this area there was grass fields. Under the shroud of clouds, the amount of light was more like dusk and brown rabbits could be seen darting between their holes as we approached. Gerald said that the residents did not hunt nor eat the rabbits and with few natural predators, they pretty much have taken over the fields here. That said, we did see one large bird feasting on what appeared to be the remains of a small baby bunny.

Also located in this area is another ancient ruin of a church dating back to approximately the 8th century. It was built in honor of St. Enda who founded a monastic school in this area during the 6th century. It is here that the remains of two high crosses lay in the sandy ground.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Gerald. He was very informative and willing to answer any questions that we had. We learned a lot about life on Inis Mor, and the people who have lived here for generations. He provided us with plenty of time to get out of the van to walk around the various sites of interest to us. We did not do Dun Aonghasa or the small nearby shopping area with him since we had another tour scheduled for the following day. Because we booked in advance with him, he provided his guide services to us for €30.

When you arrive on Inis Mor, either by ferry or plane, you will find there are several tour van operators all willing to take passengers around the island. Most will do so on a group basis and charge €10 per person for a set two hour tour. I've read that this fee may be a bit negotiable upon arrival especially if it is a slow day or you are arriving later in the day. The most popular time to arrive is on the first ferry that departs the mainland at 10:30am so our tour time was such that I believe Gerald was willing to work with us, providing a longer and more personal tour for the same €10 per person fee.

We were very happy with our time spent with Gerald and would recommend him and Failte Bus Tour to anyone planning time on Inis Mor. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 13, 2012

Failte Bus Tour
Inis Mor, Aran Islands
County Galway
085-730-7479

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Aran Pony and Trap

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Best Way to See Inis Mor"

John & Laura Arriving at the Aran Islands Hotel Photo - Aran Pony and Trap, Aran Islands, Ireland

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We were very happy that we took our pony & trap tour of Inis Mor with John and his horse Laura. Arrangements had been made on our behalf with John the night before by Gerald of Failte Bus Tour. During my early email discussions with Gerald, he said there were a number of pony & trap tours available and that he would be happy to arrange it for us once we were there.With the miserable weather on our first day, Gerald thought we might appreciate the new cart that John has recently bought . . . a large covered "wagon" style cart that could be fully enclosed if weather so dictated. We thought that was a grand idea, so we asked him to make that arrangement for us.We could ...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 13, 2012

Aran Pony and Trap
Seacrest Kilronan Inis Mor
Aran Islands, County Galway
+353 085 8116457

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Aran Islands Hotel

Best Of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Island Oasis on Inis Mor"

Aran Islands Hotel Photo - Aran Islands Hotel, County Galway, Ireland

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The Aran Islands Hotel is the only full service hotel on Inis Mor, the largest of the three Aran Islands. That should not be the only reason you choose to stay there however. With approximately a dozen bed & breakfasts throughout the island, the reason to stay here is their location and their attention to service. They are conveniently located near the pier where all ferry passengers arrive/depart, and yet far enough away with a view that let's you forget there are any other living souls on the island. We loved that most about the location.The hotel has 22 guest rooms, of various sizes and features including five with balconies overlooking the beautiful bay. We had one of their fa...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on May 12, 2012

Aran Islands Hotel
Kilronan, Inis Mor
County Galway, Ireland
+353 99 61104

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The Big Island - No Not Hawaii

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