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Cycling the Aran Islands Ireland: A Late-Season Adventure
Looking for authentic cycling tours in Ireland that go beyond the typical routes? Sometimes the best way to understand why we love what we do is to share it. Here's what happened when I took my son cycling on Inishmore in late September...
There are a few quiet joys that come with running a cycling tour company in Ireland. One of them is this: every so often, when the weather turns kind and the season slows down just enough, I get the chance to escape for a night and reconnect with some of my favourite places on the west coast of Ireland.
This year, that moment arrived in late September. The forecast looked good, so I took my 11-year-old son, Killian, out of school for a day, and we set off to the port of Rossaveal to catch the morning ferry to Inishmore. The island is the largest of the Aran Islands, and one of the true gems of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Why Late September is Perfect for Cycling Tours in Ireland's Islands
By late September, Inis Mór settles into a lovely relaxed state and I love to visit at the end of the season. The ferry queues shorten. The horse-and-cart drivers chat more freely. You hear more Irish spoken. It feels like the whole island exhales a bit, and so did we. There is still enough people around to give it a nice buzz, and there is a palpable sense amongst the locals of another season coming to and end, with the quieter months approaching. This combined with the gradual, yet noticeable change in the seasons, give a feel of a life cycle change approaching.
We stayed at Pier House, one of our long-standing partners, and spent the afternoon cycling to places we had never been before. Despite many visits down through the years, the island is such a twisted maze of walls and paths, there is always something new to discover. This year, we cycle to an ancient fort called Dún Eochla, built around 1,400 years ago and home to the local chieftain who controlled the surrounding land. It's position, at almost the highest part of the island, gives commanding views over almost the whole island, including Connemara to the north and the Burren to the east.
The Unexpected Swim
Getting to experience this with my son is the absolute best. Cycling almost a full lap of the island, on returning ht email village of Kilronan, with visions of a hearty meal in the Joe Watty', with the golden sun, we suddenly found ourselves at a stretch of sheltered of coast, the sun about an hour from setting, when Killian spotted a perfect patch of clear, glassy water.
"I'll go in if you go in," he said.
He dipped a hand in the water first and told me it wasn't too bad. This, I later discovered, was a lie.
He leapt in, resurfaced with a grin, and shouted that it was "lovely!" So in I followed, and it felt like being hit by a thousand tiny icicles. He thought this was hilarious.
But standing there afterwards, wrapped in towels with the evening light stretching across the bay, I realised it was one of those small, ordinary moments that will stay with me for years.
Cycling Inis Mór: A Different Side of Ireland
Late-season cycling on the Aran Islands has a charm of its own. The roads are quieter, the air sharper, and the Atlantic horizon somehow wider. The locals have more time to talk. The pubs feel cosier. It's a brilliant time to explore places like:
- Dún Aonghasa — iconic, dramatic, and nearly empty this time of year.
- The Black Fort — wild, windswept, and worth every pedal stroke.
- Kilmurvey Beach — golden sand and calm water on the right day.
- Small craft shops where you can find Aran jumpers, pottery, and handmade gifts.
And of course, there's Watty's (Joe Watty's Bar & Restaurant). We had lunch… and then we had dinner there too. The food is as good as ever, with staff in great form and plenty of locals mixing in with the last waves of visitors.
This year I also noticed Aran Island Gin, infused with local seaweed, and the island's own whisky wrapped in a woollen Aran sweater sleeve. Completely unnecessary and completely brilliant.
Why We Design Cycling Tours Ireland Around Moments Like These
This is exactly the kind of experience that shaped how we build our cycling tours in Ireland. Not just ticking off landmarks, but creating space for discovery, for conversation with locals, for that unexpected swim when the moment feels right. The Aran Islands in late September offer everything we love about cycling Ireland's west coast—dramatic landscapes, rich culture, and roads quiet enough to hear the Atlantic and your own thoughts.
Whether you're cycling the Aran Islands, exploring Connemara, or pedaling through the Burren, late September through early October offers some of the best conditions for cycling tours Ireland has to offer. Fewer crowds, stunning light, and locals who actually have time to share their stories.
If you'd like to experience this yourself, we'd love to help you plan your own cycling adventure.