Off Cork’s coast, Bere, Dursey and Cape Clear - Oileán Chléire all have looped walks ranging from the 6km Rerrin route on Bere to the 14km loop on Dursey, which you’ll access by cable car!
If you’re visiting Donegal’s islands, don’t miss Tory’s 4km loop where you can imagine a history of shipwrecks and poitín smuggling. As for Arranmore, sites of interest on its 14km route range from promontory forts to the craggy summit of Cnoc an Iolair.
Clare Island in Mayo boasts the Fawnglass (3km) and Knocknaveen (8km) loops which tap into heritage that includes Cistercian Abbey ruins and Bronze Age cooking sites. One of Inishturk’s two loops, Lough Coolaknick Loop (5km) will introduce you to the island’s wild birds and archaeological treasures while Achill’s Dooagh Loop will bring you to spectacular Keem Bay.
Walking highlights on Galway’s islands include Inishbofin’s two loop walks, the 8km Westquarter Loop is a great choice. It takes in views of blowholes, a sea arch and sea stacks where a seal colony can be seen. The Aran Islands boast a number of loop walks including the 14km Lúb Chill Mhuirbhigh which passes Teampaill Chiaráin on Árainn, Lub Ceathru an Locha (8km) on Inis Oírr, which passes O’Brien’s Castle, and the 10km Lub Cill Cheannannach walk on Inis Meáin; it visits Dún Chonchúir and Teampall na Seacht Mac Rí (church of the seven sons of the king), this was once a place of pilgrimage for all of Connacht.
You can choose to explore these islands on foot either independently or with an activity operator. One such operator Connemara Safari offers island hopping walking holidays to Clare Island, Inishbofin and Inishturk