Ireland’s stunning landscapes and numerous beautiful islands make it a must-visit destination for outdoor activities and breathtaking landscapes. And best restaurant are also here….
1. Cape Clear Island
Cape Clear Island offers a little bit of everything and a lot of something special. From the prehistoric standing stones to the breathtaking views around South Harbour, the exquisite gardens at South Comolane, and the Cape Clear Distillery, this small island packs a powerful punch.
You can travel here in 40 minutes or 25 minutes by passenger boat, and you might even see a whale along the route. Once on the island, you may either walk or take a taxi around the entire thing.
CáitChrainn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
2. Inis Oirr, Galway
Inis Mór, Inis Meáin, and Inis Orr, the three Aran Islands located further south, all have small beaches, honeycomb-like stone walls, and swaths of limestone. These features give the islands a surreal appearance. The charm of Inis Orr, the smallest of the three, is unmatched.
It even has its own beer, Inis Beer, and a tough island dolphin named Dusty that swims into the bay almost daily (and doesn’t like tourists going too close to her). To leave without trying some of the Man of Aran Shack’s freshly made fudge would be a mistake because its tiger butter flavor is legendary.
3. Valentia Island
This island is filled with breathtaking natural beauty and is connected to the village of Portmagee via a bridge. Bray Head’s stunning, desolate cliffs dominate its western portion, offering breathtaking views of the coastline as well as a variety of lush, vibrant vegetation. Astonishing 360-degree views of Dingle, the Blaskets, Kerry’s mountains, and the Atlantic, as far as the eye can see, can be seen from the Geokaun Mountain and Fogher Cliffs.
Divers may find numerous dive spots on the island, including Bray Head, Valentia Harbour, Knightstown Pier, and Doulos Head, in the nearby waters, which are also well-known for diving.
4. Achill Island
Achill Island, the largest of the Irish Isles, is home to blue-flag beaches, soaring sea cliffs, and a breathtaking landscape. The island is easily accessible for a day trip or longer, if you like, and is connected to the mainland by a bridge. Croaghaun and Slievemore mountains are ideal for avid hikers and offer breathtaking views from the peaks. Achill Island also boasts Keem Bay, one of Ireland’s most stunning beaches, and Carrickkildavnet Castle, a fortified tower house and National Monument.
5. Isle of Mull
The Isle of Skye consistently tops lists for its natural beauty, but it is so heavily traveled and overrun with tourists that we have chosen to stay on Mull, a smaller, neighboring island in the Inner Hebrides. The island, which is something of a Mecca for walkers, has some of Scotland’s most diverse landscapes, ranging from stunning snow-white beaches to sharp, blackened basalt crags.
Even outside of its vibrantly colored city, Tobermory, and the simple day trips to Staffa and Iona, Mull has much to draw travelers. There are eagles in the sky, whales in the sea, and four decaying castles sprinkled along the coast.
6. Ireland’s Eye
In County Dublin, Ireland’s Eye is situated to the north of the little fishing community of Howth. It is currently deserted and measures 2 acres. The name “Ireland’s Eye” is a combination of the girl’s name Eria, which, through time, came to be mistaken for both the Viking name Ey and the Irish term for Ireland, Éireann. Therefore, Éireann Ey changed to Ireland’s Eye.
The island is home to gulls, guillemots, razorbills, and fulmars, among other seabirds. The area around the island is home to countless nesting pairs of puffins as well as many gray seals.
7. Blasket Island
A lonely and unspoiled piece of heaven, Blasket Island offers excellent hiking, birdwatching, and marine life-watching opportunities. Although the island has high topography and harsh weather, the spectacular natural beauty and tranquility that travelers experience make up for these drawbacks. Along with exploring the island, visitors can take a marine eco-cruise to see whales and dolphins. When the weather is clear, the 7-hour expedition also rewards adventurers with stunning island views.
8. Aran Islands
Ireland’s most well-known island, the Aran Islands, is home to about 1,200 people. Three rocky islands make up the Aran Islands, which are situated in western Ireland at the mouth of Galway Bay. These islands, which lie 18 kilometers from Ireland’s west coast, are well-known for their historic sites, which contain the country’s oldest archaeological relics, their long-standing customs, and their distinctively rocky marine beauty.
Several must-see tourist attractions can be found on the Aran Islands, including the 14th-century O’Brien Castle, Teampull Bheanáin Church, and Fort Dun Aengus. In actuality, the well-known Aran sweater or Irish sweater, produced from native virgin wool, had its beginnings on the Aran Islands.
9. Sherkin Island
From Baltimore, a passenger ferry will take you to Sherkin Island. The beauties of Sherkin are all yours after a short 15-20-minute port-to-port trip. History, romance, adventure, and a ton of breathtaking beauty are all available here.
Visit the remnants of a Franciscan abbey and the castle of Clan O’Driscoll, or take a stroll down one of the many paths that wind through the island’s colorful flowerbeds and steep stonewall banks.
MrCorman, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A photographer’s paradise includes the beach at Silver Strand or the dramatic Cow Strand, as well as the breathtaking Horseshoe Harbour and a vantage point that offers views of the sea and islands close to Clomacow.
10. Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael is an island 12 kilometers off the coast of Kerry that became well-known after appearing in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It was once the site of a monastic community from the sixth century and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site that can only be reached by boat.
Due to the island’s protection, only 180 visitors are permitted there each day. By scheduling an island excursion leaving from Portmagee, you can travel to the island. Because it is incredibly popular, reserve your tickets far in advance.
