Cross country

Google maps caculated a journey of 3h 20m to get across to our Airbnb in the Wicklow Mountains but we had all day. I struggled to find anywhere good to stop on the planned route. There was this statue just half an hour away at a viewpoint over a lake but the view was obscured by hedges.

We travelled on and passed through Carrick on Shannon which is a big boating centre - I'm sure it looks better in sunshine. Next we thought we'd stop for a coffee in a town en route but we got caught up in traffic, couldn't park and gave up. We were a bit fed up by now. We had some shopping to get in and happened across a Tesco so popped in. We got the food but, unlike other big Tescos in Ireland this one didn't have a coffee machine. Once back in the car we had another look at the map. We changed our route thinking we would go to the western side of the Wicklow Mountains possibly for a walk but discounted this idea because it was raining heavily. Then I pointed out that if we drove through Kildare we would pass the National Irish Stud. I had come across this when I was researching our trip and thought I'd love to go but our itinerary didn't take us through this area. But now was my chance! Our spirits improved now we had a good plan.

We arrived about 1.30, ate our lunch and finally got our cuppa in the cafe. We joined a guided tour run by a comical fellow who was very clever at describing the covering of mares with phrases and language suitable for children but the adults still got the info.

The M50 has been built close by and, as compensation, the government paid for some beautiful gardens to be built within the grounds.

The new born foals were far away in the paddocks whilst we were on the tour and the guide recommended we pop back up at 3 to see them being led back to the stables and we were allowed to wander freely around the stables seeing all the new borns, then the maternity unit with all the expectant mothers. We watched a lovely video of a foal being born and trying to stand up.

This one is 2 days old;

One of the 8 stallions;

Invincible Spirit is at the stud. The cost to the owner of a mare for her to be covered by this stallion is 640,000 euros! It was a great two hours and we were both really taken by all the foals.

Our drive to our accommodation took us over Sally Gap through the Wicklow Mountains - it was snowing hard. It carried on snowing but it didn't settle down in our village. Kath flew to Dublin then caught a bus and we collected her from a nearby town at nearly 10pm. She was shattered as she had been up at 5 to audit a manufacturer.

Our last airbnb;

Last day in the west

Breakfast was accompanied by Luna the cat being sick by the back door.

We went for a great coast walk, along a beach and up and over a headland. There was one big rain shower and we scrambled down to a cove for shelter. On the way back there was a ginormous black cloud behind us but fortunately it veered out to sea. It was a great walk and the waves were bigger than had been seen for a while.

This dog came and sat next to us when we wanted to eat our lunch. We waited to see if it would leave but it stuck by us so we got our sandwiches out but it wasn't interested in the food just our company.

We succumbed to an ice cream when we got back to Strandhill - I had honeycomb which reportedly was voted "the best in the world"....it was delicious. When we returned to the house we discovered that Luna had done her business in the kitchen. Shame as everything else about this airbnb had been great. Tomorrow we drive all the way across country to the Wicklow Mountains to meet Kath who is joining us for Easter.

Cloudy day

It was a bit miserable today and we took a while sorting out where to go. Eventually we settled on a plan. We drove out to a 6 mile loop round which was recommended to us by a chap we had met on yesterday's walk. The scenery was great albeit marred by the weather.

We then walked round Mullaghmore Head - a very windy walk with rain threatening all the time. There were a few memorials along the way including one for Mountbatten and the others killed by the IRA bomb on his boat here in 1979. He holidayed at Classiebawn Castle on the Head.

Glencar lake has 2 waterfalls so we went on a climb to see the first then a very short walk to see the second.

Devils Chimney so called because the water rises like smoke when the wind is in the right direction;

Glencar waterfall;

There were signs to the Devils Chimney stating that access to the footpath has been granted by the landowner and no matter how many people use it nor how many times it remains within the power of the land owner to withdraw access. Ireland does not have the same right of way law as us and there is a dearth of good footpaths. It's a topic we have discussed with locals many times.

Rosses Point was meant for our next walk but the cold strong wind caused us just to park up and look at the view  back to Strandhill.

Up a mountain, along a river

The council have recently had a new footpath built on this side of Knocknarea so you can now walk up and over and down the other side. This made for a good long walk. The rain started as we returned to the village so we ate our lunch on a bench perched on a couple of plastic bags, watching the surfers.

View over Strandhill half way up

Cloudy on the top

The top has been a sacred site since 3400BC. There is a huge cairn 55m in diameter and 10m high which, according to Irish folklore was built for the mythical Queen Maeve in 100AD or it could date back to 3000BC - no one seems to know for sure.

View down the other side

After drying off in a cafe we drove into Sligo and walked along the river reading the informative nature notes.

After dinner we went to the local pub run by Kelsey's friends. Open mic night was due to start at 9 but of course it didn't get going until after 10. It was a brilliant musical evening, hosted by 2 great musicians with locals getting up to sing and play. The talent was incredible.

On to Sligo

I wish I had booked longer in Connemara but hindsight is a wonderful thing. After fond farewells to the family we drove up to Killary Harbour which is Ireland's 'only true fjord'. It was beautiful and calm.

We then drove through the Doolough valley and stopped to read the famine memorial. In 1849 local people, already starving were forced to walk 20 miles to attend an inspection and get famine relief. Many died on the journey. A walk takes place annually to commemorate this event and to reflect on those who live with starvation around the world in the present time. It was a beautiful drive but marred for me in the passenger seat thinking how far it was for those people to walk.

We continued along the Wild Atlantic Way and passed through a small hamlet called Lahardane which had some signs about it's association with the Titanic. We whizzed past a statue of several people with suitcases waving. Later I googled it and discovered that there was a population of 200 and 14 left on the Titanic. Only 3 survived. After many years of the traumatised villagers refusing to speak about the tragedy the village is now trading on it's history and hss become a tourist attraction.

Downpatrick Head was our final stop. This is famous for a stack which became separated and a large blowhole.

We checked in to our airbnb in Strandhill which is a hip and happening seaside village near the town of Sligo. The house we are staying in is owned by a lady who works as a nurse on carribean cruises and is rarely home. Our hosts are her daughter, Kelsey (part time student, part time health care assistant) and her fiance Bob (part time student, part time restaurant worker), their housemate Josh and their cat Luna and dog Marlow. (I mention the pets as they were underfoot whenever we used the kitchen and last night Luna ate some of our dinner, (except the mushrooms which she obviously doesn't like) from a saucepan with the lid on. Needless to say that meal had to go into the bin.)

View of the ocean from the house;

We walked down to the beach pausing to listen to two young boys playing drums and saxaphone.

We followed a loop walk alongside the sand dunes and ended up walking over 6km but it was good after our long drive.

The village is dominated by Knocknarea which we planned to climb during our stay;

A beautiful day in Connemara

The sun was shining and we had our breakfast with a fabulous view

Our day was planned to take in as many high spots of Connemara as possible. We started with a short walk on the lovely sandy Gurteen and Dogs beaches.

Next stop Derrigimlagh. A few months ago I had listened to Clare Balding's R4 programme Ramblings which featured this walk and I had earmarked it for this trip. The walk is around the site where Marconi successfully transmitted a wireless signal across the Atlantic. Although only the foundations of some buildings remain there were information boards and lots of pictures to explain what had been there including these telescope type viewers which showed the buildings as they would have been.

The site is also famous as Alcock and Brown landed in the bog here after the first transatlantic flight. They had intended to continue to London but the nose of the plane sank in this bog.

There is a memorial to Alcock and Brown up on a nearby hill;

With more great views;

Our next stop was Connemara National Park (USP; Ireland's smallest!). We climbed part way up Diamond Hill for yet more amazing views.

After stopping for a photo of Kylemoor Abbey we drove home through yet another stunning place called Inagh Valley. Once home we saw another seal - this time a larger grey seal.

Best day; good walks, fab weather, some history, stunning views and some wildlife!