The West End of Inis Mór
4 stops · 26 min driving · Galway · Updated August 2026
Open in Google MapsThese four stops sit on the western rim of Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands, where a low shelf of grey limestone runs out into the Atlantic. All of them lie within a few kilometres of one another along the island's western road. The same rock that makes this coast so stark also ties the route together: it carries a Bronze Age fort, an early Christian pilgrimage ground, a sheltered Blue Flag beach and a tidal pool cut by the sea. You reach the island by ferry from Rossaveal in Co. Galway or Doolin in Co. Clare, then travel the island road by bike, minibus tour, taxi or pony-and-trap. There is no car parking at Dún Aonghasa; the fort is reached on foot from the visitor centre.
1.Dún Aonghasa
A 3,000-year-old cliff-top fort
Begin at the monument that defines this end of the island: a 3,000-year-old fort whose inner wall alone used around 6,500 tonnes of stone, ending at an unfenced 87-metre drop. From the visitor centre a marked 1 km trail climbs over rough limestone to the three enclosures and the chevaux-de-frise defensive band beyond.
- Tip
- No car parking at the site — come by bike, taxi or tour bus from Cill Rónáin, and wear sturdy boots for the rocky trail.
↓ 14 min drive · 3.7 km
2.Na Seacht dTeampaill - The Seven Churches
Ireland's only surviving pilgrim hostels
A short hop along the island road leads to a different chapter of the same coast: a 1,200-year-old monastic and pilgrimage complex. Two medieval churches survive, along with Ireland's only surviving late-medieval pilgrim hostels, carved pilgrim gravestones and an active cemetery. Free to wander, day or night, it is a quiet counterpoint to the fort's drama.
- Tip
- There are no facilities on site — no visitor centre, toilets or shop — so stock up in Kilronan village, 3 km away.
↓ 6 min drive · 2.8 km
3.Kilmurvey Beach
The island's only Blue Flag beach
After the exposed clifftops, the route drops to a sheltered crescent of white sand — Inis Mór's only Blue Flag beach. The water slopes gently and is clear on calm days, with lifeguards on patrol from June to September, and grey seals hauling out on nearby rocks at low tide. It is the obvious place for a pause between ruins and rock.
- Tip
- Lifeguards patrol only from June to September — check the notice board at the beach for daily patrol times.
↓ 6 min drive · 1.9 km
4.Poll na bPéist - The Wormhole
A rectangle carved by the tide
The route ends where nature outdoes the builders: a near-perfect rectangular tidal pool in the limestone, filling and emptying with the Atlantic through underground channels. Red Bull Cliff Diving made it famous; serpent folklore explains the name. Follow red arrow markers across the pavement to the unfenced cliff-edge viewpoint.
- Tip
- No barriers, toilets or lifeguard at the pool — stay well back from the unfenced cliff edge and take care on wet rock.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Inis Mór, and how do I get around this route?
Inis Mór is reached by ferry from Rossaveal in Co. Galway or Doolin in Co. Clare, landing at Cill Rónáin. From the pier, cycle, take a taxi, or join a tour bus to the western end of the island; bikes and minibus tours run most frequently in summer. There is no car parking at Dún Aonghasa or the Wormhole.
Can I swim at Poll na bPéist, the Wormhole?
The Wormhole is an open natural feature with no barriers and no lifeguard, and water surges in from underneath with the tide, so it is not a managed swimming spot. The safe place for a swim on this route is Kilmurvey Beach, where lifeguards patrol from June to September.
Is the Seven Churches site open to visitors?
Yes — Na Seacht dTeampaill is free and open at all hours, with no ticket required. There are information panels on site but no facilities, so plan to use the shops, cafés and bike hire in Kilronan village, 3 km away.
What does it cost to visit Dún Aonghasa?
Dún Aonghasa charges adults €5, children and students €3, and families €13, with free guided tours on request from OPW staff. Admission is free on the first Wednesday of every month and for visitors staying overnight in participating accommodation on Inis Mór.