Wild Atlantic Way

We left Galway wishing we had a few extra days to spare, but excited to head further up the coast towards Westport. Straight up Lough Carrib to Cong, a pretty little village on the river where the "Quiet Man" with John Wayne was filmed.

On then through the lakes and mountains winding north. Spectacular scenery, narrow roads, waterfalls, fishing and mad sheep led us up to Kylemore Abbey and over Dhulough Pass and into Westport.

In Westport we stayed at the quay and wandered over to the pub for tea - mussels for entree arrived in a huge pot - yum. We also went wandering through the woods to the Westport House which is an old house obviously but has a unique way of funding itself. Hiring out for functions but also running an adventure park, archery, ropes courses and laser tag. A funny juxtaposition of past and present. The next morning we wandered the town and made a friend in a small shop whose son married an Aussie girl and lives in Coolangatta. We put her onto Homelink and left her madly pouring over the screen.

Sligo was our next port of call where we booked into our BnB with Doreen "god bless" Mc Evilly, an older lady, very tiny, nothing of her - the most welcoming host you could meet. Doreen has run a BnB for 30 years and it shows - some of the motels could learn a bit from her that's for sure. She sent us on our way down town for a wander - cathedrals, river, Italian area and pubs, older buildings, Kate's Kitchen Deli for our tea stuff and home.

The next morning after a brilliant nights sleep, breakfast was spectacular and then we were on the way again - a little side turn had us out to check out a castle we could see in the distance - turns out it was Louis Mountbattens castle and this place was where he was assassinated by the IRA - Mullaghamore - a small place where they put the boats back in for the season using a crane just like on Norfolk. While we were watching Ross realised he still had Doreen's key in his pocket. So back to the post office at Cliffony and post the key. In Cliffony we came across the Creevy Kreel a stone cairn built well before even the Romans - it had a real presence and was really interesting. The things you find when you least expect it.

Finally Donegal for  lunch and a wander around the O'Donnell castle and into Killybegs where they run the huge fishing boats and mother ships for the Atlantic. Over the mountains following the Sinne Fein political cavalcade and into Derry for the next two days.