A few weeks ago Leprechaun suggested a run up to Arranmore Island. Never having been there before I went along for the spin.
Arranmore Island (Árainn Mhór in Irish) lies 3 miles off the coast from Burtonport and is the largest inhabited island in County Donegal, and the second largest in all of Ireland.
I met the others in Aughnacloy and we headed off for Burtonport. There were six bikes on the run up to Castlefin where we met up with Declan before heading for the ferry.
At €20 return for a bike and rider the ferry may be considered to be a bit on the expensive side, but it would prove to be well worthwhile.
Leprechaun boarding the ferry.
The ferry was built in Port Glasgow in Scotland and is of indeterminate age.
There is also a fast ferry for foot passengers only. It makes the crossing in only 5 minutes.
On our way out to the island we spotted the Irish Lights vessel Granuaile making her way out to sea to replace or repair marker bouys.
There are very few roads on the island. A circular ring-road of about 7 miles in length with a few wee local access roads leading off from it. There are some good views looking back at the mainland as you ride away from the ferry.
Arran Island is closely connected with Beaver Island on Lake Michigan in the USA. It seems that a lot of emmigrants from Arran ended up there and goes some way to explaining this sign on the way to the northern part of the isle.
We rode up to a lighthouse at the northern tip of the island where we took a break then spotted an interesting looking track along the clifftops.
The views from the track were beautiful and the cliffs quite high.
We spent about four hours on the island exploring all the roads and had lunch before taking the ferry back to the mainland.
A grand day out with great company and another 300 miles knocked up on the GS.
Some shots of our group on Arran;
Leprechaun & his brother Sham
Declan
Pat & Liz
The Big Fella enjoying himself
A good chance for me to practice my off-road riding before going to the PRC run.
No pics of Dibbles though.
Sorry Maurice. 
Arranmore Island (Árainn Mhór in Irish) lies 3 miles off the coast from Burtonport and is the largest inhabited island in County Donegal, and the second largest in all of Ireland.
I met the others in Aughnacloy and we headed off for Burtonport. There were six bikes on the run up to Castlefin where we met up with Declan before heading for the ferry.
At €20 return for a bike and rider the ferry may be considered to be a bit on the expensive side, but it would prove to be well worthwhile.
Leprechaun boarding the ferry.
The ferry was built in Port Glasgow in Scotland and is of indeterminate age.
There is also a fast ferry for foot passengers only. It makes the crossing in only 5 minutes.
On our way out to the island we spotted the Irish Lights vessel Granuaile making her way out to sea to replace or repair marker bouys.
There are very few roads on the island. A circular ring-road of about 7 miles in length with a few wee local access roads leading off from it. There are some good views looking back at the mainland as you ride away from the ferry.
Arran Island is closely connected with Beaver Island on Lake Michigan in the USA. It seems that a lot of emmigrants from Arran ended up there and goes some way to explaining this sign on the way to the northern part of the isle.
We rode up to a lighthouse at the northern tip of the island where we took a break then spotted an interesting looking track along the clifftops.
The views from the track were beautiful and the cliffs quite high.
We spent about four hours on the island exploring all the roads and had lunch before taking the ferry back to the mainland.
A grand day out with great company and another 300 miles knocked up on the GS.
Some shots of our group on Arran;
Leprechaun & his brother Sham
Declan
Pat & Liz
The Big Fella enjoying himself
A good chance for me to practice my off-road riding before going to the PRC run.
No pics of Dibbles though.
Sorry Maurice. 
