Flight to Aran Islands
 

We are traveling to Irleland next week and are deciding whether to fly to the Aran Islands or take the ferry. Just wondering if anyone has done this and what their experience was like especially on a plane so small! And if you did fly, was it raining - also worried about possibility of flight being canceled.

Thanks!

I have not flown, but have seen the flights come in. A bit iffy for my tastes, but I would do it (if I wasn't always traveling with folks that hate flying little planes!) :) We took the ferry both times - once from Doolin and once from Rossaveal. The Doolin was a longer trip to Inis Mor, and while the winds were very high on the Rossaveal trip, it worked fine.

Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ8l9...eature=related

If the weather is bad enough to cause the flight to Inishmore to be cancelled, you probably don't want to go there at that time anyway. The point of being on Inishmore is to be outdoors seeing the fabulous sights and scenery.

We thought about going there - but it rained everyday we were there, so decided not to go. We would have taken the ferry. Plus another reader had told me that it really takes up the whole day and I didn't want to devote a whole day to the island. I'm sure it is beautiful in nice weather.

We actually stayed there two nights on our last trip, and as I said, the winds were high both when we went over on the ferry, and when we came back. We actually came back a little earlier than we had planned, in fear that the winds would be too bad, but we were just being cautious. The full day we had there, however, was glorious. We stayed at the Man of Aran Cottage B&B, not far from Dun Aengosa, and climbed up at 9am - wind and sun and no one else greeted us, we had the place to ourselves! Then we rode bikes around the island... delightful day!

I have done both ferry and flight. The plane is small and is like sitting in a van (as far as I remember about 7 or 9 people sitting pretty close together. Certainly doesnt feel as secure as getting on a 747 ! ! The good news was that even if you feel a bit nervous you dont have time to think about it as you are barely up in the air when it starts coming down again. I found the return much easier and even managed to look out at the amazing scenery. The advantage of flying is that you obviously get there very quickly and it is an experience. If you are tight on time the flight is best way to go. If you get there and it is cancelled you can just drive on to Rossaveal and get the ferry, or, if the weather is really bad, carry on to somewhere else. One point to remember, I have been to the Aran Islands many times and often left Galway in lashing rain to find the sun shining down when we got to Inishmore.

I've done both a number of times - the flight was painless As mentioned the planes are very small, but it's over so quickly you hardly have time to panic. The ferry can be choppy and I've had a few terrible crossings by ferry, but I am prone to seasickness. My personal preference is to fly.

We flew on one of these small twin prop planes in August of 2008, and what a great experience! Since I am a general aviation pilot, and they are not required to use a co-pilot on this size of plane....guess what...I got to sit in the co-pilot seat both over and back! The equipment was up to date, and the pilot very professional and did well! He didn't offer to let me fly, though!

If I remember right it was a 10-12 passenger plane, 1 row of seats on each side of the isle. Our only complaint: My wife got stuck all the way in the back of the plane on the way back to Galway airport, and was sitting accross the isle from an Islander who obviously was in the sheep ranching business....cause she said it really stunk...like sheep poo! Not the airline's fault, though.

We chose this method of travel because my wife and I both get sea-sick. We lucked out...by taking the 1st flight of the day to the island, we were there over an hour before all the multitudes of tourists arrived on the boats...so we were first in line for the shuttle, the van to the fort, and we darned near had the entire fort to ourselves! There was one other couple, and single there besides us. As we left the fort, the boat people were arriving in droves! So I would say that was worth it all in itself.

I wouldn't be a bit worried about flying...you know what they say: "the most dangerous part of an airplane ride...is the drive to the airport!" Statistically, you are safer in a plane than a motorized vehicle!

rvflyer

I took the ferry and it was choppy as heck going over -- on the way back I went down below!

LOVED being in the islands and can't recommend it enough -- lovely, sunny weather and glorious scenery.