It was the most magical drive today. This Wild Atlantic Way is just something else! Very different to the North Coast 500, but each has its own unique charm. I've taken a pic of the tourist bureau map today, because I think it just shows very clearly the route that was taken..
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| Follow the black line from Westport to Galway around the coast. |
I had a relaxed start to the day today. Usual things... read any emails or comments, have brekky, repack cases, get on the road.
Last night and again tonight I'm staying in traditional Irish hotels.... I love them!!! There's so much space in each room, and although they're a bit dearer than a B&B, they just provide you with a little haven at the end of each day. And they usually have dinner and a bar attached (!!) so it's all on site and you don't have to go out again.
The beginning of today's journey took me via the same route that Liamy took me yesterday... around the base of Croagh Pattrick.
I knew it was going to be a long-ish journey again. If I took the direct road between Westport and Galway, I would be there before lunch!
The windey coast road cost more energy, but was certainly worth it.
First stop was a wrong turn off!!!! I had decided to follow the WAW signs on the road, but not take all the little "extras" that took me off that road. But I accidentally took the road to Roonagh Pier - which provides the ferry to Clare Island.
That notice board above tells an interesting story about life on Clare Island. Many of the old ways are gone now, and it is hard for people to stay in these isolated places...
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| Looking over to Clare Island |
After that little sojourn I had to re-trace my steps back to the main WAW road.
It was a delightful start to the journey as the road wound through the mountains....
The next stop was quite a poignant one, as it contained a memorial to people who died in the Great Famine...
The pics below show the journey through the valley that these starving people would've had to have walked..... it is such a sad story that those who have so much could not share with those who had so little. It depicts humanity at its worst!
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| Doolough Valley - Casting a dark shadow |
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| Doolough Valley - Casting a dark shadow |
A little later, the scenery change again as we followed the loughs around....
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| Road around the loughs |
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| Road around the loughs |
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| Road around the loughs |
By this time it was morning tea time so I stopped here for a cuppa...
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| Only joking.... this little thatched house was next door to where I stopped! |
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| Here's where I really stopped - advertised as the first pub in Connemara |
My memory of Connemara was of roads that bounced up and down on a peaty base. But the scenery was glorious...
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| Scenery on the journey |
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| Scenery on the journey |
The next stop tells of the things the area is famous for.... eg the film "The Field" was filmed around there.
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| Killary Harbour |
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| Killary Harbour |
After a while though, we headed to the coast and I must admit I have never seen the Connemara coast before. I remember there was a police series where a young constable worked along that Connemara Coast, but I can't remember the name of it.... it was a really good series too...
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| Connemara Coast |
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| Connemara Coast |
Stopped at Clifden for lunch. Lovely little town..
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| Clifden |
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| Clifden |
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| Clifden |
I went into the SupaValu store to buy some more Panadol, because I've been going through them a bit with this cold. There were only about 10 tabs in the packet, so I picked up 2 packets to buy. Got to the checkout and the guy said, "Sorry, you're only allowed to buy one packet of Panadol per day!". He then added, "You can buy as much grog as you want, or as many cigarettes as you like, but that's the rules!" Truly amazing!!!! Have to stock up again tomorrow!
After lunch I just followed the coastal WAW road again and it was just lovely.
After a while the ground became way more rocky, and all the stone fences started to appear. I thought they only had those in County Clare, but obviously they are very present in Connemara as well.
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| Rocky countryside |
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| Rocky countryside |
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| Rocky countryside |
It was a longish drive from Clifden to Galway and I didn't really stop much. We followed the coast the whole way as you can see on the map at the beginning...
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| Coastal Scenery |
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| Coastal Scenery |
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| Coastal Scenery |
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| Coastal Scenery |
One final comment.... Gaby Garmin was often totally useless today.... even when I was driving on roads that were quite defined, she just showed me in the middle of whiteness on the map. Today, I reverted to the old fashioned way of following the sign posts!!!! Worked quite well really!!!!
Also, the standards of the roads has been surprisingly good on this journey. After some hair-raising experiences in Scotland, this drive has been quite pleasurable. There is nearly always enough room for 2 cars to pass and the surface of the roads has been very good.
Tomorrow, I'm moving into home territory! County Clare is where my ancestors (on Dad's side) emmigrated from and there are still Curtins on the family farm in Tullygarvan, just outside Lahinch. Hopefully I'm catching up with them in the next few days. I have booked 3 nights at Cois Farraige - a lovely B&B facing the ocean, where I have stayed before. It will be nice to be in one place for a while.
Of a morning I like to go for a walk before work especially as I am sitting a lot during the day, but I have to admit that I get my coffee and look at your blog, it's been too enticing. Loved the photo of that little thatched cottage. Was the name of that TV series Single-Handed? Loved the comment re Panadol, booze and cigarettes.
ReplyDeleteHaha don’t let yiour fitness suffer because of me!!! Only one more week of it anyway, so enjoy!!! Hmmm series might have been called Single handed??? Will look it up when I get home. It makes a difference watching something when you’ve been there... xx
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