Stage 3 - Ulster and ROI
Ulster (photos above)
Very smooth crossing from Cairnryan to Larne then a short drive to Glenalm.This was a very nice harbour with good facilities and some shops.
So here for 2 nights. North to the "Rope Bridge" Giant's Causeway and Bushmills. Slightly dodgy night on the Promenade at Castlerock but no hassle or noise
Very smooth crossing from Cairnryan to Larne then a short drive to Glenalm.This was a very nice harbour with good facilities and some shops.
So here for 2 nights. North to the "Rope Bridge" Giant's Causeway and Bushmills. Slightly dodgy night on the Promenade at Castlerock but no hassle or noise
ROI - The Wild Atlantic Way
Wild - Yes roads and weather
Atlantic - Yes and how the Irish love to swim !
Way - Well signposted with lots of Points of Interest
Our first overnight was in a simple carpark at Carndonaghon the road to Malin Head. The road to Malin Head was OK but no parking and difficult turning.
So we retraced our route to Carndonaghon. Here there was an "aire" but with confusing information about overnighting so we simply emptied our waste. We got water in a garage and then ventured over the "Gap of Mamore" an unclassified steep and twisty rod, narrow in places but next to no traffic (fortunately) we finished the day at Buncrana Tourist Office with Motorhome parking available with EHU. Buncrana is a lovely little town with a delightful garden dedicated to John Newton a sailor turned preacher who wrote the song "amazing Grace". http://www.ireland.com/articles/amazing-grace/
Two very handy nights here
Wild - Yes roads and weather
Atlantic - Yes and how the Irish love to swim !
Way - Well signposted with lots of Points of Interest
Our first overnight was in a simple carpark at Carndonaghon the road to Malin Head. The road to Malin Head was OK but no parking and difficult turning.
So we retraced our route to Carndonaghon. Here there was an "aire" but with confusing information about overnighting so we simply emptied our waste. We got water in a garage and then ventured over the "Gap of Mamore" an unclassified steep and twisty rod, narrow in places but next to no traffic (fortunately) we finished the day at Buncrana Tourist Office with Motorhome parking available with EHU. Buncrana is a lovely little town with a delightful garden dedicated to John Newton a sailor turned preacher who wrote the song "amazing Grace". http://www.ireland.com/articles/amazing-grace/
Two very handy nights here
So we drove up the west coast of Lough Swilly first to Port Salon for an overnight roads narrow in places but very nice despite the somewhat wet weather overnight in a small carpark before returning to a nice beach carpark the next morning for breakfast etc. On to Dunfanaghy, a very nice small town and we overnighted just outside in another beach carpark very very windy ! Next a lovely drive to a very good harbour at Bunbeg water available and friendly locals.
Nice weather and a plesant outlook...but rain the following day !
So on to our final stop in County Donegal at Naran beach. Leaving Naran a lovely montain drive via Glencolumbkille and then Donegal to Belleek Marina (Ulster).Nice parking area with a BBQ water waste disposal and toilets
Nice weather and a plesant outlook...but rain the following day !
So on to our final stop in County Donegal at Naran beach. Leaving Naran a lovely montain drive via Glencolumbkille and then Donegal to Belleek Marina (Ulster).Nice parking area with a BBQ water waste disposal and toilets
Into Counties Sligo Mayo and Galway
A longish drive to Crossmolina and a TomTom headache !
We were directed down a single track road which turned into a narrow lane with grass in the middle. Then a locked gate ! So 100metres of reversing yo find a turning space. back to the main road drive through the town centre and turn down a narrowish but sensible road to a lovely harbour with designated parking for 2 motorhomes toilets and fresh water. A very nice spot so 2 nights here.
Next north to Ballycastle. west to Ederglen Bog and south to Westport and finally Old Head beach and pier.
The drive over the bogland was really good with huge stacks of peat ready dug and drying. Almost no traffic!
Old head Pier was a very nice area with parking by the pier entrance an lovely weather with views.
Lots of locals turning up to swim. Again 2 nights here with views to "St Patrick's Mountain" properly known as Croagh Patrick, Teevenacroaghy,Co. Mayo
Ireland.
Next a lovely remote drive to Killary Fjord. Some say this is the only true "Norwegian Fjord" because of its depth and the steep sides of the valley (Lough Swilly, which we visited in Donegal and Carlingford Lough which borders both Ulster and ROI on the east coast being other possibilities)
1 Night in the Carpark here.
Next through Connemara to Glinsk via Clifden ..This was a poor day, rotten weather and a narrow major road (N59) The weather did improve a bit and we found a reasonable spot again by a small fishing harbour (Glinsk)
A longish drive to Crossmolina and a TomTom headache !
We were directed down a single track road which turned into a narrow lane with grass in the middle. Then a locked gate ! So 100metres of reversing yo find a turning space. back to the main road drive through the town centre and turn down a narrowish but sensible road to a lovely harbour with designated parking for 2 motorhomes toilets and fresh water. A very nice spot so 2 nights here.
Next north to Ballycastle. west to Ederglen Bog and south to Westport and finally Old Head beach and pier.
The drive over the bogland was really good with huge stacks of peat ready dug and drying. Almost no traffic!
Old head Pier was a very nice area with parking by the pier entrance an lovely weather with views.
Lots of locals turning up to swim. Again 2 nights here with views to "St Patrick's Mountain" properly known as Croagh Patrick, Teevenacroaghy,Co. Mayo
Ireland.
Next a lovely remote drive to Killary Fjord. Some say this is the only true "Norwegian Fjord" because of its depth and the steep sides of the valley (Lough Swilly, which we visited in Donegal and Carlingford Lough which borders both Ulster and ROI on the east coast being other possibilities)
1 Night in the Carpark here.
Next through Connemara to Glinsk via Clifden ..This was a poor day, rotten weather and a narrow major road (N59) The weather did improve a bit and we found a reasonable spot again by a small fishing harbour (Glinsk)
Glinsk to Carrigafoyle Castle,
Some better weather at last !
We planned to stop in Galway but too busy and no parking so we drove on to Bealaclugga a nice little harbour and then no distance t Ballyvaughan a nice car park overlooking the sea. We were now in the limestone pavement area called "The Burren" very very nice, A super drive the next day to Doolin and then the "The Cliffs of Moher". Spectacular cliffs and views (photos below). We overnighted at Quilty before getting the ferry across the Shannon and to Carrigafoyle, Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland.
Some better weather at last !
We planned to stop in Galway but too busy and no parking so we drove on to Bealaclugga a nice little harbour and then no distance t Ballyvaughan a nice car park overlooking the sea. We were now in the limestone pavement area called "The Burren" very very nice, A super drive the next day to Doolin and then the "The Cliffs of Moher". Spectacular cliffs and views (photos below). We overnighted at Quilty before getting the ferry across the Shannon and to Carrigafoyle, Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland.
Carrigafoyle to Sneem (ring of Kerry)
Carrigafoyle round the coast to Fenit an interesting harbour which had some huge metal "legs" being delivered by lorries. We later learned that they were in fact windfarm towers and were being shipped elsewhere. On to Tralee for LPG and towards Dingle.This was an awful day weatherwise with mist and fog as we drove over the pass towards Dingle then finally a nice couple of nights at Crossmane beach.
Next the Ring of Kerry. The weather was super and the views and driving excellent one very steep and narrow section "the Skellig ring" from Portmagee to Ballyskelligs. Beautiful scenery and a nice little campsite in Sneem.
Carrigafoyle round the coast to Fenit an interesting harbour which had some huge metal "legs" being delivered by lorries. We later learned that they were in fact windfarm towers and were being shipped elsewhere. On to Tralee for LPG and towards Dingle.This was an awful day weatherwise with mist and fog as we drove over the pass towards Dingle then finally a nice couple of nights at Crossmane beach.
Next the Ring of Kerry. The weather was super and the views and driving excellent one very steep and narrow section "the Skellig ring" from Portmagee to Ballyskelligs. Beautiful scenery and a nice little campsite in Sneem.
Sneem and a short drive into Killarney..very busy and twisty narrow road on the way back to Molls Gap we were against the coaches. Gret care needed as sometimes they came round the bends straddling the middle of the road. We found a nice "fishermans carpark/layby" near Molls Gap.... very heavy thunderstorm overnight. The weather was Ok again the next day and a smashing mountain road to Kenmare on to Ballydehob for 2 nights. Ballydehob had a nice pier and (disused) railway viaduct. Next to Bandon and a "garage car park" water and waste facilities so handy if a bit "industrial". Next to Cobh, a very nice aire overlooking the natural harbour again good facilities and free (not next year). We had a problem with our kitchen sink tap and found a motorhome dealer/repairer who temporaarily solved the problem. Next Ardmore and "Mr Power's field" . Then another nice harbour at Helvick. 2 nights in a huge carpark/layby at Kilmurrin cove very very pr etty.
Our last stop was at Fethard where a farmer had converted a small filed . Very nice gravel pitches with good grass as well water etc (No EHU). Nice and peaceful with a good view so we relaxed here for 3 nights.
Finally a fairly short drive to Rosslare for the crossing to Fishguard. Sailing delayed for 2 hours so very late in Fishguard. Thanks to wildcamping we knew of a lorry park and so slept there !
Our last stop was at Fethard where a farmer had converted a small filed . Very nice gravel pitches with good grass as well water etc (No EHU). Nice and peaceful with a good view so we relaxed here for 3 nights.
Finally a fairly short drive to Rosslare for the crossing to Fishguard. Sailing delayed for 2 hours so very late in Fishguard. Thanks to wildcamping we knew of a lorry park and so slept there !