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Inishbofin Walks

4.97 miles (8 km)

Open Streetmap This waymarked circular walk follows the Westquarter Loop around the island of Inishbofin off the coast of Connemara, County Galway.
The trail runs for about 8km passing rugged cliffs, a photogenic ruined fort, pretty lakes and stone beaches with fabulous coastal views to enjoy. The island is also great for birdwatching with a wide variety of sea birds to look out for.
You can reach the island by catching the ferry from Cleggan with more details on this link.

Inishbofin Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

For more island walking you could visit Clare Island which you can reach from Roonagh Pier near the small town of Louisburgh. The island has strong associations with the notorious Grace O'Malley, the 'pirate queen' of the 16th century.

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Inishbofin (2410147710)

Inishbofin (derived from the Irish Inis Bó Finne meaning 'Island of the White Cow'). On the island birdwatchers can look out for species such as Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Fulmers, Shags, Guillemots, Common Gulls, greater and lesser Black Backed Gulls, Manx Shearwaters, Herring Gulls and Choughs. Much of the island is a Special Area of Conservation (due to the presence of corn crakes and seals).

Inishbofin Harbour

Inishbofin Harbour

Inishbofin Old Pier 2018 09 03

Inishbofin Old Pier

Inishbofin Cromwell's Barrack II 2018 09 03

Cromwell's Barrack on Port Island at Inishbofin. According to legend, the fort stands on the very spot where a Spanish pirate once built a castle, marking the beginning of centuries of historical significance. Its enduring fame was sealed during a crucial moment in Irish history over three hundred years ago when it became the scene of the final stand of Irish royalist forces against Cromwellian troops in 1652. With its unique star-shaped design from the 17th century, the fort not only reflects the challenges of the past but also stands as a symbol of Inishbofin's resilience.

Inishbofin East End Bay Cleggan Disaster Memorial 2018 09 03

Memorial at East End Bay: “In memory of the fishermen who set out from this beach on the 28th October 1927 nine of whom lost their lives in the Inishbofin/Cleggan disaster.”

Inishbofin Lighthouse II 2018 09 03

Inishbofin Lighthouse

GPS Files

GPX File

Inisbofin.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)