Beginning and ending in Kilronan, this one day journey visits four of the Dun Forts stone sites on Inishmoor, the largest island of the three Aran Islands.of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides archipelago in Scotland.
Sites to be Visited
Dun Eoghanachta
Dun Aengus (Dun Aonghasa)
Dum Eochla
Dun Duchathair
Journey to the Dun Forts of Aran Stone Sites
The Four sites listed here may be visited in one day as the entire route is only 9.1 miles (14.7 km).
Our journey departs from Kilronan, the only town of any size on Inishmoor, located at (L883095)
Our first Dun to visit is Dun Eoghanachta, 5.1 miles (8.3km) from Kilronan and located at (L812114). Dun Eoghanachta, pronounced "Onacht", is most interesting for the remains of the clochan (beehive huts) that it encloses. It is probably Iron Age, dating orginaslly from the 5th Century A.D. Detailed Driving Directions Map
Our next Dun fort, Dun Aengus (Dun Aonghasa) is the most famous of all the dun forts on Aran, as it is by far the largest and it dramatically sits on the edge of high cliffs. It was built during the Bronze Age - from 1,000 B.C. or before. The fort consists of a series of four concentric wallsand an area containing chevaux-de-frise -- sharp pieces of limestone to prevent attacks. Only 2.3 miles (3.6 km) away, it is located at (L818098). Detailed Driving Directions Map.
Our third Dun to visit is Dun Eochla, located at (L863098) and 4 miles (6.4km) away. Consisting of two series of walls, which with the stone hut in the enclosure, it has been estimated that Dun Eochla was built sometime between 550 and 800 A.D. and was the dwelling place for an extended family and their animals. (L8707). It consists of a terraced wall surrounding the remains of some early dwelling houses known as Clocháns(stone houses). Detailed Driving Directions Map
To end our journey, we return to Kilronan 1.7 miles (2.7 km) away. Detailed Driving Directions Map
1.7 miles (2.7km)
Visitors Information
Information on the many Aran Islands Dun fortssites may be found at the
Megalithic Portal website. General tourist information may be found at the Aran Islands Tourism website.
Disclaimer
As of the date of this posting, road directions and conditions are correct. Please check local road conditions, however, for possible changes prior to venturing forth on this journey. A helpful resource for road changes and possible trip interruptions if you are travelling in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland is the AA-UK Route Planner. Another map source that this website uses and that may be useful to you on your journeys is Streemap UK.
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