The following is a brief description of day 6 of our 8 Day Wild Atlantic Way Tour taken this May 2018.
We began the adventure tour traveling west from Galway into Connemara. For the entire mornings journey the Atlantic waters of Galway Bay were on our left and beyond the Bay was the Burren of Co. Clare. As we travelled into Ireland’s west there was a noticeable change in the landscape, the fields were smaller and less arable but the scenery grew in its splendour. We had our first stop in the lovely village of Spiddal, for a stroll on the Pier and a look around Spiddal Craft Village.
From Spiddal we continued on deeper into the wild Connemara landscape as far as Rossaveel where we boarded the ferry to Inis Mor – the Largest of The Aran Islands. During the 40-minute crossing the ferry was escorted by the Gulls, Cormorants and other sea birds that are abundant in this area. We disembarked the ferry on Inis Mor, got on our bikes and took the road west on our Cycle Tour towards the fort of Dun Aengus. Very quickly we were alone on quiet country roads where we passed thatched cottages, deserted villages and religious ruins. It was a relaxing cycle with plenty time to take in the views.
Dun Aengus is an Ancient stone-built fort. It was first constructed around 1100BC and added to over a number of periods. The structure present today dates from the early medieval period. Anyone who visits the fort is left in awe, and this tour group were no different. The ancient fortress perched 300 feet above the sea below is magnificent. On this day we had the luck of the Irish on our side – the weather was lovely. The Sun was shining, there were blue skies and a gentle breeze blew in from the Atlantic. The Tour had plenty time to soak in the history, the views and the weather.
After leaving Dun Aengus we went off the beaten track and took a stroll through some fields. The geology of the Aran Islands is karstic limestone similar to that which can be found in the Burren. The landscape here supports a variety of flowers that you will not find elsewhere in Ireland and are more likely to be found in Alpine areas. Today we were very lucky to spot some flowers including early flowering Orchids and Spring Gentians.
For the cycle back to the village of Kilronan we took the lower road via the Seal colony. On this trip we did not see any Seals, still, the views across the sea to the main land and the Connemara mountains filled our senses nicely. In Kilronan we had a relaxing lunch and a rewarding pint before getting the return ferry and jumping into the tour bus for the short drive to Roundstone. Here, we had a well-earned dinner in the lovely Vaughans Restaurant at the Roundstone House Hotel before retiring for the evening after a really rewarding day on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.
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