An undoubted highlight of the Wild Atlantic Way are the Aran Islands, and places don’t come much more wild, or immersed in the Atlantic waters, than this chain of three dramatically isolated land masses. Set just off Galway Bay in the west of Ireland, and visible from the coastline for miles around, the islands exert an irresistible lure to those with a taste for adventure and act like sirens of the sea to those with an urge to escape from it all.
Adrift from the mainland, and buffeted by the crashing waves and winds of the Atlantic, the islands have a grandeur all of their own, and the locals still feel a very strong, proud identification with their Celtic past. Stepping onto the islands is like stepping back in time into a mythical land of Celtic folklore, an impression helped by the widespread use of Gaelic interspersed with the English tongue.
A day trip to the islands gives you just a taste of their desolate beauty, but those who can stay longer can feast on the multifaceted charms that these tiny islands will gradually reveal.
The Aran Islands seem much further removed from the mainland than the 45 minute ferry ride or 10 minute flight might suggest. Their surprisingly temperate microclimate, uniquely shallow topsoil that is strewn with wildflowers and their daunting, almost defensive, cliffs all help to set the islands apart. But, it’s the ancient forts such as Dún Aengus on Inishmór and Dún Chonchúir on Inishmaan, some of the oldest archaeological remains in Ireland, that suggest another world entirely.
The islands are perfect for walking or cycling and their small size encourages exploration. You can follow the trail of ancient stone walls that still line the archipelago to discover places of mystical beauty, pilgrimage sites steeped in Celtic myth and plenty of clocháns, or drystone beehive huts dating back to the early Christian periods.
Each of the islands has its own character, and their distinctness is reinforced by the fact that for most of the year the only way to travel between them is to take the ferry back to the mainland and start again.
Inishmór
Inishmór is the largest and most popular. Its wealth of archaeological sites and accommodating choice of pubs and restaurants is a benefit that is somewhat counterbalanced by the number of day-trippers who are drawn to visit them.
Inishmaan
In Inishmaan you can escape all this and stay amongst a culture that has determinedly preserved its age-old traditions, nurtured artists and romantics but still welcomes anyone wishing to share in its solitude, staying in isolated bed and breakfasts amidst the stark and uncompromising timeless beauty of its landscape.
Inisheer
Inisheer promises traditional music and a small-town sense of living it up as night sets in. You can feel the warmth of the local community as it sings traditional songs at night and watch its fishermen repairing their nets by day.
How can you best experience the distinct charms of the Arran Islands? Why not allow yourself time to stay on each and leave no stone unturned?
