Walk the cliff path
The visitor centre sits at the start of a 1km pedestrian route to the fort, over rising ground and rough natural rock. Boots or strong walking shoes are recommended, and care is needed on the descent.
Dún Aonghasa
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About
Perched on a sheer cliff above the Atlantic, Dún Aonghasa is a 3,000-year-old drystone fort and the largest of the Aran Islands' prehistoric strongholds.
Things to Do
The fort walls and chevaux-de-frise
Three massive drystone defence walls divide the hillfort into outer, middle and inner enclosures. Around the middle wall runs a chevaux-de-frise, a dense band of jagged upright stones built to stop attackers.
The cliff-edge platform
The inner enclosure ends at a rock platform on the cliff edge, 87 metres above the sea. There is no fence or barrier at the drop, and the views stretch the length of the island.
Visitor centre and exhibition
The refurbished centre at Cill Mhuirbhigh (Kilmurvey) is the gateway to the monument, with an interpretive exhibition and guided tours of the site.
Kilmurvey Craft Village and café
The visitor centre stands at the edge of Kilmurvey Craft Village, a handful of Celtic-inspired arts and crafts shops. Tigh Nan Phaidi, an old café in a traditional thatched cottage at the foot of the fort, is a handy stop.
Cycle or ride out from Kilronan
The fort lies about 7km west of Cill Rónáin (Kilronan), where the ferries dock. Bicycles, private tour buses and horse-drawn carriages can be hired at the ferry port.
Plan Your Visit
- Hours: Open year-round. January–March 09:30–16:00; April–October 09:30–18:00; November–December 09:30–16:00. Closed 24–30 December. Average visit 1–1.5 hours.
- Admission: Adult €5, Group/Senior €4, Child/Student €3, Family €13
- Parking: Paid car park and paid street parking (Google's record).
- Food: No café is listed among the visitor centre's official facilities; the nearest is in Kilmurvey Craft Village at the foot of the fort, including Tigh Nan Phaidi café in a thatched cottage, alongside craft shops.
Getting Around
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