Month: June 2018

Another shower this morning so that will have to do for a couple of days.

Set off at 8:30 north along the R314. Stopped at Killala which has a drive on beach also used for horse racing during the summer. In 1798 1000 French troops landed here in an attempt to start an Irish rebellion.

On to Downpatrick Head which is a sea stack off the coast. No health and safety here. Straight off the cliff into the sea. Pretty spectacular sight. There were quite a few fishermen fishing off the cliff tops. I stayed well clear of the edge.

On to Ceide Fields which is a Neolithic historic site. Just a bunch of rocks to me!!!!!!

continued west on to Mhuirhead peninsula down to the fishing village of Blacksod. Interesting collection of lobster pots homemade from plastic Jerry cans..

Back towards Bangor with a detour to Ramhar beach for the night.

Woke up early this morning. The only campervan on the beach at Fintragh Bay. Around 6:30 about 15 girls arrived on the beach for a run and exercise class. Bloody mad at that time of the morning.

Stopped at Killybegs to have a look at the fishing boats. This is the largest fleet of fishing boats in Ireland. They all looked pretty modern. Brexit will sort this lot out. On to Donegal town to call in at the tourist information office to pick up a map of the wild Atlantic way. Job done.

On down the N15 but took a detour to have a look at Rossnowlagh beach which is 3 miles long. Cars allowed on Through Bundoran  which is quite a holiday town with another good beach.

Continued to Sligo but did not stop as it looked very busy and took the N59 west to a small town called Ballina which was heaving with people. I’d booked into a camp site there for the night and a good shower. Got lost but eventually found the site which was nowhere near the location on the camp book I’d picked up.

Watched the fishing boats go out to sea before heading off from Dunfanagh.

Started south along the Wild Atlantic Way which is fast becoming the Willy Wobbley Way due to the Swiss and turns of the roads. Down the N56 before cutting off east on two small loops. Took some photographs of the Bolldy Foreland named after the red granite and not a famous battle!!!!!

On down the N56 but turned off east at Ardara to visit an unnamed waterfall. Impressive. Ardara is the capital of the tweed industry in Donegal.

Down some minor roads to Malin Bay which is supposed to have some high cliffs. Could not find them but the bay was worth the visit.

Turned east from there towards Killybegs but pulled off at a signed beach called Fintragh Bay. I’ll stay the night here. Plucked up the courage and went for a swim in the sea. Relatively warm which was a surprise.

At 9:30 this morning it was 22deg C!!!!!!!!

Left Inch Island around 8 am heading west along the N13. First major road I’d been on in the south. Interesting!! There is a lane as per normal but also half a lane on the left hand side marked by yellow dotted markings. The idea is that you pull onto the yellow portion when you see a car coming up behind you. This would be much to complicated for England.

Anyway headed north through Letterkenny along the coast to Rathmullan where I got lost but ended up overlooking Portsalon. Possibly the best beach I’ve seen so far. Not one person on it.

From there over to Milford and up to Carraig Art. All the place names are in Gaelic now. Stopped for lunch at Dunfanaghtyand had a stroll along the beach for an hour. People out riding horses and bathing. I decided to have an early stop and headed west to a place called Min Larach which had a small harbour and a horse shoe beach. It also had a motor home park so that will do me for the night.

thankfully woke to an overcast sky. Perhaps a bit cooler today.

Headed to Coleraine for supplies. Needed at last. Then west along the A2 towards Londonderry but decided not to go in. Turned off into the Inisshown peninsular. Going north passed through Muff and Moville. On to Culdaft which has a fantastic beach. They are just getting better. Going north stopped for lunch at Marlin Head. No Marlins in view but it’s the most northern point in Ireland. Mobile coffee shop to hand!!!!

using side roads made my way to Ballyliffin. Right, listen up. The Irish golf open is there in July. I have never seen anything so rediculus in all my life. It’s stucj in the middle of nowhere with one road in and one road out. Madness. But I must say it’s got a fantastic beach on a bay. Impressive.

on to Buncrana. You may remember that John Newton who shopped here was inspired to write Amazing Grace.  1748. Good fact.

i was going to carry on to Letterkenny but found a wild camping site on Inch island right on the beach front. Happy boy!!!!!

Im beached out!!!!!!!!! If you want to see beaches this is the place to come,. Some as far as the eye can see. I set off again for the Carrick A Rede rope bridge early as it was too busy for me when I got there yesterday afternoon. Got there shortly after 9am. Quiet. The bridge is bout a mile away from the car park. All downhill. I bottled out of crossing the bridge because of the height but took a couple of photos from a viewing point.

From there over to Portrush for lunch and on to Portstewart.  I drove down to the beach which is a NT site. It must be 5 miles long and you can drive your car along it. No quick sand!!!!!!!

On along the coast to Castlerock and yet another beautiful beach. No cars. I met a couple in a camper home who had come up from the south and they kindly gave me a book on campsites in southern ire,and. Good news.

Forward to the last stop of the day,  Mussenden Temple and castle. The temple is overlooking Downhill beach which is I never a bay and must be 10 miles long. Quite spectular.

Back to the campsite for a well earned G &  T. Love it!!!!!!

What a day!!!!!!

Headed off from the site at 8:45 to get a good start to the Giants Causeway. It opens at 9am so I was one of the first there. They have a beautiful visitor centre with loads of displays and good shop.

The causeway is spectacular with screens overlooking the sea. It must be up near the top of World Heritage sites. With it being quiet I got a good opertunity to take some good photographs in the early morning  sunshine. I stayed until around 11:00 when it was starting to get busy. Apparently there are 1.3 million visitors a year. Get there early!!!!!!!

i headed over to the Carrick A rede rope bridge via White Sands Bay. Did not stop at the bridge as it was mega busy. I’ll go early tomorrow morning.

Early start for me as I was catching the 9am ferry from Ballycastle to Rathlin Island. It’s only a quick 25minute trip over to the island. The sea was not too rough.

The distance from the harbour to the rspb bird sanctuary is 4 1/2 Miles so I decided to walk it. Up and down up and down all the way. Hot as well.

the sanctuary is on the western tip of the island below an old lighthouse site. The viewing station was high above the birds so they were quite a long way away. Thousands of guillemots, razorbills, fulmars and some puffins down on the grass at the bottom of the cliffs.

There were lots of birds out to sea and quite a few lobster boats.

i decided to walk back to the harbour which took around 1 1/2 hours to catch the 3pm ferry back to the mainland. Burnt face!!!!!!!!

my site is near Coleraine so it will be a good base for the next three days.

Woke up to bright clear blue skies. After breakfast headed north along the coast road. Passed through Glenarmbefore stopping at Carnlough. Four tourist coaches were in the main car park so it was quite busy with Japanese, Spanish and Canadians. Not too bad really. Carnlough has an impressive fishing harbour containing small lobster boats etc. Loads of black guillemots swimming around.

up through Cusnendall but did not stop as it was very busy on the Main Street. I continued to Ballycastle as I wanted to book a ferry to Raithlin island in the morning. That will be a first. Had fish and chips at Moretons chippy near the harbour which was full of very expensive yachts.

Headed back to Cushendun where this evening campsite is located. A small seaside village with some beautiful apartments overlooking the river flowing through. Round the corner from these are some famous caves that were used in the Thrones series. Cool!!!!!!!

well I’m in Ireland!!!!!!!

travelled up to Cairnryne yesterday along the A75 which must be the most dangerous road in the whole of the UK. It’s crazy. Caughtthe ferry at 13:30 and arrived in Larne at 15:30. Good sailing but the most expensive crossing in the world. £145 one way!!!!!!!!!

Today has been a settling in day. Started off at Carrikfergus which is quite famous for its castle and harbour. King William landed there in 1690. Very impressive. Had an ice cream at Mauds ice cream parlour. This was the original Mauds shop. Best ice cream in the world. Defo.

From there went to Whitehead to have a walk along the shore. Stunning views in bright sunshine. Stopped by the Wrens Eggs where we put my mums ashes into the sea. Quiet moment.

Called into see my cousin Eileen and Ernie for a cup of tea. But after a good catch up we went down to the railway museum for a light lunch. I already had had a sandwich but managed a bowl of wegtable soup. Not as good as my mums. Good to see them again.

back to the site north of Larne in bright sunshine.