#aranmore

Upon visiting Aranmore Island, I realize the reason why people have left the island to live elsewhere. It is too far, too isolated from everything else in Ireland. Internet connection is spotty in places and there wasn't even a supermarket. That is life today. It was more difficult back then without modern conveniences. However, I can see the allure of Aranmore. While the landscape can be quite hostile in some places. There are places which a mindblowingly beautiful. To me, Aranmore is a microcosm of Ireland all in a small package. Visitors would be wrong to give this charming island a miss.

Much as I like walking, I dislike walking uphill. Just doing so saps me of my stamina that I can't go on anymore. I was somewhat dismayed seeing that I still need to climb some bit to get to the highest point of Aranmore Island. Cluidaniller West Top or Cnoc an Iolair in Irish, as the hill is called, is the highest point in Aranmore Island. From the parking lot it is actually not that long of a walk to the top of the hill. I took my time since I think I was a bit early finishing up. While the views weren't actually stupdenous. They were still nice. After all, who doesn't like the view from the top.

I really enjoyed the view of the cliffs at Aranmore Island. I know that Donegal has a lot of these scenery but I never get tired of them. I have a fear of heights but it is not so bad that I would get paralyzed by it. I would observe from a safe enough distance that I won't accidentally fall all the way down. Although there weren't a lot of signs here, it was easy enough to find. After all, how can you not miss the amazing cliffs once you drive by them. The lighthouse was a nice little side trip though it didn't seem to be open to visitors either. I thought I should start heading back to the port.

I was truly surprised how much natural beauty that Aranmore Island had to offer. While I would think that I have gotten sued to see such raw natural beauty here in Ireland, it never ceases to surprise me how much it pleases me to see such places. Aranmore Island is also part of the Wild Atlantic Way, which is a driving route from the north of Ireland to the south following the Atlantic coast. There is no bridge connecting Aranmore Island to the mainland but there is a ferry to reach it. I think it is a worthwhile detour from the major sites of the Wild Atlantic Way.

The island of Aranmore is very rustic. In a lot of ways, it feels like it is stuck in time. Although there are no thatched cottages here like they did in the past, the island is so remote that it might as well be an ocean away. There aren't a lot of people who live here, less than six hundred at the last count. It was good enough to have some 3G signal here but some parts don't even receive it. I don't know what is the case when it comes to fiber or wired broadband. I doubt the telecom companies would be care to build expensive infrastructure for sparsely populated areas.

I was treated to an amazing view at Aranmore Island. The Atlantic side of the island is studded with sheer cliffs that can make your jaw drop. While these are no Cliffs of Moher, they could be the closest one in county Donegal. It is difficult to tell how extensive the cliffs are since there was no way for me to walk around the entire place, not to mention that it can be quite dangerous here. I always fear that a rogue wind would push me over the cliff edge and no one would even know about it. So much for such morbid thoughts, I would rather not enjoy the scenery such close to it.

Lough Shore was a nice stopover on the way to the Atlantic Side of Aranmore Island. I got to know more about the history of the island and its people. I mistakenly thought that the lake was already the Atlantic but it couldn't have been since I was quite high above sea level. I finally saw the horizon as the landscape opened up. There was a rough but clearly worn road which lead visitors to the end of the island. I couldn't help but stop along the way to look at the view.

Lough Shore is the largest lake on Aranmore Island. It is located on an elevated area overlooking much of the island. The lake has a curious stone feature which is an almost complete circular wall with the statues of two animals on top of each side. One side has a beaver statue, while the other side has a some animal which I can't identify. This is a memorial to the people who emigrated from Aranmore Island to Beaver Island across the Atlantic in the United States. Apparently there is a story which goes with this.