Return to Dublin

Last day and time to return to Dublin ... on the move most of the time. The day started leisurely with a later breakfast and a stroll to the harbour.

After yesterday we knew where to wait and for how long. We had to transfer our carnet into a ticket then get on board.

This boat was much faster than the Doolin boat, and we were soon across and pulling into the port.
Up the ramp and into the melee of buses. Again converting the carnet into a ticket and taking a seat.

The bus took us back to Galway and stopped close to the Victoria hotel where we had picked up the minibus four days ago.
From here it was around to the taxi office to retrieve our stored luggage, and up to the railway station. Here we tried to wait on the platform but were chased off until they were ready to board the train. However we were allowed through after 30 mins and found our booked seats, ready for the two and half hours back to Dublin. After the journey out we knew what to expect and settled for a bit of reading, playing the electronic pipes and snacking.
Back in Dublin we headed off to find a taxi... not realizing that drop off and pick up were on different sides we hailed a cab at the drop off annoying a few others, but were soon back at the guest house.
Tomorrow we have an early rise to get to the airport for an 8am flight. so cab booked for 6 .. we did not want to try the buses on the tight timescale.

Inishmaan Exploration

For some reason we were up early this morning, and the noise downstairs got us down for breakfast an hour early by mistake .. not even a comment from our hosts as if it was normal behavior!.
We had chosen today for a visit to the neighboring island of Inishmaan, and a trip on the island hopping ferry.
There was no timetable, or ferry office in the harbour, so after checking the time from the tourist office, and a visit to the shop for some supplies, we headed down to the breakwater..
The main ferry comes in first, and sometimes, as today, a second one follows it. Then at the end of the pier a much smaller boat arrived ... This is the first of two boats half an hour apart - not mentioned on any timetables. You can buy tickets at the tourist office, but each boat has a different colour ... or pay cash on the quay. This is what we did, and dropped down into the boat

Then we were off out of the harbour, past the lighthouse from yesterday. The swell started as soon as we were out of the shade of the harbour and became a big rolling movement in the channel between the islands...
I was glad to be outside and on my feet to ride the movements, also glad not to be going all the way to Doolin on the mainland.

The harbour at Inishmaan was a new structure, where we jumped off, presumably from an EU grant.
We headed around towards the road up to the town. A deluge happened as we got to the end of the quay ... so a few minutes in the shelter then we continued to the amusement of the taxi driver who was trying to persuade us to make his seats wet!.
The road went around to the right and we followed until we saw the town, which was situated on the hill, slightly below the top in the lea of the prevailing winds.

Next to the town was another old fort Dun Chonchuir, but first a visit to the pub ... There was no food, just a rough toasted sandwich..
The rain stopped while we were in the pub and we could make a dry visit to Dun Chonchuir.

With the lack of rain the views opened up ..spectacular.
After this back to the village and a bowl of warming soup in a very small café, then it was time to head back to the harbour.

We saw the boat heading around the end of the island and into the harbour .
Another rolling ride back to Inishmore, and we were back in the main harbour.

A little early for supper, so we decided to visit Dun Eochla, up on the high point of this island.
Dun Eochla, was very similar to Dun Chonchuir, and equally quiet. Not crowded like Dun Aonghassa.

Then back down to the town after another soaking for dinner.
We ate in a small cafe by the harbour - the best meal we had here, and also calm.

Back around to the B&B .. another long day's walk.

Inishmore Exploration2

After yesterday's epic walk, we needed to take things a little easier today.
There was an interesting beach area - An TraMore -by the airport, an inland area dry at high tide. This would also give a chance for some beachcombing.

Taking the road outside the B&B, going back to the airport. Then heading down to the beach, just past the small ruined church and graveyard.
Tracks across the sand then into the dunes on the other side.

Around the outside of the bay is a standard beach

The end of the beach transformed into more limestone pavement, as it worked its way around another cove to the headland.
Just off the headland was a small island with the lighthouse.

On the headland was a small beach, where we stopped for a bite.
Time to move on came with the rain ... really heavy for 10 mins - enough to soak us then move on.
Back to Limestone pavement, as we headed around to the next bay - Port Daibhache

Exiting the pavement slightly before the bay as it got too broken to be fun anymore, we cut across the pebbles and the dunes. They were covered in storm debris, and this skeleton.. whale or dolphin maybe. Then back to the beach ... more stoney than the last one

Then it was back around the fields and the road towards the B&B.
By the harbour below the B&B, is the remains of a Cromwellian castle ... well one wall and a part of a tower. Castle Aircin looked more like a folly.
After a cup of tea and some biscuits then there was time for waking up the neighborhood.

We went off to the hotel down the road to the town for an early dinner, but this was full of large, vocal parties and not as restful as we would have liked.

Inishmore Exploration1

Exciting day today ... travelling over to Inishmore.
The day started with a walk up the street to a theoretical meeting point for a minibus to the airport. A slight detour to the taxi office to drop a bag off, as it advertised a left luggage room. This allowed us to leave some bits behind while we were on the island.

The bus arrived and we got on, there was only one other person, and we set off along the coast road - this followed the same trait as yesterday, old fashioned A roads through every village and hamlet at an average speed of 20 mph.
No hanging around at the airport .. out of the minibus, check in, weigh in, and off to the safety briefing. A stop off at the toilet, and we were late for boarding - the others were already out by the plane. Taxiing and pre-flight checks took longer than the actual flight over. Before you could blink we were on the island and walking out the gate.

Overnight we had been given a change of B&B, and in place of one in the middle of the island we were just around the bay from the airport. The B&B was a green house, and our room was looking out over the bay.
The taxi driver wanted 5 euros for the half mile trip so we walked around. Dropping off our bags and changing into walking kit we were soon back on the road again.

We wanted to visit Dun Aonghasa - just like every visitor to the island, and this was up past the middle of the island .. we took the "mountain" road over the centre of the island, which proved to be a nice quiet option. This was classic limestone pavement, with old traditional fields and dry stone walls all around.

Not on the "normal"trail but just off our track was a small trail down to the coast and some limestone ledges.

This was the location of the "wormhole" .. a kind of slot bath cut into the limestone - moving with the waves.

From the wormhole we cut over the fields to the bay on the other side and followed the road to the visitor centre.
We had thought that we could get something to eat here, but the cafe was closed and everywhere else was over crowded, so we headed off up the path to Dun Aonghasa, up on the skyline.

We had arrived at the time all the day trippers were here so it was very crowded and there were lots of people milling around.
I was not as impressed as I should have been. It would have been better if we had stayed in our original B&B and we could have gone up at a quiet time.

We managed to get a few bits to eat in the souvenir shop, before the long walk back ... we took the main road, and were passed by a variety of transport .. bikes, vans, cars, and the horse drawn carts.
The walk back was hard as we were tired, but lightened up by sights like the boat in the garden.

It was a little early for food, as we came to Kilronan, however the lack of lunch was catching up with us and the siren call of the afternoon menu at the pub became too much to ignore.

Back at the B&B to see the sun go down, after a long day.