If you are looking for a day trip from Galway that promises breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural experiences, and awe-inspiring natural beauty, then this all-encompassing tour is exactly what you’re after.
I recently experienced the west of Ireland in all its splendour aboard a modern and comfortable coach, which took in the Aran Island of Inisheer, a boat trip under the Cliffs of Moher, a visit to the cliffs themselves and an idyllic drive through the starkly beautiful region of The Burren.
As an advocate for exploring Ireland by car, undertaking such a trip was something that was slightly out of character. But while on a short trip to Galway, I decided to give it a go.
This review post is going to go through all the details of the trip, some practical info, what I liked and what I didn’t, and concluding with a my final overall thoughts.
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Who is this trip for?
In my opinion this full day excursion is for visitors who fall into the following categories:
- Those based in Galway who don’t have access to a car
- Those with limited time and wish to squeeze in as much as they can
- Groups of younger students visiting Galway on a school trip
- Tour groups
- Those wishing to enjoy the west of Ireland on board a comfortable coach
- Those who enjoy organised/stress free day trips
- Those who enjoy informative guided tours
Where will you visit?
This full day excursion is based in the counties of Clare and Galway on the west coast of Ireland.
You will venture south of County Galway to the fishing village of Kinvarra, followed by a wonderful scenic drive through the unique region of The Burren, known for its limestone (karstic) landscapes.
Then you’ll board a ferry at Doolin, which will take you to the smallest of the Aran Islands (Inisheer) After just over 2 hours on the island, it’s back on the ferry again.
Next it’s a scenic cruise along the Cliffs of Moher, and the boat will get up close and personal to An Branán Mór sea stack, where you’ll witness a true spectacle of nature.
The boat will then dock at Doolin where your coach will pick you up and drive you to the top of the Cliffs of Moher, where you’ll get an hour to explore. Then it’s back on the bus and back to Galway via the beautiful Black Head Drive.
All in all, a very busy day, but one full of impressions and sights that will create memories to last a lifetime.
How long is the whole trip?
The trip starts at 9 am and you’ll get back to Galway at about 7.30 pm. We arrived back at 7.25, so in terms of organisation, it worked a treat! In total expect to be 10-11 hours travelling that day.
Where does the trip start?
Meeting point is outside Kinlay Hostel, just off Eyre Square, Galway city centre. 8 am to 9 am are notorious times for traffic in the centre so aim to be there 15-20 minutes in advance.
Who is the tour run by?
The Galway Tour Company ran our particular tour and our guide Paul was a pleasure to deal with. His information and anecdotes kept everyone interested and entertained as well as being a big help on Inisheer when there was, shall we say, a bit of confusion regarding which boat to board!
The coach was also supremely comfortable and clean, with a nice selection of instrumental Irish music being played as we drove through the Irish countryside. This certainly added to the whole experience.
How do I book the tour?
In the summer months i.e. May to September, this tour is in big demand. You may get lucky last minute, but to make sure of getting a seat and ferry tickets, we highly recommend booking as early as possible.
It’s an all-in ticket that covers everything, including bus, ferry, entry to cliffs and guide. The tour has an excellent rating of 4.8/5.
Tickets can be booked directly here.
What’s the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation is possible up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
What should I bring for the day?
Clothes
- Think layers: We did the trip at the end of May and I had a medium down jacket with a light rain jacket for over it, and yep, both were used throughout the day!
- Waterproof shoes.
- A medium-weight pullover.
- Waterproof trousers if it’s promised particularly wet, there are no trees and very little shelter on Inisheer and the cliffs.
- A warm base layer to keep the wind chill away on a blustery day.
- A cap, if your ears are sensitive to wind.
Other items
- Rucksack with waterproof cover. This cover turned out to be a godsend as I go caught in a nasty squally shower on the island.
- Water bottle
- A packed lunch as time is quite limited. The bus did stop in Doolin for lunch though at around 3 pm and we managed to get a cooked meal (not included in price)
- Camera/phone/cash/cards etc.
- Sun cream: a must if visiting in the warmer months, even on a cloudy day. You’re exposed to UV most of the day.
Overview of Tour & Locations
Below, you’ll find a map of the route you will be taking from Galway City. Generally speaking the bus follows the route through the Burren via Corkscrew Hill to the Ferry at Doolin. On the return leg, you’ll pass via Fanore along the coastal route.
Inisheer (Irish: Inis Oirr)
Inisheer is the smallest of the three Aran Islands, measuring only 3km by 3km. These iconic islands are located at the entrance to Galway Bay, and are known as one of the last remaining strongholds of Irish language and culture.
The crossing was only 20 minutes to the pier at Inisheer, and the ferry is a good size, well able to accommodate a few hundred people. There is outdoor seating as well and one of the crew members commented ‘there’s always a chance of spotting a few dolphins’. Not today though, unfortunately.
The islands provide a glimpse into the Ireland of old, with a seemingly endless patchwork of green fields enclosed within dry stone walls. The stone used is local limestone, as the island is an extension of The Burren.
These walls have been all constructed by hand over centuries, and the surprisingly fertile lands you see have been reclaimed from bare limestone rock, using the local seaweed as a natural fertilizer.
Inisheer itself has a population of only 343 residents. Incredibly, the island also has a primary and secondary school. The island also has a well-stocked shop, located behind the pier and is open from 9 am to 7 pm daily.
The main language spoken on the island is Gaelic Irish and you’ll see this written on road signs and local businesses.
As you’ll have only 2 hours on the island, we recommend either renting a bike on the island or exploring the eastern end of the island by foot. We did the latter and just about managed to squeeze in the Plassey shipwreck and O’Brien’s castle.
Below is an outline of the route we took. I recommend not hanging around the shipwreck too long as you want to leave plenty time to get back to your boat.
The Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher, located on western coast of County Clare, are dramatic sea cliffs rising up to 214 meters (702 feet) above the Atlantic Ocean.
Stretching for about 8 kilometers (5 miles), they offer stunning views of the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, and the vast Atlantic ocean. Known for their iconic and perfectly carved beauty, the cliffs are Ireland’s most visited natural attraction.
If visiting in May like we did, we had the pleasure of witnessing multiple puffins, along with a spectacle of nature I think I’ll never forget: the sight and sound of 30,000 seabirds on the craggy rocks of An Branán Mor sea stack. This you will witness aboard the cliffs cruise on the way back from Inisheer.
After docking at Doolin again, the bus took us on a short bus ride to the cliffs and we had just over an hour here to explore. As I had visited numerous times before, I decided to walk directly up the steps to the right to O’Brien’s tower, then after a short stop here made my way back down and followed the cliffs in a southerly direction.
This often overlooked part of the cliffs provides breathatking views of the sea stack and you get a wonderful perspective of the cliffs from here.
Don’t venture off the path for any reason. Accidents happen here far more than they should and for that exact reason: hopping the wall to get to the cliff’s edge.
I will add that those not to keen on climbing the steps to the right to O’Brien’s tower should follow the path along the cliff to the left, in a southerly direction. While this also entails a climb, it is not as taxing as the multiple steps to the tower.
Whichever route you choose, keep an eye on the time and leave a few minutes for a trip to the toilet in the visitors’ centre before boarding the bus again. By the way it’s normally fierce windy up here so have a good hat to cover up the ears, along with a warm wind proof jacket.
The Burren
The Burren is a unique limestone landscape in County Clare known for its rugged terrain, unusual rock formations, and rich biodiversity. Despite its barren appearance, the Burren supports a wide variety of plant life, including rare species that thrive in its limestone pavements.
The region is also home to ancient archaeological sites, including tombs and stone forts, dating back thousands of years.
It’s also known for practising an unusual agricultural practise, namely ‘reverse transhumance’. This involves moving the livestock upslope during the winter months as there is relatively little water on the permeable limestone hills during the summer months.
You’ll make 2 trips through the Burren. Generally speaking the tour passes through the inland portion and return to Galway via the coastal route, along Black Head. Due to a cycling event we did it the other way around.
Either way, the 2 routes are magnificent. On the right hand side, we enjoyed wonderful vistas over Galway bay to Connemara beyond and the 3 Inisheer islands were in full view as we approached Doolin. On the left, we passed by idyllic green pastures divided up by perfectly linear stone walls. Definitely the quintessential Irish landscape.
On the return journey, we drove through more idyllic greenery with whitethorn bushes and abandoned cottages interspersed amongst the hills and valleys. Of course Mother Nature threw in a good ol’ Irish rainbow, which was welcomed by a collective ‘wow’ in the tour bus!
After a photo stop at some more outstanding natural beauty on Corkscrew Hill, it was directly back to Galway. The bus driver informed me that when they make the return leg to Galway over the coast road, they make a stop to admire the unusual rock formations and exposed limestone.
Unfortunately for us, the cycling event slightly limited our time. What can you do?
My Personal Highlights of the Trip
- The scenic drive through the idyllic limestone region of The Burren with its endless stone walls, beautiful green pastures and thatched cottages.
- The ferry crossing from Doolin with the first glimpse of the mighty Cliffs of Moher.
- Arriving at Inisheer and witnessing the beautiful white beach backed O’Brien’s hilltop castle.
- Walking in complete tranquillity through the narrow lanes of Inisheer with an almost endless network of dry stone walls everywhere you turn.
- The story behind the Plassey shipwreck and realising how powerful Mother Nature can be.
- The massive scale of the Cliffs of Moher when viewed from below, along with the unforgettable noise of 30,000 seabirds (including sightings of puffins)
- Getting that iconic view on top of the Cliffs of Moher and enjoying the lack of tourists the further south you walk.
- The journey along Black Head Drive with the clints, grikes and other various almost lunar-like limestone landscapes as far as the eye can see.
- The perfectly-fitting Irish music in the bus as we meandered our way through the Irish countryside.
- The friendliness, competence and all round professionalism of our bus driver, Paul.
The Negatives
- This trip is not an example of ‘slow tourism’. There is so much fit into one day. Many may not like this, but there certainly are also many who have a limited amount of time. For those, this trip is perfect.
- While boarding the cliffs cruise boat on Inisheer, we remarked that the organisation could be better. As there were many groups getting on different boats, we all felt a little like headless chickens! I could go on a rant about the attitude of one particular worker at the harbour, but why bother?
- Although the cliffs cruise was incredible, I felt an extra minute or 2 at the sea stack would have made such a difference. Everyone on board was amazed at what they were witnessing and you could hear the collective groan when we bolted our way back to Doolin pier.
- Last but not least, more toilets are needed at Doolin Pier. I am convinced people have missed their ferry because of the limited toilet facilities. The place was thronged in May, can’t even imagine the situation in July and August.
Apart from that, I find it hard to criticise any other aspect of the tour. For someone used to going on my own pre-planned road trips, I really enjoyed the experience. The elevated view you get from the bus of Ireland’s beautiful landscape is something new for me, in a good way.
If you have access to a car, we recommend doing this trip over 2 days, with an overnight in either Doolin or Inisheer.
Conclusion
Overall, the trip really is a feast for the senses. Are there many day trips that take in so many varied landscapes in just one day? We highly advise booking the tour well in advance if planning to visit from the months of May to September to avoid disappointment.
The tour is really about both the journey and the destination. There only dull part of the drive was getting stuck in light traffic on the way back into Galway City!
Galway’s best day trip? No doubt in my eyes. Get your tickets here.