Breath-taking scenery, great walks, historical sites, and a singular pub - Inis Meáin is literally at the heart of the Aran Islands off Galway and remains a relatively quiet gem. Inis Meáin is both spiritually and geographically the middle island of the Aran Islands, and it is well known the larger Inis Mór and smaller Inis Oírr – which sit each side – receive far more visitors each year than the middle island of Inis Meáin. Definitely the quietest and a personal favorite for those in the know, due to the great walks, minor trails and historical sites sprinkled around the island.
Many locals will also tell you that it's the somewhat distant location of the pier and airport that compounds the island's dearth of visitors – is this such a bad thing? It is a trek back to the center of the island and perhaps takes about 10 minutes to the main hub of activity, which is, in essence, the local church, the singular pub, and the local food store. But if staying overnight, the respective accommodation hosts will dispatch someone to collect you at the pier or airport. An overnight stay is really the only way to capture the true essence of this scenic island.
Sign up to IrishCentral's newsletter to stay up-to-date with everything Irish! Such solitude is no bad thing for those of you looking for that ideal getaway. Inis Meáin is host to a maze of threadlike winding roads, sheltered paths and trails that haphazardly criss-cross the island, from the rocky hillsides of the s.