The Westquarter Loop follows Inishbofin’s rugged coastline, passing sea-spray blowholes, high cliffs and the ruins of the promontory fort of Dún Mór. The island offers coastal scenery, protected nature and island history as distinct areas of interest. If you’re looking for accommodation, you can first consider whether walking trails, historic sites or both will shape your stay.
Coastal Landscapes and Protected Nature
The Inishbofin and Inishshark protected area is designated as a Special Area of Conservation. Its qualifying interests include coastal lagoons, oligotrophic waters with very low mineral content on sandy plains, North Atlantic wet heaths, European dry heaths and grey seals. The protected area therefore includes a variety of habitats and one animal species; the grey seal is also listed in Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive. A breeding colony of grey seals lives in the area.
Lough Bofin is an excellent example of an isolated sedimentary lagoon with a shingle barrier. The Westquarter Loop offers a different coastal perspective: alongside Loch Bofin, the route passes a stony beach and the aforementioned cliffs and caves.
Inishbofin has two beaches awarded the Green Coast Award, suitable for sea swimming and relaxation. Snorkelling is also among the activities described: Inishbofin’s Blueways offer an opportunity to try it. These beach and water activities complement the coastal walks with other ways to experience the island.
Circular Walks and Guided Hikes
There are three official circular walking trails in total on Inishbofin. Alongside the Westquarter Loop, the Cloonamore Loop runs for a stretch beside a sandy beach and passes the ruins of St Colman’s Church. The descriptions of the two routes highlight different features: the Westquarter Loop follows the rugged coastline, while the Cloonamore Loop is noted for its sandy beach and church ruins. Check local conditions before setting out.
One official circular walk on Inishbofin passes through historic landscapes dating from the Iron Age and Bronze Age. This extends the walking experience beyond coastal scenery to include traces of the island’s distant past. If you’d like to focus more on these landscapes and historic sites, you can factor the circular walks into your daily plans accordingly.
The guided walks run by Inishbofin Walking Tours are led by a local historian and archaeologist. This is another way to combine walking with history and archaeology. The tours differ from exploring the official circular walks independently; which option best suits your stay depends on whether you’d prefer a guided hike or one of the routes described.
Forts, Museum and Church History
Cromwell’s Barracks is a star-shaped artillery fort built around 1656. It later served as a prison for captured Catholic clergy. These details describe different phases of its use: the fort was built as a military installation and later took on another historical role.
The Inishbofin Heritage Museum was established in 1998 in the building known as “the store” at the old pier. Its exhibits include furnishings from traditional island homes and tools used in fishing, farming and crafts. There are also more than 200 photographs of local people. The museum therefore focuses both on objects from different areas of work and on photographic glimpses of the people of the area.
The original monastic site of St Colman is also part of the island’s history; a stone chapel ruin now stands there. The monastic site dates from the 14th century; this date refers to the site, not definitively to the surviving chapel itself. When visiting the ruins, consider the church as a surviving structure, not as a designated interior visit.
Music and the Focus of Your Trip
Music sessions on Inishbofin bring together local musicians and those who have travelled to the island. Together with the historic sites, walking trails and natural features, they offer a choice of different interests rather than a single prescribed sightseeing itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Ballyconneely, Clifden, Drumkeary, Kilronan, Ballynahinch, Clonbur, Furbo, Inishmore.
For the broader travel overview: Galway.
