So first post on this, is the Ireland trip we've just done.
19th April
Sailed from Stranraer at 0430 (was supposed to be 0500, but they sailed early - presumably all the people who had booked had arrived so no point waiting) - arrived Belfast 0700.
This is sunrise over Scotland, behind us!
Set off for Glengariff a 7 hour drive without stops, but of course we had to stop.
Irish Motorways - there are NO service areas AT ALL so if you need the loo or whatever you have to go off the motorway to a village - even when signposted for services, you’ve no idea where they are.
Ended up at Skerries, north of Dublin - a mill. Partner had it in her head that Skerries Mills was was of those designer outlet thingys - in fact, it was a restored wind and water mill!
Never mind, toilets & tea and a snoozle in the car!
Then just kept on going, save for a refuelling stop and change driver (let partner drive for 2 hours whilst I gave my eyes a rest…)
Then on down to Glengariff, which is 1 ½ hours from Cork over in the far west of the county beyond Bantry.
Now, I have a satnav, you’d think that would make life very easy. I can of course have no problem with a satnav that is not updated for new motorways etc, that’s fair enough. But to not know where Bantry is? Or even, not know where Glengariff is? Barking. I am NOT happy - it’s as if, for tomtom, Ireland doesn’t exist outside of the major roads. When we were in Skerries, it had NO idea at all, no roads shown, nothing.
Granted I haven’t updated my maps, but even so, these places are not new towns! Bantry Bay, for example, was the site of many sailings to the US (including of the SS Great Britain …)
Arrived at our destination about 1830, had tea, down to village for dinner, early night. But I am full of red bull so need to wind down some even though I’m tired.
Loads of horses being taken about the place. One poor couple had a tyre on their trailer shred on the motorway, grey horse in back of trailer! Hope they got it sorted.
Photos of the place in tomorrow’s entry - fantastic!
Tuesday 20th May
Kinsale. Partner decided we ought to go there, so we went. Very pretty, and there was a farmer’s market on so some nice food available for lunch (well, there would have been nice food anyway, Kinsale is apparently a foodie’s paradise) on the market. But not a lot to do so we came back again.
Bantry = we decided to potter around there - it’s just along from Glengariff and of course gives its name to Bantry Bay. Nice place; a waterwheel outside the library, apparently there used to be a mill there anyway one time, so now they’ve replaced it with this new one:
And then stopped on the road between Bantry & Glengarriff to take photos of the bay:
Enquired about riding, and was given a scrappy black and white flyer from some people who apparently do trekking and stuff, but don’t put a name and address on so you can go find them and see what you think. Person in tourist office said, just ring them up and pre book - but I’m not inclined to pre book a place I can’t visit….
So I don’t suppose we’ll ride at all (partner did bring her kit, but hasn’t ridden for about 6 years so ….)
Everyone is watching Eurovision song contest heats .. Euch.
Wednesday 21st May
It rained. And rained. And rained.
We went to Killarney and got very wet! A cathedral, a saddlers (didn’t buy anything, but not for want of trying - pair of sticky bum riding trousers, very nice, didn’t fit…) and then to Muckross House (a house & estate given to the Irish State back in the 1930’s) and saw the house then had a jaunting car ride out to some waterfalls and back -
the jaunting car is basically a horse drawn trap - the rain had nearly stopped when we set off, but started again with a vengeance on the return run.
An Interesting drive over a narrow road and two very high passes with a tunnel (unlit) and scary - speed limit 100 kph/60 mph, but mad to go more than 60 kph/40 mph on a good day - and this wasn’t a good day!
So a slow run, but scenic. At least we didn’t meet any coaches coming the other way, only got stuck behind the odd one!
Thursday 22nd May
Sheep’s head and Mizen Head
These are peninsulas on the south west coast of Cork. Sheep’s head forms the southern shore of Bantry Bay, and Mizen Head is next south again, the most south westerly point in Ireland with a lighthouse at the end which you can visit.
Perfect weather!
And adventurous travelling - this road was a 10mph job!
From Mizen Head you can see the Fastnet Rock - a very clear day today, so we could see it, it’s 9 km away - a lighthouse built on a rock in the sea, basically
It’s a hazy blur in the distance with this picture - I don’t have that good a lens! But it really was fastnet.
And on the way to Mizen head we went to Crookharbour, fantastically peaceful,
and the sandy beaches have to be seen to be believed - who needs the Med when you’ve got this?
On the way back from there, found a riding establishment - but too late for this holiday
Friday 23rd - the wedding
First we went to garnish Island, not far off the coast, a 15 minute ferry ride - it’s an island that was bought by a Victorian Scottish MP, transformed with hods of money into a fantastic garden, and then left to the State by his son in 1953.
Fantastic garden.
And seals on the way!
I have no recollection of seeing wild seals before, which partner finds amazing, but is true. (unless I saw some when I was too young to remember, in which case I’m still right! For these purposes, seals in zoos don’t count!)
Then the wedding. The bride, of course, was radiant,
everyone had a good day and the weather was kind! Thank goodness, after Wednesday’s downpour.
