- Visiting the West Coast of Scotland
- This is it!!!
- On the road again
- Back Country – NZ
- NZ update – east coast
- Back Country – very different this time!
- Lake Taupo
- The Coromandel
- Mini-break
- More little adventures – NZ
- Getting out and about again!
- More holidays!!
- A new year of adventures
- The mountain cottage
- Ginny’s visit
- Another visit – Marni and Jodi
- More changes!
- First stop in Canada – Niagara Falls
- Quick visit – Toulouse and Venet les Bains
- Ffald-y-Brenen
- The Cotswolds
- Back in France again!!
- Barcelona
- A much more interesting path – crossing the Irish Sea!
- London to Loxton
- Enniscorthy – a quick visit
- County Donegal
- South Gippsland, Victoria
- Next port of call
- Victorian High Country
- Snowy River Country
- Reindeer Lodge – Tanjil Bren
- Hiccup to Blessing
- Have tent will travel!!
- Family and friends – hugs and kisses
- Road Trip to the West
- Very snail like!
Well we’re back from our little trip to County Donegal – the northernmost county in Ireland. Lots of driving, lots of beautiful scenery. Such variety – rolling green countryside, wide open loughs, narrow waterways, tidal mud flats, cliff tops and headlands, desolate mountain roads, wild windswept landscapes. We saw it all. Had lots of rain while we were away – no bright blue skies or bright blue seas. Overcast and grey – made for some very different photos. A certain moodiness about it all. If you love Ireland get out a map and follow us as we drive along. Enjoy!
Day 1
We left Kilkeel and headed up the middle of Northern Ireland. Passed through Armagh and then stopped for morning tea in Omagh. Very green, lovely countryside. We arrived at Letterkenny late morning, skirted the edge of town, and began our journey along the “Wild Atlantic Way”. The WAW is a tourist trail that follows the coast of western Ireland – a excellent holiday option if someone is planning to visit. We’ve done other sections over the years – County Kerry and County Mayo – both spectacular. We drove up Fanad Peninsular, stopping at the town of Rathmullan. Found a very nice local pub for lunch – the Beachcomber. Lovely views over Lough Swilly, great fish and chips. Free wifi so we got out our laptop and kept tabs on the Crows – our Australian Rules Footy team – as we ate. Fortunately they won so smiles all round! Then it was on to Portsalon with it’s amazing Ballymastocker Beach – voted the second most beautiful beach in the world – and onto Fanad Head to visit the Fanad Head Lighthouse. Wild and windy – nearly blown away. We then just followed the very “wiggly” WAW signs – very distinctive, makes it easy. We wound our way back down the peninsula – the other side this time – and then along Backwater Bay towards Carrickhart. There’s a bit of a theme here – up and down peninsulas and alongside loughs and bays – you’ll get used to it! Then it was on to Downings Beach before heading to our B&B in Creeslough. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay with host Tony – many thanks!
Day 2
The next morning we drove through the town of Dunfanaghy to Horn Head, then looped back along the coast towards the next peninsula – Bloody Foreland. It’s not as bad as it sounds! It’s named after the amazing red colour of the local granite cliffs at sunset, not some horrible battle and loss of life. Gorgeous yellow sand at Meenlaragh Beach – little communities as we drove along. Wild windswept landscapes at Knockfola – another headland exposed to the sea. More driving, more scenery – and yet another peninsula. We stopped at Narin Strand – what a beautiful beach – sea coming from two sides – circling a small island in the bay. Poured with rain while we were there but didn’t dampen our enthusiasm. Also enjoyed the small village of Rossbeg – further along the coast – very isolated, very pretty. We had lunch at Ardara before visiting Assaranca Waterfall – both sit on the northern edge of the Slieve League Peninsula. We then left the WAW and took a backroad up over the mountains. Not sure where we were going – our TomTom was a bit confused with the different spelling of local towns – Irish Gaelic or English. We got directions from a local farmer – he was out checking his sheep – quad bike parked on the side of the road. The Irish are always on for a chat! We met up with the WAW again and wound our way to Marlin Begs – beautiful green headland with a little beach – Silver Strand – at the bottom of it’s cliffs. Very protected little cove. Its sand glimmers like silver when it’s wet, hence it’s name. It was then only a short drive to our Day 2 destination – another B&B. This time near Slieve League – one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe. Stunning!
Day 3
We had a great night at Slieve League House. Enjoyed meeting Ken – another friendly, helpful host. Had a very enjoyable “full Irish breakfast” before heading off. We kept following the WAW. Called into Finta Bay – very steep track to the beach. Interesting information board next to the WAW sign – 80 local fishermen drowned during a storm in 1813. An all too common tale on the Donegal coast. Next was Killybegs – a working fishing town much like Kilkeel. Lovely harbour – lots of boats. Morning tea at Donegal town before we turned south, still following the coast. Stopped to see a very deserted beach near Murvagh; then the very lively Belalt Strand in Rossnowlagh. A big holiday camp in the village, lots of people surfing, running or riding horses on the beach. Variety again! Then it was eastwards, staying off the main roads as much as possible – through Clones, Ballybay, on to Newry, and home. Whew!! A great trip!
Love
Di and Reg
This entry was posted in Europe, Ireland
- Cnoc Fola
- Creeslough
- Donegal
- Fanad Head
- Horn Head
- Killybeg
- lough
- Malin Beg
- Narin Strand
- Rathmullan
- Slieve League
- wild
- windswept
Hello from the US. We just started following you blog at the suggestion of Marion. While she and Alan were visiting here they thought we might like to consider housesitting and caretaking. They also said that you would be the best source of information regarding this lifestyle.
We would appreciate any advice you may have.
Thank you.
Hi Terry and Greg…..very happy to talk to you about house sitting. We use http://www.housecarers.com – we’ve had no problems It’s a good way to see places – somewhere to stay – to make a home – while you investigate the local area. I’ll contact you via your email address. Cheers Di