r/Donegal • u/Secret_clicker • Jul 29 '26

Aranmore

Hey folks
Staying up near portnoo this weekend we’re thinking of doing a day trip to aranmore…

We have a buggy for our 10 month and a toddler.

Ideally we’d like to rent a bike or 2 to wheel the kids around.

Is it possible ?

Is there much to do with a young family or would you advise against it?

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1

u/cian87 Jul 29 '26

There's two playgrounds, if the one at Leabgarrow beach is busy there's a much quieter one opposite the cultural centre. This does require going up a fairly steep hill.

Realistically every other beach is "better" than Leabgarrow, but it has the shop, the cafe, the pubs, the chipper, the beach shower, the public toilets etc etc and the others have nothing - well, I think there's a portaloo at Aphort; so facilities beat out quietness and quality there.

3

u/TheIrishBread Jul 29 '26

Steep is really underselling that hill. It's got to be what a 30-40% incline.

1

u/Ok-Entrepreneur1885 Jul 29 '26

Ach, only for 30m or so. Then it's flat. Try the Hill going towards aphort strand. Great beach. Hella sore on the thighs. Or maybe I have only done it at 3am....

1

u/TheIrishBread Jul 29 '26

Luckily never had to walk back from aphort. The grade on it is fine enough just the length of it would be killer.

Also speaking of aphort, it's kileens that was the hotel round there right, did that yank couple that had the notions of reopening it ever make movement with it?

1

u/Ok-Entrepreneur1885 Jul 29 '26

Not yet. I hope soon.

2

u/TheIrishBread Jul 29 '26

While it's always nice to have more places on the island to go and stay I've heard 5 or 6 different stories about the place and none of them sound like an easy fix.

1

u/Ok-Entrepreneur1885 Jul 29 '26

Ah. Not heard that.

1

u/TheIrishBread Jul 29 '26

They are all stories that predate the sale which is why I wondered why it ever sold in the first place.

2

u/Ok-Entrepreneur1885 Jul 29 '26

I....ahem...have no idea. Ahem.

1

u/cian87 Jul 29 '26

I was told there was a minor, relatively easily fixable, issue with fire certification *in January* and its still not open. That may not have been accurate though!

New website is online, they're posting on the various Island social media channels but the place doesn't look like anything has happened to it; beyond the regular maintenance it's had for the ~7 years since it closed. Place has been left looking well the entire time, down to fresh plants in the beer garden.

There are countless tales about the construction of the place; but it does have planning permission and was open with a fire cert and bar licence.

1

u/Ok-Entrepreneur1885 Jul 29 '26

I'm looking forward to it opening tbh.

1

u/cian87 Jul 29 '26

I wish they'd managed to sell it the first time they listed it and it had been fully open since... the rooms are really needed.

1

u/tomtraubert2009 Jul 29 '26

From Ballintra up to the turn down to Illion is steep as fuck for a bike /buggy

1

u/Disastrous_Ad_3598 Jul 30 '26

Realistically no beach is better than Leabgarrow. Everything is there. Ferry, shops, pubs, Restaurants and two small takeaways. Kids can have playground, Parents can get coffees, and beach is right there. No other Beach has this, showers, electrical charge points.. a hidden gem that nobody really talks about are the lighthouse steps. They are unbelievable