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Exploring Inis Mór

We took the ferry to Inis Mór to explore the island today. We rented e-bikes from Aran Bike Rental and took off from the port to check things out. We took the more casual green route for our riding.

Auto-generated description: A group of people wearing helmets are riding bicycles on a narrow road with greenery on both sides, with one person taking a selfie from the front.

Our first stop was at the Seal Colony. There were a few seals out relaxing on the rocks.

Auto-generated description: A person in a yellow jacket stands on a rocky shoreline, looking out at the expansive sea under a cloudy sky.

After that there was this unofficial stop where there were a bunch of cairns that people had created — including one giant one.

Tall cairn of stacked flat stones on a rocky pebble beach on Inis Mor, with a road, green hillside, and calm water visible behind it.

We took the bikes as far as we could and parked them at visitor center for Dún Aonghasa. After purchasing a family pass we hiked up to the ruins.

Auto-generated description: A group of people is hiking along a path surrounded by rocky terrain and greenery under a cloudy sky. Auto-generated description: A rocky cliff overlooks a calm ocean under a cloudy sky.

After getting our fill we hiked down and shopped at Aran Sweater Market. Mazie, Tammy, Jamie got sweaters and Jamie got a hat.

Auto-generated description: A market stall is displaying various sweaters and garments on tables, with additional clothing hanging on the walls and racks inside a building, and a Price Sale sign visible.

Got crêpes from food trailer. Delicious. We then decided to take off and retrieve bikes from bike park and Jamie dropped his bike with the chain dropping off the front gear. This took us a while to get remedied since the chain and gearing was in a fender and the cogs were very worn down. Eventually Jamie got it on and then had to wash the grease off of his hands for a very long time.

After resolving the chain issue we rode up the island to the Seven Churches.

Roofless stone church ruins surrounded by old gravestones and wild grass in a historic Irish cemetery on Inis Mor.

Ride back down to the Kilmurvey Beach for a very brief stop for Mazie to run in the sand.

Somewhat quickly ride back to get to Joe Watty’s Bar & Restaurant for Jamie to have a pub lunch. Beef stew and a half-pint of Guinness hit the spot!

Bowl of Irish beef stew with carrots, potatoes, and herbs beside a pint of Guinness on a wooden pub table outdoors.

Return bikes to rental spot. Wait in line to get back on ferry, take ferry back.

Map of our day with pins on the various stops we made.

Map of Inishmore island showing a yellow-green bike route from Kilronan along the northern coast to the western end, with red pins marking stops.
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Doolin Ferry to Inis Mór

We took the Doolin Ferry to Inis Mór, part of the Aran Islands. The first 10-20 minutes were pretty bumpy. The ocean swells were sizable and there was a lot of water splashing around. Happily we were in the lower level protected with the windows. Toward the end of the ferry ride Tyler wasn’t feeling (or looking!) very good but luckily he held it together.

White Doolin Ferry catamaran named Aran Islands Express underway on choppy blue water near a rocky Irish coastline. Map showing a ferry route across Galway Bay from Doolin on the Irish coast to Inishmore in the Aran Islands, passing south of Inisheer.
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Cows grazing by Doonagore Castle this morning.

Cattle grazing on a green hillside below Doonagore Castle, a round medieval stone tower with battlements, under a cloudy sky.
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Woke up to these cows grazing outside our cottage window this morning.

Four cattle grazing on lush green coastal pasture under an overcast sky, ocean visible in the distance.
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Ireland 2024 Log - Day 6

Weather: Good weather today — partially cloudy and less wind.

Map showing two driving routes in County Clare and Limerick Ireland, from Ballybunion to Adare Manor in 1 hr 5 min and onward to Doolin in 1 hr 18 min.

Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or see Ireland 2024 Collection.

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Sunset over a field outside of Doolin.

Sunset over a green meadow near Doolin with a low stone wall in the foreground and ocean visible on the horizon.
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We walked from our cottage to McGann’s Pub in Doolin for dinner, Guinness, and music. All of it was delightful!

McGann's Pub and Restaurant in Doolin Ireland, a white building with green signage, seen from a road junction with a directional sign in the foregroundPint of Guinness with a thick creamy head on a wooden pub table, people in flannel shirts seated in the background.

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Checking in at the Cottage at Doonagore Castle for our stay near Doolin, Ireland.

Family of four smiling together in front of a whitewashed stone cottage with a dark slate roof in Doolin Ireland
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Tammy modeling her new Ireland made Jack Murphy coat found at Adare Manor.

Woman in a navy quilted coat with denim trim leans against a stone building, hands in pockets, looking to the side.
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This would be the perfect spot for a Kubb pitch at Adare Manor!

Manicured rectangular lawn set in stone paving within a grand grey stone manor courtyard with Gothic-style windows and iron railings