Arcadia Ireland

This weeks marks the official start of Spring, meaning Ireland is entering its best season. Trading in our rain boots for our hiking shoes, there are dozens of must see and do outdoor activities on the Emerald Isle in Spring, but here are a few of the very best:

Inismór (Aran Islands, County Galway): Situated in the Galway Bay are three rocky isles known as the Aran Islands (you may have heard of the Aran sweaters, which are made of wool and named for the fisherman in the area that wear them). Each of the Isles is known for its prehistoric structures, and Inismór (the largest of the islands) is home to the world heritage site Dun Aonghasa, which is located on the 300ft cliff side (south side) of Inismór, It is a semi circular stone fort over looking the Atlantic with fantastic views down the length of the isle. If you are going to Galway, a day trip to Inismór is a perfect way to round out your weekend. Bus Eireann 424 travels between Galway city center and the Port of Rossaveal which has ferries to Inismór. You can also take a shuttle bus from Galway City to Port Rossaveal, more information on how to travel and ferry schedules is available here.

Ballincollig Park and Cork City Walks: Ballincollig Park is accessible via Bus 220 from Cork City center. Formerly a Gunpowder manufacturing Mill throughout the 19^th century, the land ownership was transferred to Cork City Council in the late 20^th century and it is now a widely popular public park fit for walks, cycles, and site seeing as the original buildings and canals are still present. More information about Ballincollig Park is available here. Additionally, Cork City Council in collaboration with the Department of Transport, Tourism, and Sport has curated a series of cultural walking trails throughout Cork that are perfect for the Spring weather. Find out more about the trails here.

Cave Hill Hike (Belfast): Several busses from Belfast City center can transport you the short way to Belfast castle where the Cave Hill hike begins. Reaching the summit takes 1.5-2 hours and the views at the top of Belfast are absolutely stunning. Be sure to wear shoes with a good profile as the walk can be steep in some places, but is well worth it! More information is available here.

Glendalough (County Wicklow, featured in picture):  Found in the heart of County Wicklow, Glendalough is home to an ancient ‘Monastic city’ founded in the 6^th century. Travelers can walk through the glen and spot ancient stone churches and watch towers. Additionally, those wanting to enhance their views can participate in the Glendalough hike which rewards those that reach the summit with spectacular views of the ancient city and beautiful county Wicklow. There is a bus that runs from Dublin City center to Glendalough daily. More information how to get to Glendalough can be found here.

Taking the opportunity to see some of the natural attractions of Ireland is an absolute must for any long term visitors who want to truly understand its cultural beauty. Arcadia’s trip to rural Ireland is the highlight of our program for students and doing even one of these additional activities only stands to enhance ones experience on the Emerald Isle, and these activities are all accessible by either public transport or shuttle. For now, don’t forget to tag us in your adventures with #arcadiaireland to be featured on our Instagram page. Cheers!