Visiting the Aran Islands and the Cliffs of Moher

OneGoodDad

2 years ago

My trip to Ireland is filled with places I wish I could’ve spent more time. One of those places is Inis Mor (Inishmore) of the Aran Islands.

The Aran Islands are made up of 3 small rocky islands. Inishmore is the largest. The other two are Inishmaan (Inis Meain) and Inisheer (Inis Oiir). The landscape consists of limestone and is rocky. In order to grow crops on the islands, early inhabitants spread soil and seaweed across the landscape. Because of the even climate, the Aran Islands can grow crops nearly year round. Aran Islands is famous for the Aran Sweaters and hats, which I picked up quite a few. The local language is still Gaeltacht, but everyone I encountered spoke English as well.

Nobody knows for sure when the first inhabitants of the Aran Islands arrived, but most likely they were fleeing attack or persecution. Tourists can explore old forts, remains of monasteries, farms, a distillery, cliffs, and beautiful scenery. There are also amazing restaurants. I enjoyed a delicious Irish Stew at Teach Nan Phaidi. Of course, I washed it down with a Guinness.

The best way to get to the Aran Islands is to take the Doolin Ferry from Doolin. There are many cruise options. You can grab a ferry to any of the islands and you can also book a combination cruise to see the Cliffs of Moher while you are visiting the Islands. We chose the addition to see the impressive Cliffs of Moher.

The Cliffs of Moher are the second most visited site in Ireland. The Guinness Storehouse is the first. The Cliffs appear in such movies as The Princess Bride and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. They are awe-inspiring. Thankfully, we had a clear day to witness the majesty of the cliffs.

There are a few ways of getting around Inishmore. You can take a tour in a bus or van, walk, car rental, or rent a bike. We rented bikes and I think it’s the best way for someone to see the island. I say that even though I was huffing and puffing while going up hills and with legs that were not in the best shape. Still, I would tour the island this way again. They also offered electric bikes. Riding bikes can be a little hairy, though, since the roads are thin and riders need to find places to pull off so buses and cars can pass by.

There are stores close to the ferry, so visitors can buy their Aran Sweaters before they board the ship. I recommend doing that if you are biking. Carrying bags of sweaters around the island isn’t the best way to tour.

After I made it back to my hotel in Galway, I immediately wished I would have booked a room on Inishmore. I would have loved to have spent more time and not have to worry about getting back to the boat. That way, I could have explored the pubs more and not feel the crunch of time.

Read about Visiting the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin

@onegooddad
Oh, how I wish I had spent more time on Inishmore. We took the @Doolin Ferry to the Aran Islands and took in the Cliffs of Moher on thevway back. Biking around the island is the way to go. #Ireland #travel #inishmore #aranislands #irelandtiktok #travelblogger #travelphotography #photographer #travellife #irelandtravel #doolinferryco

♬ Irish music by fiddle and whistle(192108) – Hazime

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