Guess where we're going?🍀

[bobandjanie]

We did your route Fishguard to Rosslare and had the whole of June 2015, we had great weather that nice we started checking out properties because we had been fulltime for two years.

We free camped the whole time plenty of toilets and water opportunities on the wild atlantic way but disposing of rubbish was a problem, you only have litter bins and some only have a hole the size of a tennis ball.

We also stayed at a few marinas on the waterways free to park but you got a card for facilities.
One good thing about doing the wild atlantic way is no disagreement about what way, you just follow the signs.
The Irish are such friendly people and they seem to know everyone's business even yours by the time they leave after a little chat.


Beware of the signs, I love the big rock tied to the caravan, and the fellow traveller.

We came back Dublin Holyhead loved our trip and can't believe it was nearly 8 years ago. Bob.

 

[Jenben]

Well we have meandered onwards but still on the Celtic sea now at Ardmore .

The weather is still lovely, the lady in the toll booth on the n25 took the time as we paid to engage us in conversation and told us there is another week of this .

 

[Jenben]

Today a grey start to the day sees Sandra and Colin off for run while we head off on a cliff top walk.


Ardmore have adopted St Declan as their own and the walk features his brand heavily. There are many references to him possibly predating St Patrick.


His servant apparently forgot to pack his bell and this rock miraculously floated to arrive with it

The locals are not convinced and have marked it a cockamamy story



We are looking out for goats at work


We also are advised not to startle them

Eventually we spot a couple

It’s a lovely walk



By the time we head back it’s blue skies again

 

[Armytwowheels]

This morning, Colin and I ran (stumbled) along a cliff path that took us from Ardmore Bay to Crushea Bay and back again. Very pretty, if somewhat riddled with, ankle twisting potential, rabbit holes, rocks and too busy gawping at the views.

It was then into town for a giant toasty and coffee.

 

[Armytwowheels]

Yesterday we spent the day and night in Cobh, parked on the port in a purpose built motorhome parking area. Cobh is a very nice small town, quite lively with plenty of cafes and bars. Not a lot to keep us there for more than one night though.

After a lovely cooked Irish breakfast in town, we are heading to Bantry Bay for the weekend. Hopefully we will escape the wind a bit too. It is blowing a hoolie.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Jenben]

Cobh has parking for 30 motorhomes along the harbour edge which is a great spot to park to visit cork (by train ) or cobh itself. 10 euros for 24 hours


We visited the heritage centre, I thought I knew a bit about why Irish folks are found all over the world but learnt a lot more.

Cobh is a nice spot to visit but I suspect it’s always windy.



A statue of Annie Moore and her two brothers is located directly outside Cobh Heritage Centre.

A similar statue of Annie can be found in Ellis Island, New York, representing the honour of being the first emigrant to pass through Ellis Island and standing as a symbol of the many Irish who have embarked on that very same journey.


We tried Murphys last night

 

[Jenben]

We have all moved on to Bantry now


An enterprising hotel with an owner who loves motorhoming have turned one of their spare car parks into a motorhome stop.


A walk through the beautiful grounds take us down into bantry itself

 

[PaulOH]

If Ireland could get it organised, it could supply the half of Europe with electricity via windpower and this is even after the equation that only half of the windpower is transformed into electric.
Where I live, people complain about the wind and I literally laugh in their faces - they have v.little experience of what wind is.

 

[Jenben]

If Ireland could get it organised, it could supply the half of Europe with electricity via windpower and this is even after the equation that only half of the windpower is transformed into electric.

I think the windbreak business do a roaring trade in Ireland as it feels like all motorhomes carry one

Sandra and Colins Quest has been put to good use.

 

[Jenben]

Today we went for a cycle ride , it was a drizzling start but beautiful scenery



We were dressed for the weather


It was a route with a fair bit of climbing but lots of chances to look at the water

Luckily we found a stop off for refreshments

This sign , cycling route 1 has been everywhere we have cycled

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Armytwowheels]

It was a lovely bike ride, despite the light drizzel. Beautiful countryside.

 

[Jenben]

Yesterday we spent at Castletownbere which is on the very scenic Beara peninsular.

A free motorhome stop over ( which was busy) on the side of the biggest working harbour in Ireland .

Lots of boats to look at

It may be a working port but it still felt very irish

 

[Jenben]

Today we have moved just 7 ish miles to the other side of the Beara peninsular to Eyeries.


It’s a lovely little village with brightly coloured houses




There is a beach nearby, we are hoping to get a swim but there have been a lot of jellyfish on our recent beach surveys .

 

[Armytwowheels]

Colin and I went out to survey the beaches and reported back that there was still a jelly fish invasion going on. Still, a beautiful bit of countryside to explore.

 

[Jenben]

Still on the Beara peninsular, today we walked part of the Beara way along the coast.

The tide is out but I have kit for a swim in my rucksack and as there are no jellyfish I venture in the clear water


It’s a lovely bit of coast and whilst overcast it’s a warm day , we watch a boat picking up lobster pots


Eyeries itself is not a village afraid of a bit of colour

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Jenben]

Today we reached the ring of Kerry and are parked up on a motorhome spot at Sneem


Nice spot to admire the view


We decide to take a dip in the river at high tide



And then the paddleboard came out for Sandra


Off she heads towards the sea

She does make it back

 

[Armytwowheels]

Just a few more photos of Eyeries, the Beare Ring and finally Sneem.

Lovely Views from the Motorhome park in Eyeries.

Cycle Ride around the Beare Ring, stunning but boy was it hilly.

The view from the campers at the Sneem Motorhome Park, tide in and tide out.

 

[Jenben]

Another day in Sneem yesterday saw us enjoying our breakfast watching a heron fish for theirs.

A cycle route avoiding the main ring of Kerry roads took us past stalls offering local produce .



It was a warm day and our route took us along quiet roads and tracks

Down towards the kenmare river before a return to Sneem


One last photo of us all as it’s our last day together this trip, Sandra and Colin are heading north and we are eventually heading to catch a ferry home next week

 

[Jenben]

We are still meandering the wild Atlantic way snd have stopped at inch beach on the Dingle peninsular.

It’s a popular spot for surfing and wave hopping

We are parked on the little campsite behind the beach


Taking your van on the beach seems popular



But fraught with danger as I took a walk on the beach I saw this


Might have an ice cream later intrigued by Irish brown bread flavour

 

[Armytwowheels]

Started to post this morning with lots of photos and then puffffff, gone! No signal and no draft saved.
Anyways, after saying our farewells to Mr and Mrs Jenben yesterday, we made our way along part of the Ring of Kerry from Sneem to Kilarny, then on to just South of Galway. We have had to drive on a bit for the last two days and we have been dawdling a bit too much and have commitments up in Donegal and then Carrickfergus.

The Ring of Kerry Sneem to Mols Gap

Coffee stop on the way down to Kilarney.

Overnight stop at Rinville Marina and one of the most perfect swim spots. I have never seen so many swimmers coming down to get their cold water fix, although not so cold really.

We are now at Aughris, near Sligo, for two nights. Just managed to get a swim in before a storm blew in.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Jenben]

One more night at Inch Beach, today we walked the strand itself for a couple of miles as the tide is out
It’s a stormy scene but very warm, red flag day for swimming due to lightning strikes yesterday. A couple of lifeguards were struck by lightning getting swimmers out of the water further along the coast so ultra care is being taken today due to the weather.



Swimming may be off but local Dingle ice cream is available, I did try the Irish brown bread flavour .

 

[Armytwowheels]

I make no apologies for this thread being all scenery and not a lot, if any, culture. I am afraid we don't do towns and city's very often.

Yesterday we crossed the county border into Donegal and had an amazingly scenic journey to a little village called Portnablagh. Parked on the jetty and just reveled in the beauty of the place. This morning, we were in no hurry as we only had 40km to go to get to our friends house, so we had a lovely early swim, then a bacon butty. I seriously could live here, it is my idea of perfect. The warm weather is no doubt influencing our experience, but there's not a lot to dislike.

 

[Jenben]

Heading in a completely different direction to Sandra and Colin we are in county Galway at Portumna . The council have created a motorhome parking area by the marina on the edge of loch Dergh where you can stay .




Today we took a trail walk through the forest park


Which takes us along the lake side
We return via a trip into Portumna Castle for the princely sum of 4 euros each.



Built by the fourth earl of Clanricarde, Portumna Castle was the de Burgo family power base for centuries.
A major fire in 1826 left the castle a roofless shell, but the state began to bring it back from ruin in the 1960s. Restoration work continues to this day. From the info boards it feels like the castle may have been subject to fire as an insurance job.
The grounds are well worth a visit with a beautiful walled kitchen garden

 

[Jenben]

A final overnight stop on the way to the ferry finds us on a free spot at Robertstown on the edge of the grand canal.

The canal was built for commercial purposes linking Dublin to the Shannon river . Whilst there is some canal
tourism up at this end of the canal it feels like the place boats go to retire .

Lots of the boats look past their best but many are being worked on.

It’s a busy and popular spot for walkers and anglers , in front of our van very rarely didn’t have an angler fishing. The canal waters were clear and full of fish and we saw plenty of fish being caught, weighed, photographed and then released.
A walk along the canal took us to Robertstown itself , a pretty little village



It’s been a great trip for us with lovely motorhome stopovers, fine friends to enjoy the craic for a good part of our trip plus of course brilliant weather .

 

[Langtoftlad]

Thanks
Jenben & Armytwowheels

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[RowleyBirkinQC]

Thanks for sharing your Irish odyssey experiences!

 

[Jenben]

Sandra and Colin are still on their Irish odyssey and hopefully will update what they are up to

 

[lorger]

Thank for the posts, your trip looked great. It’s one we want to do once we have more time.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

It's been interesting to watch where you all have stopped whilst in the bottom ish corner of Ireland. Will give me some thoughts as I close in on that area.

I think your timing to escape is probably ideal as the stunning weather is forecast to change and it's already starting to get cloudy.

 

[Jenben]

Thank for the posts, your trip looked great. It’s one we want to do once we have more time.

I think yourself and Lorraine would really enjoy it , there are some lovely places to stop .

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}