Thinking of staying close to home this summer, which Irish Island is really worth it?

AngryLips

Requirements:
- big/small enough to cycle around
- has a pub
- scenic/attractions

Any thoughts? I've been to Achill and Inis Mor, thought both were great and wouldn't mind going back to Achill since it's been a while. But what about the others? Valentia? Aranmore? Rattlin? Clare? Tory? Am I overlooking any? Any impressions would be great.

hytrogen

Valentia has some good pubs, great seafood, hotels B&B's etc. in Knightstown, Cahersiveen and Portmagee. The skelligs are just down the coast for a day trip out of either. The skellig ring to cycle or drive is breathtaking around to Waterville.
Worth a trip up to bray head, the tetrapod, slate quarry, walk up to the wedge tomb at Cool East, Cromwell point lighthouse cafe, st.brendans well which on Google Street view the sign is obscured?, ballycarbery castle etc.

munchkin_utd

there was a series of reports on a number of the islands there on Nationwide a few weeks back. Would make you want to go and see the islands. Inishturk you missed in your list, which looks amazing.
http://www.rte.ie/player/de/show/nationwide-21/10683572/ (hope it works, if not, search for Nationwide and go to the ones for Feb 8th, 10th, 12th)
A nice side effect of holidaying on the islands is that the inhabitants rely very much on tourism as their primary income, so your trip there is helping keep the islands as a viable place to live. You dont need to worry too much about them being overwhelmed with tourists, they have it nice and quiet in the winter when its only the long term residents on the islands!

coleen

A second vote for Valentia lots of fab walks and cycles. Close to Waterville and Cahersiveen and possible day trip to Killarney. 2 nice pubs with 1 a ferry ride across to Renard Point which does lovely sea food. Then very close by is Portmagee a little fishing village at the entrance to the bridge to the island with a lovely pub called the moorings.
As others said there was a few islands on Nationwide last week around Mayo and Galway that really looked lovely too.

AngryLips

Am i right in understanding valentia has its own microclimate?

Water John

Sherkin Island would be the one most noted for its micro semi mediterreanian climate.

Scotty #

Just booked a house on Insihbofin (pop.175) for the last week in August.

Been there a few times before and love it! There's some fantastic walks (flat and hill) and lovely white sanded beaches. Great fishing and wildlife.

There's 2-3 pubs/hotels on the island and the food is great. About a 30min ferry from Cleggan.

uck51js9zml2yt

Scotty # wrote: »

Just booked a house on Insihbofin (pop.175) for the last week in August.

Been there a few times before and love it! There's some fantastic walks (flat and hill) and lovely white sanded beaches. Great fishing and wildlife.

There's 2-3 pubs/hotels on the island and the food is great. About a 30min ferry from Cleggan.

Bofin is lovely. Stayed there a few years ago. Always planned on going back.

coleen

Scotty # wrote: »

Just booked a house on Insihbofin (pop.175) for the last week in August.

Been there a few times before and love it! There's some fantastic walks (flat and hill) and lovely white sanded beaches. Great fishing and wildlife.

There's 2-3 pubs/hotels on the island and the food is great. About a 30min ferry from Cleggan.

I have just put it on list of somewhere to go that I have not travelled to.

AngryLips

how many nights would you stay on valentia or inisboffin?

Balmed Out

I'd second sherkin

Lex Luthor

Scotty # wrote: »

Just booked a house on Insihbofin (pop.175) for the last week in August.

Been there a few times before and love it! There's some fantastic walks (flat and hill) and lovely white sanded beaches. Great fishing and wildlife.

There's 2-3 pubs/hotels on the island and the food is great. About a 30min ferry from Cleggan.

so do you just park up in Cleggan for the week you are on the island?

Scotty #

Lex Luthor wrote: »

so do you just park up in Cleggan for the week you are on the island?

There is a field behind a house in the village that people park in. It's about €20 for the week. The ferry only crosses twice a day. The harbour is always packed with cars too, where's there's no charge, despite signs up everywhere saying no overnight parking. I think these may be the islanders 'mainland cars' though.

When we get over to Bofin we hire bikes (about €80/week) for the week though a lot of people bring their own. There are some tarmac roads on the island and most households would have a car or a moped but generally, there's very little motor traffic. The salty sea air rusts the island cars to bits fairly quick.

secman

Scotty # wrote: »

Just booked a house on Insihbofin (pop.175) for the last week in August.

Been there a few times before and love it! There's some fantastic walks (flat and hill) and lovely white sanded beaches. Great fishing and wildlife.

There's 2-3 pubs/hotels on the island and the food is great. About a 30min ferry from Cleggan.

Boffin is amazing, akin to going back in time. Really enjoyed my visit there some 14 years ago now. Often think about revisiting it. We had fantastic weather that week .

Scotty #

AngryLips wrote: »

how many nights would you stay on valentia or inisboffin?

We usually stay a week on Bofin, though we'd happily stay longer. The kids, 11 and 13, love it despite the fact we've no internet or phone signal there, one of the main pluses for me. I say no phone signal but actually there is on certain parts of the island with certain networks and there is free wifi in the pubs.

fletch

If you go to Valentia, don't leave out Culoo Rock...park here and walk to here.



Just be careful

anewme

Another recommendation for inisboffin! Was there last August, amazing weather, great walking, lovely food great views a few ballads!

When the sun shin s in this country you can't beat it .


Saw people going around on bikes.

Mad food place called Inniswallsh, food out of the back of a converted double decker bus. Food was amazing and it created a Real buzz! The kids were living it.