Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands off Galway, is naturally best explored by bike: a limestone karst landscape crossed by countless dry stone walls, punctuated by the vertiginous prehistoric fort of Dún Aonghasa.
A car-free island made for cycling
From Kilronan, the island’s main village and port, country lanes and stony tracks wind between the countless dry stone walls marking out farm plots, toward Kilmurvey and then the Dún Aonghasa site. Expect around 20 km for a loop representative of the island, on modest but genuine karst relief.
Getting the family ride right
With very little car traffic on the island, this ride offers rare safety for riding as a family. Dún Aonghasa, reachable by bike to the car park and then on foot along a short path, is worth a long stop to admire the fort perched on a cliff edge over 100 m above the Atlantic.
When to go
April to September, as the ferry crossing can be cancelled in bad weather outside this window. A rain jacket is still worth carrying even in summer, as Atlantic showers remain frequent and sometimes sudden.
Good to know
Kilronan offers limited but sufficient accommodation for a night on the island, with regular ferries from Rossaveal or Doolin for combining the visit with County Clare and the Cliffs of Moher.
