Fishing

Arranmore island provides both excellent game and sea angling. There are two freshwater lakes which contain brown trout. Lock Shore is the only lake in Europe where rainbow trout breed naturally. Shore angling is excellent while boats for sea angling can be hired through the hotel. The waters around the island provide sea fish in abundance
including cod, ling, conger eel, pollock, wrasse, skate, turbot and plaice.

Diving

While the main beaches are at Aphort, beside the hotel, and Leabgarrow, there are many other small and secluded beaches around the island. The dive sites around Arranmore are the best available off the Donegal coast with many sheltered shores. As a general rule if you can get access to the exposed western side of Arranmore go there, keeping the sheltered sites for when the westerlies blow. The crystal clear waters, shipwrecks, drift dives and varied marine life provide marvellous snorkelling and scuba diving. Easy access by sea as well as available moorings for yachts and cruises make Arranmore a “must” stop over.

Walking

Arranmore is an island of varied and natural beauty with beaches, rocks, bogs and mountainous terrain with cliffs falling to the sea. There are numerous signed and designated walks with many marine caves and stacks carved from solid rock giving a spectacular cliff coastline and excellent coastal scenery. The mountainous land and bog is very rocky and there are many small lakes.

Walking over Cluidaniller Hill at 226m. and the highest point on the island, there is an excellent view of the whole western seaboard of Donegal including from Glen Head to Tory Island. While walking the islands 7 square miles continue out to the light house at Rinrawros Point on the north western tip of the island and then follow the spectacular cliffs around the northern edge to Tourmakeady Point back to the ferry port (14 km., 300m. ascent).

Cycling

Just as the island is popular for walking so to is cycling equally popular. Bikes may be hired at the port and both the peripheral and the internal routes are cycled. All the scenery as described in our walking section above is available to the cyclist. Complete the exciting and varied tour of the island and return to the hotel for refreshments and relaxation.

Wildlife

The island has a unique collection of wildlife inhabitants. Many land based animals are absent from the island and these include foxes, hares, badgers, hedgehogs, stoats, frogs and squirrels. With the absence of many of their natural predators, bird life has flourished and they live and breed with relative ease on the island. Each year a large number and a big variety of birds can be seen on the island. The rare snowy owl was spotted in the recent past and the island is also an attraction for those interested in plants, insects and fish.

Culture

Arranmore island has been inhabited since prehistoric times and may well have been one of Donegal's first coastal population centres. Archaeological sites on the island have been dated to the Early Iron Age (800 B.C) and the island was home to a number of Gaelic chieftains. Many of the old Gaelic traditions are still practised today and can be seen and heard on a visit to the island. Taisce Arainn was founded to promote the Irish language and cultural activities on Arranmore They endeavour to create an enjoyable environment where language and culture are accessible to those with an interest in Ireland, its language and traditions. They provide a number of courses and activities suited to a wide range of tastes and abilities, while enabling participants to experience the beauty of the island. Colaiste Arainn Mhoir was founded 40 years ago to teach and spread the love of the Irish language amongst the youth of Ireland. The Colaiste provides expertly run courses during the summer.