Discover the islands of Ireland
The Aran Islands offer visitors a glimpse into a way of life that has long since disappeared from most of the country. The three Aran Islands, Inis Mór Island, Inis Meáin Island and Inis Oírr Island are situated off the caost of Galway Bay. They are famous for their geological formation, historical monuments and their linguistic and cultural heritage. The Irish language is still spoken here and in the twenty first century all native born islanders are bilingual in both Irish and English.
An ideal way to take the whole of the Aran Islands is by hiring a Detour Campervan and a bicycle. You can be sure that on your arrival with your Detour Campervan you will receive a céad míle fáilte (a hundred thousand welcomes). The Islands' raw beauty and charm will leave you with a longing to return again and again.
Each of the three islands, Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr have their own distinct atmosphere and character. Inis Oírr is known as the Artists palette, Inis Meáin is known as a precious sanctury of Irish tradition, and finally Inish Mór is charecterised by its distinctive charm. The dramatic landscapes and endless sea form a backdrop to a labyrinth of meandering stone walls and tiny, tightly packed fields. In between, a network of narrow winding roads and grassy lanes sweep from pristine beaches and craggy shores to the dizzying cliffs that mark the edge of Europe. The islands have lured legions of writers, artists and visitors over the centuries, their enigmatic ancient monuments, early Christian remains, holy wells and historic lighthouses adding to their sense of timelessness and mystery.
The pace of life is slow here and a profound sense of peace accompanies any walk or cycle down the narrow grassy lanes. This serenity makes the islands a precious sanctuary from the rush of modern life and their isolation guarantees their place as a stronghold of traditional culture. The nightly music sessions, lively dances, traditional crafts, seagoing currachs and wonderfully warm and welcoming spirit are inimitable parts of the Aran Islands. The Aran Islands boast a number of loop walks or cycles for those who want to take it all in. They include the 14km Lúb Chill Mhuirbhigh which passes Teampaill Chiaráin on Árainn, Lub Ceathru an Locha (8km) on Inis Oírr, which passes O’Brien’s Castle, and the 10km Lub Cill Cheannannach walk on Inis Meáin; it visits Dún Chonchúir and Teampall na Seacht Mac Rí (church of the seven sons of the king), this was once a place of pilgrimage for all of Connacht.
Other highlights that the Detour team thing are worth mentioning are the "Teach an Tea" tearooms and cafe in Lurgan Village on Inis Oírr and the Inis Meain Knitting Company. Their factory showroom on Inis Meáin has an extensive range of garments available at special discount prices for visitors.
Check out a few of our other campervan trip ideas:
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