Discovering the Wild Atlantic Way: May 2026

Embracing Irish hospitality

A highlight of any trip to Ireland is undoubtedly the warm and welcoming Irish hospitality. From friendly locals to cosy pubs, you'll feel right at home. We highly recommend embracing every opportunity to connect with the people and culture – it truly enriches the experience.

Introduction and Pre Planning

This is a very different trip for us, no cabins, no flights just our car, a ferry, an open road and we hope an ample supply of petrol.

The planning has been , even by our standards, extraordinary! Spreadsheets abound, Irish apps found and downloaded and even an account opened with EasyTrip.ie to allow toll free (well not actually free just automatically charged as you drive through).

Our thanks to Girvan and Liz with whom we are staying for a few days towards the end of the trip, for their help in securing the EasyTrip tag. Having ordered it on line we were advised that due to Brexit custom rules said tag could not be posted to an address in the UK! It could however be posted to an address in Northern Ireland and then posted on to us! Bizarre or what!

Packing is somewhat of a challenge. The weather in Ireland can be four seasons in one day. It is unlikely to be cossie weather. The first two weeks will be featuring the west coast weather, expecting wind, rain and needing lots of layers. Doing single nights in B&Bs will need our 'travel pods' experience and we expect our stay with G&L to be a mix of sightseeing and some meals out so not glad rags but a bit more upmarket than the early part. Our last stop is a two night Warners stay in North Wales so again a potentially different outfit range required there. 

All good fun!!

Thursday 30th April

All set and raring to go. Ireland here we come.

After a complete last minute rethink on our packing strategy we are ready for the off.

Heading for Holyhead today ready for the ferry sailing to Dublin on Friday.

Left just before 9am and stopped at Warwick Services after 11am for a coffee and a snack. The traffic was erratic with stop start on the M6 but overall not too bad. We arrived around 3.30z a lovely sunny day and 22 deg C - just like abroad!!

The Haven Guest House is our first stop in Holyhead ( well actually our only stop!). A warm welcome followed by a stroll to the Ferry Terminal to check things for tomorrow and then a stroll down to the beach to check out booking at the Harbourftont Bistro. What a fabulous view.

Helped by the blue sky and the rather tasty local brew, we spent a lovely time relaxing and taking in the sights after a day in the car. Back at 7pm to sample the rather impressive menu on display.

A lovely meal tonight, our first of the holiday in a lovely beach based bistro looking out over the marina. What a difference a nice calm evening's weather makes!

What a fabulous view over the water. The bistro is very hidden away but well worth a visit if you find yourself in Holyhead.

Heading for the ferry to Dublin tomorrow.

Friday 1st May

Not a bad night's sleep and woke this morning to the sound of rain! Not heard that at home for a long time. Viv happened to mention it was going to to 24deg C at home compared to the 14 deg here! At least the wind is forecast to be gentle! With the prevailing weather coming from the west, we will be able to tell you what treats you have in store for the coming days!

Stenaline Ferries treated us very well, having put goodness knows how many Lorrie's, cars and foot passengers on board, we set off from Holyhead on a millpond of an Irish Sea. Helped by a full English/Welsh/Irish breakfast, I'm not sure which it was but it was excellent, the crossing passed very quickly.

After driving off the ferry, we had a heart stopping moment. The drivers of the three cars in front of us in the queue for Passport Control passed their passports over to the official. What did we have? Our driving licences, which we had been assured by Mr Google that passports were not needed for Ireland. With some trepidation, I quickly handed over the photo driving licences with a smile and a 'Good Afternoon, sir'. 

No need to worry, my man obliged with a pleasant smile and a thank you.... phew! Panic over.

Despite driving on the left, the Irish road sign spelling definitely gave the area that 'foreign feel', with even the Sat nav sounding very foreign when pronouncing town names.

The traffic on the Dublin's version of the M25, the M50, was horrendous. Why would you go to Ireland on a Friday afternoon before a Bank Holiday weekend! Idiots! We never gave it a thought - why would you when are retired and Bank Holidays don't count anymore.

A long drive to Innishannon, just outside Kinsale which is the start of Day 1 of our Wild Atlantic Way journey. On arrival, we were met by our host for the evening, Janet who together with her parents had run this beautiful farmhouse as a B&B since 1970! Set in beautiful Irish countryside surrounded by 30 acres of dairy farming land run by husband George, we were offered freshly baked cinnamon swirls and a cup of tea - what a start!

A short walk along the nearby country lane showed off this beautiful location.

The cinnamon cake took its toll and delicious though it was, took the edge off our appetites and after a day's travelling decided a quiet night in with some cheese biscuits was the order of the day. 

A chance to chill out and get ready for the days ahead.

Saturday 2nd May

What a fabulous start to our Wild Atlantic Way adventure. An incredible Full Irish Breakfast courtesy of Janet, the host at Grey Gables in Inishannon. A great B&B if you are ever in this neck of the woods.

Our Day 1 Drive took us from Kinsale to Baltimore, and our weather was incredible from start to finish. 

The first stop was the Old Head of Kinsale with amazing views of sandy beaches, a feature repeated several times during the day.

A short drive further on took as to Timoleague Abbey, a 13th Century Abbey which still to this day, commands an impressive position overlooking the beautiful emerald green countryside of South Western Ireland.

Centuries of historical memories with gravestones to match.

Although the roof has long gone, the walls and supports are still there to see.

Before we left the Abbey, we stumbled across an explanation of the humble honey bee.

An interesting read unless you are a drone bee... who said procreation wasn't exciting? Albeit a bit fatal....

Having passed through the beautiful town of Clonakilty, we found ourselves following the WAW to the idyllic place known as Inchydoney Beach. One way in and one way out, an absolute delight. Miles of sandy beaches as far as the eye could see.

Feast your eyes on the view and wasn't the weather unbelievable. What was unusual and something I've never seen before was a Recovery Pod Sauna on wheels, which you could book online no less!!

As we journeyed around the southern coast of the Celtic Sea, the scenery continued to be dynamic and beautiful. We passed three towns of Ross Carbery, Glandore and Castletownshend, all quaint and very different in their own right.

The next Discovery Point was Toe Head Bay, yet another gorgeous beach and cliffs.

Here we found our first Wild Atlantic Way signposts. Here marks the spot!!

Passing through, Skibbereen, which was a bit of a relief, simply because for the whole drive today, every sign post told us how far it was to said Skibbereen, we arrived at Lough Hume. Finding it was a bit troublesome due to some vague road signage. The WAW has two simple wavy lines, one with a (N) and one with a (S). What could be simpler you might think? All good except then the sign is past the actual junction!

Beautiful clear water and bright sunshine - a wonderful combination. Not to mention the fresh Irish air.

Our first day finished in the town of Baltimore but not before we had checked out our venue for tonight's dinner. A change of plan meant we opted for Casey's Bar and Hotel, just a couple of kms from our B&B, Rathmore House.

Shock horror, I hear you say, is that me with a pint of the black stuff. Honestly, we were just checking out the menu and making sure they had a table available. Would have been rude not to have sampled the local brew!.

The view from our bedroom window at Rathmore House is incredible.

You just simply can't ask for better.

Sunday 3rd May

Another magical Full Irish Breakfast, this time referred to as 'The Little Irish' with only one of everything rather than two!

We set off around 9am, not sure quite what the day would bring. The forecast wasn't great and we needed to be in Bantry to check in to our 'apartment' between 3 and 6pm. More on that later!

 We retraced our steps back through Skibbereen and on to Cunnamore Pier which has a ferry to Heir Island. A couple of things rather threw us when we arrived at the pier, firstly lots of cars but no pier as such, no sign of a ferry, and no real sign of the island, at least the one called Heir Island.

Not at all sure, but the one behind Viv could have been the right island but who knows! We drive through the towns of Ballydebob and Schull and on to Altar where we found a stone monument dating back to the Stone Age, over 4000 years old. One of the things in the picture is slightly younger.

The one thing we wanted to see was Mizen Head, the most south westerly point in Ireland. We weren't disappointed, an incredible place and what's more, the sun shone too!

Quite an amazing place, steeped in history going back centuries and very much involved in the early days of radio transmission with Marconi and other pioneers of the time. The history of lighthouses and the role of the keepers was really interesting, no longer required these days due to technology and the like.

Mizen Head is often pounded by mighty Atlantic waves and blown by gale force winds - not today.... it was like a millpond - I felt we should ask for a refund of the entry fee. What wasn't a disappointment was the stunning scenery and the 99 steps back up to the cafe area from the signal station.

After a quick pot of tea and two delightful muffins, we headed off to the town of Durrus where we would make an executive decision whether to try for Sheep's Head which is the far most point on the next peninsula. 

Despite the heavy rain shower we decided to go for it. A drive along particularly narrow winding roads, up steep hills, avoiding walkers, cyclists, the odd animal and other drivers took us to this rather odd place called Sheep's Head. No idea why it is named as such and despite thinking it would be deserted, how wrong were we! Loads of walkers all sitting on the grass taking in the views.

Driving back from Sheep's Head via Durrus to Bantry was relatively straightforward. On arrival in Bantry we were lucky enough to find a space right outside a coffee shop which turned out to be the front of our apartment building. Phoning the property owner gave us the means of access, via a wall mounted safe box. Ours was the key to room 3.

We entered only to find no lights until we started to walk up the stairs! What we hadn't realised was room 3 was on the third floor accessed by three very narrow flights of stairs. The room itself was ok with a decent en-suite and a kitchenette, however we both looked at each other and thought how were we going to get our luggage and ourselves up and down these marathon stairs!

We decided to look for an alternative B&B and found one which had a room available. Job done and we rang the apartment owner and say thanks but no thanks! Our fault really we should have checked which floor it was on!! Schoolboy error but all is well, the alternative accommodation is just perfect!

A very pleasant curry in one of two restaurants open in Bantry. Amazing for a Bank Holiday weekend. We stopped in an Italian, have you booked? No! We will have a table in an hour! No chance, thank you. Next stop the Indian, very reasonable and one of those BYOB places. How much cheaper is an Indian when you have water! lol.

What a place it was, one guy waiting and all was fine until a group of 12 turned up on spec!! Totally manic but the food was excellent.

Monday 4th May

Usual Manic Irish breakfast although today I opted to the 'Mini Irish'

Yes, you may well ask, how does the Mini differ from the normal? Simples...... there are two of everything on the full and just one on the skinny one!

We decided to head for the ferry in Glengarrif which would take us to the beautiful Garinish Island, home of the Bryce family and the wonderful Italian Gardens.

The Harbour Queen (not the African Queen) took us the 15 minute ferry ride to the Island past a seal colony lazing in the low tide waters.

What a quite extraordinary place this is with exotic flowers and plants from many far flung parts of the world. Here is a series of pictures of just some of the delights on this island.

The view from the Martello Tower was incredible - the only problem was the spiral staircase, seriously narrow!!

From the Island, on our return to the mainland, we journeyed down to Dursey Island at the tip of the Beara Peninsula. We declined the chance of the cable car crossing, it looked a bit cagey even by our standards!

If your eyesight is good enough you can spot the blue and white cable car to the left of the picture. It's the cardboard box looking object hanging by a thread!

The drive to Kenmare was pretty uneventful, with impressive mountain scenery and plenty of Bantry Bay and Kenmare River waterways.

Arriving in Kenmare, we rang the owners of the B&B and found a very sneaky car parking space at the rear of the property.

A couple of glasses of Pinot Grigio for Viv and a couple of Guinnea ( is that the plural of Guinness?), helped relax both of us.  

A very pleasant early evening dinner, locally caught fish and chips for me and hake for Viv. We shared a massive plate of nachos for the starter and a ridiculous ice cream sundae for pudding. It was so nice not having to drive to eat so another pint of Guinness had to be done!

Tomorrow we do the Big One..... The Ring of Kerry.

Tuesday 5th May

We realised this morning that B&B accommodation without tea and coffee making facilities is a bad mistake. Another schoolboy error, almost on a par with three flights of stairs!

Breakfast is served from 8am so I think we will be hammering on the door when it opens.

Small compensation though, our room did offer a bath which we took full advantage of.... a nice soak after several days of showers 🚿 

We met David, whose mother was the guiding light for Davitt's Bar and Guesthouse for over 30 years. She sadly passed away last year and David returned to take over the reins, a far cry from his life in Finance.

A born and bred Irishman, who could not only talk the hind legs off a donkey, but created such a warmth of hospitality you felt he had known you for years. If you are ever in Kenmare, you need to stay here.

It may look small but Dr Who would be proud to have this as his Tardis. It really does impress as you find out what's inside. The food is excellent, another mini Full Irish had to be done and Viv's Eggs Benedict were the best she has ever had (her words not mine).

We are now starting the get the hang of this B&B lark, the packing, the timings and all that goes with it. Leaving at 9am, our day round the Ring of Kerry was looking fantastic with blue skies and a clear road ahead. That is, after I managed to negotiate pre paying for petrol before the pump would work! Memories of Route 66 came flooding back, decide your maximum, pay by card, and you fill up and provided you don't reach your paid for maximum, you just get charged for what you take. 

We headed along the WAW north as we have done each day so far and before reaching the highlight, the Cliffs of Kerry, we happened upon a real treat. Guess what, in the middle of nowhere, a Chocolate Factory!!

A free tasting, followed by two coffees, then we managed to buy a selection of various chocolate delights.

Surrounded by fabulous views wherever you look, the Ring of Kerry is a true delight.

Venturing on we reached the day's highlight and were not disappointed in the least. Parking up and paying our entrance fee, we walked up towards the cliff experience. I think they call it that so they can charge a fee. If it was just a big standard cliff, like Dover, you just bowl up and take a look. 

In Kerry, you pay €5 each to have an 'experience'. That said, what you see is hugely impressive as you can see below.

The whole area is magical with reminders of times gone by.

These are pre Stone Age Beehive dwellings, well replicas actually and the birds on the top aren't real either!

More and more views round every turn in the road

Our final stop of the day was Glenbeigh Hotel, a quaint oldie worldie hotel dating back to 1792!

Not a bad view from our window.

Another great day with fantastic weather, great scenery and the prospect of a nice quiet night in the bar and dinner!!

Wednesday 6th May

Another dry day dawns! I'm going to ask for a refund soon.... this weather is so un-Irish like.... blue skies and very little wind. Where are the pounding Atlantic waves and gale force winds?

We left Glenbeigh after a decent enough breakfast, we both had the mini full Irish offering but I opted out of the black and white pudding and got a second sausage instead!

Today was the Dingle Peninsula on our way to Tralee. What is interesting and has been since we set off, is you can get to the next major town in a matter of say 20 or 30kms or you can take the WAW and journey for between 170 and 200 kms!! The Dingle Peninsula is no different. 

Heading west from Killorglin through Castletown towards Dingle, the road hugs the Dingle Bay coastline.

We took a short detour (deliberate I might add, rather than the navigational errors we experienced earlier) to a very small village of Annascaul whose claim to fame was an Antarctic Explorer by the name of Tom Crean who owned the South Pole Inn, and the pub is still serving pints today.

Our first stop real stop was Inch Beach, a pretty spot with various signs warning of strong currents, surfing conditions and has a lifeguard station. No need today, the Atlantic Ocean was toothless.

From there we headed for Slea Head Drive, a very pretty, narrow road around the far end of the peninsula. We stopped at a lovely place called the Stonehouse Cafe with views down over a Stone Age fort.

More spectacular views over the bay including a wee sea bird who clearly enjoys having his picture taken. Over the wall are more dynamic cliffs leading down to the Ocean.

This whole drive along the coast is a continuum of fabulous views from high cliff tops to the ocean below.

Our next stop turned out to be a rather unexpected highlight. We pulled in to an impressive looking complex called the Blasket Museum, a subject neither Viv or I knew anything about.

Off the coast lies some small islands the largest of which is called Great Blasket. The earliest known reference to the island being inhabited goes back to the 16th Century. The museum explains the history of the people, their lifestyle and the many trials and tribulations they experienced.

At its height, the island had around 180 people and they endured a very frugal and difficult existence. Travelling to and from the mainland was by boat and the weather conditions often made the journey hazardous and at times impossible.

The picture above shows the decline in population to the point when in 1954 the island was declared uninhabitable and the remaining few inhabitants were relocated to either the mainland or the USA.

The history of the islands and the people is largely told through the writings of those who lived on the islands. 

The museum is a poignant reminder of how tough life was in western Ireland. Well worth a visit if you are ever in the area.

This last picture is taken from the purpose built viewing platform - the only sad omission is the lack of a map showing you which island is which!!

Another spectacular view from the cliff top before we finished our Dingle adventure in Tralee.

Thursday 7th May

After a disappointing stay at the Ballyroe Lodge Hotel, thankfully only the one night, we set off from Tralee towards Ballylongford on the banks of the River Shannon.

We managed to miss Samphire Island ( not sure how!) but very soon having passed through Ardfert, we came across Balllyheighue Beach. Chilly but sunny, yet again.

Just before we left the beach we noticed a plaque commemorating the golden anniversary of the Ballyheighue Races which started back in 1968. In fact in 2028 it will be the 60th anniversary.

As we moved north with the azure blue Atlantic Ocean on our left, we entered the town of Ballybunnion, famous for its golf course which was visited by President Bill Clinton. A statue of him wielding a golf club stands proudly outside a pub.

We managed to park in a public car park. I mention this because the Resident Car Park is closer to the centre of the town. Us poorer folk have to park further away from the points of interest! A nice coffee in the Marine cafe was most welcome - a really friendly place.

Opppsite the cafe, sits the castle and a beautiful beach.

After leaving Ballybunnion, we drove along the coast towards Beale Strand ( realising at last after several days travelling that Strand is Irish for Beach!).

Ballylongford is close to where we are staying tonight and we decided to check out the area. Our B&B location is in Carrig Island along the shores of the river. Standing proud is the Carrigafoyle Castle with an interesting history. I won't bore you with writing it all but the photo does explain some of the salient points.

We had some spare time so decided to find out where the Tarbet car ferry is located. Having done that, we drove the 20 or so kilometres to Foynes, a town steeped in history of the 1930's and 1940's, most of which relates to flying boats with a mixture of one of Ireland's leading lady's, Maureen O'Hara.

The Flying Boat Museum really is worth a visit. A resume of the history of how transatlantic flights developed. Started by Charles Lindberg's exploits in the late 1920's, both American and British companies strived to complete for transatlantic commercial business. Flying boats landing and taking off from the Shannon estuary became the favoured means of transport but not for that long.

The great and the good travelled in style - here is just three.

The connection between the flying boat and Maureen O'Hara comes about following her marriage to Charles Blair, one of the longest serving flying boat pilots. There is an impressive exhibition devoted to her glittering movie career showing off lots of memorabilia and photo stills of her films and leading men.

The highlight of the exhibition is a short film showing the history and some fascinating facts about the economic challenges of transatlantic flights - check out the rather bizarre method that was trialled - two planes, one big and one small. The larger one took off and had the smaller one attached until it had travelled a while and then the smaller plane was disconnected and few on by itself. Crazy idea or what... it didn't last too long.

An interesting day, finishing up at our B&B, a quaint small abode on the shore of the Shannon with a commanding view of the castle from our room.

Friday 8th May

An early start again, fuelled by another mini Irish breakfast, we set off for the Tarbet to Killimer ferry across the Shannon River. The ferry saves 137 mile round trip by road so good value for the €25 ticket which covers the car and passengers.

We were first in the queue so first off when we arrived on the other side. One of the early stops was Carrigaholt Bay, a small fishing harbour overlooked by a rather ancient ruin.

Although still sunny, the wind was from the north east and was quite biting so we erred on the side of caution and didn't out stay our welcome.

One of the SDP's, on the route (Signature Discovery Point, which for the likes of us mortal tourists means a place of interest), is a headland called Loop Head. Situated on the far westerly part of the peninsula, Loop Head boasts a lighthouse which was manned until 1991 when the powers that be determined it would be automated. 

The exhibition was very enlightening (sorry about the pun!), as set out in the following resume from Brendan Garvey who was the last lighthouse keeper in situ at Loop Head.

Not far away from Loop Head is an area known as the Bridges of Ross. Accessed by a walk through some fields, the Bridges of Ross are rather misadvertised, as two of the three bridges collapsed in the 1800's and only one remains today.

Whilst it is pretty impressive, my preference is for pounding waves and metres high spray!

As with all the WAW, the sights come thick and fast, none more so than the Cliffs of Kilkee, another Discovery Point on our travels. I might also add at this juncture, that these Cliffs are free to view..... see later on!!

Perched on the cliff top are two memorials, the first, a grey stone with engravings paying tribute to a group of Americans who rowed the Atlantic but perished in their attempt to complete the journey.

The second is a family's tribute to a sibling, John Holmes, who on 1st March 2004 tragically slipped and fell to his death from the cliff edge. Poignant recollections from members of his family can be seen in the second of the two memorials.

The town of Kilkee is pretty impressive, one of the larger ones we have seen so far. Lunch was a nice toasted ham and cheese panini washed down with a very acceptable pot of tea for two.

Take no notice of the empty look, it just happened to have shed most of its punters just before I took the picture. Holly's Bar, a nice watering hole in Kilkee.

Our plan was then to travel to the Cliffs of Moher via Spanish Point, a small surfing bay which we found. A single unsuccessful surfer could be seen trying to ride a relatively small series of waves with little success.

Arriving at the Cliffs of Moher was not quite as expected. From a distance you could see a massive car park, full of cars and people and, on the other side of the road, an equally large car park for buses.

We drove into the first to be met with a sign 'Enjoy the Cliffs of Moher Experience' - €15 per adult! I should add at this point that the Experience' is a walk to the top of the cliff and a look down! I mean, call me mean but €30 to take a picture is extracting the Michael somewhat. We explained to the barrier man that we didn't want the experience and he let us out. We tried the coach car park and a very helpful volunteer said you have to pay to park anywhere to see the Cliffs.

Not impressed. That said our accommodation in Doolin has come to our rescue. The view from our room is lovely.

Classic Irish moment in the pub tonight. You get a table then order at the bar. Simples! 

Me - fish and chips, Viv orders from the specials board - meat balls with pasta and garlic bread. So far so good. The barman, clearly struggling with the technology of the food ordering system orders a chicken Kiev (same price item) and types a message to the kitchen..... Meat balls please!! The good news is the chef is also Irish so Viv gets her Meatballs - no problem!!

Saturday 9th May

We truly dropped on with the Atlantic View House with host Mark, a true gentleman who even offered to do a laundry wash for us. A lovely thought but we declined having brought three suitcases, one for each week of our stay so I'm not sure we could cope  with a load of fresh clothes!

The day dawned with bright sunshine again. The wind was keen and it was colder than it looked. Mark served up another outstanding Irish breakfast - no wonder Irish people are a tad larger than most Brits, they get fed huge portions of really tasty food.

We complimented Mark on his advice about Gus O'Connors pub where we ate last night. We advised us to get a table before 7pm because afterwards it would be heaving! He wasn't wrong! By 7.05pm there was a sizeable waiting list for a table.

I mentioned yesterday about the outrageous €15 euros per head to see the Cliffs of Moher. Before breakfast today, we decided to check on line to see what trips we could do today. As we did so, we noticed the CliffsofMoher.com has on online ticket option and the price for two old farts (sorry, seniors) is a paltry €6 each, yes it's less than half price. A gift not to be ignored do we booked.

Fantastic decision as it would have been such a shame to miss out.

The trail is closed, we are not sure why but maybe the various Samaritan posters could offer a clue. There is the customary gift shop plus the usual amenities which you would expect. 

The views are spectacular and even better when the sea is blue with the reflection of the azure blue sky. My word it was a bit chilly, an east wind was felt but we were protected by various layers, a beanie and a wind jacket - prepared or what!!

This is Viv walking down the staircase of the tower. It was inside but you wouldn't have guessed from the outfit.

The picture of the two of us came about after I had offered two American couples the chance for me to take their photos. Neither openly volunteered to reciprocate until Viv stepped in and sorted things out!

Well worth the visit and we are glad we did it.

Our next ultimate destination was Galway and as you drive through Doolin along the coast road the scenery changes dramatically. Gone are the 300 metre cliffs and instead are flat, grey rock formations called the Burren. These continue for several kilometres and provide a very difference landscape.

On arriving in Ballyvaughan, one of the many small 'blink and you've missed it' places on the WAW, we stopped for a drink. 

What a find this place was, a cottage tea rooms with a fantastic conservatory and cottage walled garden. The extra hours of daylight in this western part of Ireland works wonders with bringing flowers on.

Two freshly baked fruit scones with jam and one with cream (for me) and a pot of tea for two had to be done. It would have been rude not to!

The view from the front of the property was equally impressive.

The distance to Galway wasn't that far and we managed to find a place called Flagg Shore, a place made famous ( sort of) by the Irish poet, Seamus Heaney who spent some time here waxing lyrically about the wild ocean and the blue sky.

We decided to head for Galway, our only two night stop on the WAW. Having arrived a little earlier than planned we weren't surprised that our room wasn't ready. A complimentary pot of tea while we waited was much appreciated.

While we enjoyed this wonderful Irish hospitality (I'm not sure you would get the complimentary anything in England!), we happened to do a search for Dunnes Stores. Some years ago we had visited Dublin and stumbled across said Retail emporium and low and behold not only does Galway have one, it's less than 10 minutes walk from the hotel!!

It had to be done - a touch of retail therapy and very successful it was too!!

Another day successfully negotiated and tomorrow is a non driving day ...... possibly!

Sunday 10th May

A very different day. A more leisurely morning with breakfast at Menlo Park. Nice but the cooked food is never as good in buffet form rather than freshly cooked. Bacon is never the same after it's been kept warm! Nevertheless, very pleasant.

We decided to walk into town, a good half hour past Dunnes and Lidl and through a number of smaller streets and we found ourselves in Eyre Square.

A Sunday market ..... lots of local goodies, food, trinkets, woollens, very impressive.

We had thought about taking the Hop On Hop Off tour but could we find the HOHO info centre? Google Maps had it in middle of the Square but we couldn't find it! We then spotted a bus with a local bus tour guide selling tickets - job done and we jumped aboard.

The total round trip took just over an hour with plenty of stops and a very good commentary.

Setting off....

Harriman's Hotel, Eyre Square

Galway Port

Salthills and the Butlers Diving Board

Galway Cathedral

So much to see! We stayed on for a full round trip, then went for a wander and grabbed a coffee in the smallest cafe you could have found. Not only that, but the cafe that took the longest to serve up two latte coffeee!

A stroll down to the West End took us to an area known as The Long Walk, made famous amongst others by Ed Sheeran (allegedly).

There were several other sights which reinforced Galway's claim to be one of the cultural centres of the world.

The main river flowing through Galway is reputed to be the fastest flowing river and the second highest in terms of water flow in Ireland. River Corrib connects Lough Corrib and the Atlantic but is only six kilometres in length.

The city walls in the 16th Century contains an arch called Spanish Arch. Hidden behind the arch is the City Museum, free to enter, and home to a wonderful collection of artefacts going back to the Stone Age.

Our last sighting if you can call it that was a statue of the famous Irish writer, Padraic O Conaire who was reputed to have been described as the only Irish writer you can imagine a European reading!

After five hours of walking (and 12,000 plus steps), we meandered our way back to the hotel. Another fine day under blue skies and seeing some fantastic sights.

Just before we got ready for our evening, we have been watching Gaelic Football, on TV. It's Galway against Roscommon and it looks as though anything goes! You run, you kick, you pass, you seem to be allowed to do most things. We consulted Google and got a rough idea of what is happening. Points and goals and points make prizes!!

15 players on a huge pitch, with lots of running. Our TV has subtitles and what's even more tricky is the speed the commentators speak is much quicker than the poor chap having to type the words. If you foul someone you can get a yellow card but a red card is replaced by a black card. Now only one point between the teams, less than five mins to go. Roscommon have the lead now..... now lead by two..... Galway kick out has gone to Roscommon. Now Galway need two points ..... 30 seconds to go. Galway have missed ...... Roscommon win!! Not good for us in Galway..... well played the Rossis!! ( their nickname by all accounts!).

What excitement! (I think.....)

Monday 11th May

A bit of a issue overnight with the fire alarm going off just before 2am! Leapt out of bed and got dressed just in time for it to stop! Opened our door to see the guy opposite getting very worried so I suggested calling reception to check out what was happening. All was ok so back to bed.

It turned out that one of the residents tried to exit the hotel, presumably having been in the bar all night, and pressed the red fire alarm button instead of the green night exit button, thus sending all the other residents into panic!  As I suggested on Facebook, message to Management..... close the Residents Bar a bit earlier!

After a leisurely breakfast, allowed for as we didn't need to arrive at Roundstone till 4pm, we set off back into Galway to pick up the WAW. The road took us to Salthill promenade again (a deja vu moment from the HoHo ride yesterday) and we were on our way.

Our first stop was a nice viewing point which we thought was a place of some religious significance. There was a stone with words engraved in Irish ( this part of Ireland is renowned for Irish speaking).

Being the quick thinking person I am, I switched to Google Translate and focused on the Irish wording waiting for the translation to kick in. Here it is....

Oh well! You can't win them all. The wheelie bins were a bit of a give away really!

We popped in to the airport at Connemara to see the small planes responsible for taking passengers and goods across to the Aran Islands. Not sure I would fancy flying in something that small to be honest.

Further along the Galway Bay is a gorgeous area called Ballynahow Quay where the water is crystal clear and the scenery breathtaking.

What is quite extraordinary is the way in which the scenery changes within literally a few miles. Coral Strand, only 6/7 kms away is a great example. Just off the main road on a small spur road, you come across an amazing deserted beach with rocks, sand and vegetation.

Quite incredible!

As we drove away from Coral Strand, we happened to stumble on a quiet, out of the way, pub, called Tigh Kitt just outside Rossaveel. What was extraordinary was it was run by a lady from Elephant and Castle who had moved to Ireland over 30 years ago, the food was amazing and what's more there is a connection between the pub and the Titanic! Several photographs were on the wall depicting survivors of the disaster together with a model of the ship in a glass case. One of the locals in the pub explained the connection - apparently one of the nearby residents was a family member of the Chairman of the White Star line, the owners of the ill fated ship.

Our last stop before Roundstone, was a place called Glinsce a very peaceful fishing pier with great views and lots of fishing paraphernalia.

Even more spectacular views and more to follow as we made our way to tonight's resting place.

Viv and I agreed that in all the wonderful places we have been lucky enough to visit over the years, you would be hard pressed to find anywhere as beautiful and so entrancing as Western Ireland.

This was echoed by the views in Roundstone, a wonderful harbour against a backdrop of magical hills and vibrant colours.

Set this off against this view in O'Dowd's Bar, this evening's venue for dinner and what else could you possibly want.

Tuesday 12th May

Our last WAW day, at least following the book. From Roundstone to Westport via lots of little bays and passed and round some pretty impressive hills and maybe even mountains!

Leaving Roundstone after an interesting breakfast we made our way towards Bunowen Bay. We had asked for breakfast at 8am and duly ventured down to the cafe just before the appointed hour. The door to the cafe was ajar and two girls popped in, asked if the cafe was open to which our host said yes. Mrs Host lady pointed to us and said these are B&B guests for breakfast but can do you a coffee! That's good came the reply, we need four lattes! As we sat down, two lads walked in and chatted to the girls, it turned out they were part of a film company, we think making an advert for a make up company. 

Mrs Host lady made the four coffees, came and took our order ( the only time we had not been offered anything cooked!!), and then asked the lads what they wanted. They ordered 8 coffees of different shapes, sizes and types!

Viv asked which cereals were available, there was one, a very odd muesli type concoction and for the first time I my life I had the pancakes with maple syrup! Not the best start to the day!

Anyway, enough moaning, off we went to our first stop, a place called Derrigimlagh ( no idea how to pronounce it) but its claim to fame is that it was the place where Alcock and Brown crash-landed their biplane after completing the first non stop Transatlantic flight on 15th June 1919 having flown 3040 kms from Newfoundland. It is also the place where Marconi set up his first commercial radio station in 1907.

The area also boasts an unusual bog landscape, with some scraggy looking sheep included.

Passing through the town of Clifden, we opted to take the Sky Road, a 16km loop around Clifden Bay with narrow roads but the customary spectacles to be seen

Further along the peninsula we arrived at a fascinating beach which at low tide allows pedestrians and cars to travel over the sand to Omey Island. The snag is that you have to be back in the car park three hours before high tide, or basically you don't get back!

We popped into the Connemara National Park, at least, we drove around the car park but sadly no spaces available so we couldn't do one of the many walking trails ranging from 3.7km to 5km. Totally gutted we were!

Tully Cross, in fact the Anglers Rest pub to be precise offered us a much needed lunch and pit stop (the lack of a Full Irish Breakfast was taking its toll). A nice toasted sarnie and a Tuna Melt ( no chips, I'll have you know) did the trick and set us up for the afternoon adventure.

Next stop was a simply beautiful beach area called Islands View. Along very narrow track, the scene at the end was truly awesome,

At last, some waves pounding and the distant hills providing a wonderful backdrop. 

Had it been 32 Deg and not 12 you could be forgiven for thinking you were in the Caribbean!

The drive towards Leenane takes you along a 16km loop around a natural fjord. It takes in Killary Harbour as you drive down one side, round the end and then back up the other side.

As you leave the fjord, you arrive at Ashleigh Falls, a quite beautiful place, putting us in the mind of the Yorkshire Dales.

The colour of the gorse is so vibrant.

The road from the falls takes you through Doolough Valley, another quite remarkable example of Western Ireland beauty.

Part way along the road, you come across a memorial to those locals who perished in the Irish Famine in the 1840's. A simple monument which means so much to so many families.

Arriving in Westport had its moments! The B&B had sold its parking spaces at the rear of the building so the on site parking reference was rubbish. Apparently you can park anywhere which didn't sit too well with me but thankfully we managed to find a proper space opposite the building. 

A quick wander to find tonight's pub was successful and we had time to take a couple of pictures of the town.

So, tomorrow we head from Westport to Donegal via Sligo.

Wednesday 13th May

So, here we are, yesterday was our last 'pre arranged' WAW drive day from the book. For today, we knew we had to arrive next to Lough Eske at The Lodge@Harvey's Point in time for a booked meal in the bar at 6.30pm. Otherwise we had so specific plan or journey booked.

We set off from Westport and headed for Newport which is about 12kms to the north. From there we  headed west to Mulranny, a very quiet little place with, to be fair, not much happening. Today was our first real windy and showers day and as you will see later, it worked a treat.

From Mulranny, we headed north, still on the Wild Atlantic Way, but for the first time, there was very little to see.

As we reached Bangor (also known as Bangor-Erris), we had a decision to make, do we head for Belmullet or head for Barnstra which we did. From here we picked up the WAW going north through Glenamoy and headed for Ballycastle.

Here we came across a very nice cafe in amongst an archaeological site. We haven't admitted, we opted for the tea and buns instead but got some great photos of the pounding Atlantic waves - the first in nearly two weeks.

From there, we drove to Downpatrick Head and what a sight that was! Aided by the wind and the roaring sea, the waves were extraordinary.

Trust me, the waves are incredible but the photos do tend  to be a bit flat.

A windy road back on the main road put us back on the way to Killala which had a lovely cathedral and a strange but yet imposing round tower. The purpose of which - I know not!

We arrived just before 4pm and settled into our Lodge cabin.

Not a bad view from the room window.

Nice relaxed meal in the bar restaurant, at least until it got busy with a group of lary young American women.

As this is our last stop before we meet and stay with the lovely Liz and Girvan, it is worth explaining a bit about our experiences of the B&Bs on our trip.

Overall, the hospitality and quality has been very good and some exceptional. The cost, whilst expected because they were booked last October, was reasonable, when compared with the actual accommodation and facilities offered, sometimes made it feel as though Ireland is a little expensive. I know costs have gone up and we are in one of the cleverest tourist marketed areas but it does feel a bit high at times.

Whilst talking about the Wild Atlantic Way, whoever thought of the idea really has brought beautiful parts of Ireland to the attention of a wider audience. It is well signposted, and there is a lot of really good quality information available both on route and in hard copy form. The roads are far better than our roads at home and far better maintained. Of course, narrow in places but most drivers ( hard to say they are all locals as you can't distinguish rental cars over here) are courteous and passing places on the smaller roads are plentiful.

I do wonder if everyone is happy with the WAW? Have house prices risen on the route, a double edged sword depending on if you are buying or selling. As a local, do you appreciate the upturn in traffic (that said, the traffic for us has not been a problem at all)?

My take, is that financially the areas on the route will have benefited. Is the WAW a gimmick? Not all all, it is a beautiful part of the world and many of the viewing sights and places of interest have been left largely au naturelle (the Cliffs of Moher, excepted!).

Returing to B&Bs, it would be inappropriate to go through the pros and cons of each but what I will say is that there are some examples, where you are treated like a family member, with freshly baked cakes on arrival, offered a welcoming cup of tea, served a freshly cooked breakfast of Goliath proportions and greeted with the warmest of welcomes and an engaging smile. During each short stay you are sharing part of their home

What I have learned in the past two weeks is that some hosts are simply born to share their homes with strangers and they are truly wonderful people. For others, it feels more like just a business and there is nothing wrong in that but the difference really shows.

At the end of the day, the world is about people and thank goodness we are all different.

Thursday 14th May

With the last of our B&B behind us and so much looking forward to the next five days staying with Girvan and Liz, we said goodbye to Lough Eske and set off for our next destination, but not before telling our next hosts what our travels plans were. Girvan had suggested if we had time, to take a look at Slieve League. We hadn't planned to, not because we didn't want to, it was simply down to working out a route from Donegal that would get us to them in mid afternoon. 

His suggestion sounded a good one and the extra mileage was hardly that much so we went for it. As we drove from Donegal through the town of Killybegs, which I would say boasted a fine array of very impressive fishing trawlers, we approached the next town of Carrick from which there is a spur road leading to Slieve League. At this point the heavens opened, the Irish rain gods had finally had enough of us not needing waterproofs and telling everyone how beautiful the Irish weather is in May.

At the visitor centre, the shuttle bus driver said he would take us to the top and wait and bring us down. Very good of him. We grabbed our coats, waterproofs, hats and jumped aboard for the ten minute drive to the top.

In these ten minutes you would not believe the transformation. It was like Moses parting the Red Sea only this time parting the rain clouds.

Before us, lay the most incredible sight, sea cliffs standing 601 metres high, the colours enhanced by the bright sunshine. The rain gods had gone for a tea break.

Once again, Ireland had continued to amaze with its beauty and incredible scenery.

We then journeyed north through Ardara along the N56 to Dunfagahy passing again some awesome sights.

The last 10 or so kilometres towards our destination of Dundooan Upper was equally spectacular with a mix of mountains, hills (not sure when one becomes the other), beaches, sea bays and just about everything in between. 

We arrived and were greeted with warmth and hugs and the widest of smiles. We were so glad to see them both again particularly as Girvan and Liz has not enjoyed the best of health and it was so pleasing to see them both looking so radiant. Very much in keeping, may I say with the dream views surrounding their beautiful holiday home, which we are delighted to be able to share with them for the next three days before moving to see their main home on Sunday.

After devouring a wonderful selection of scones and cakes (all calorie free of course), we ventured out for a short tour of the surrounding area. It is so hard to imagine how much of nature's beauty can be compressed into such a small area, but trust me, it is and the following photos give you a small flavour.

This little fellow seemed to be impressed with the views as well 

Before signing off, I must just mention that Girvan's car suffers from a design fault that seems to be common in Ireland. As you leave your house and make your way down the track to the nearest road, your car will inexplicably take a turn into the pub car park.

As we got out of the car, the aroma of peat fires filled the air. Rich and sweet smelling. The pub itself was busy with a mixture of golfers and locals, eyes glued on Rory McIroy playing in the USPGA, everyone smiling and chatting, two real coal and wood fires blazing away and more pints of Guinness than I have seen in ages.

Healthy looking chap!

Liz treated us to a lovely evening meal and we enjoyed some lively banter before retiring tired but so pleased to be able to enjoy life's pleasures.

Roll on tomorrow!

Friday 15th May

Day two at Chez MacCorkell and once again the day dawned with blue skies and a gentle breeze.

Breakfast was a very welcome return to something nearing normality with cereal and toast the order of the day. The full Irish jobbie has been consigned to history. The sigh of relief from my waistband could be heard for miles around.

After a leisurely chat, our wonderful hosts unveiled a  plan of action for the day. A guided tour of the local peninsulars preceded by a trip to the Glenveagh National Park with its spectacular Castle and Gardens.

On route, another chance to experience the extraordinary spectacle that nature has to offer.

Glenveagh National Park is a remote and hauntingly beautiful wilderness with unlimited opportunities to explore and experience nature ( their words, not mine, but very much endorsed).

Our plan had been to visit the castle but sadly it's closed on Monday and Fridays! Instead we opted to watch a very informative audio visual presentation of the history of the castle, its development over the centuries, its various owners and its place in the history of the local area. The gardens were very much open and were as spectacular as expected.

Even the view from the Visitor Centre was pretty special. You get a feel for the remoteness of the park during the 4km shuttle bus ride to the castle and you can't help wondering how and why you would not only choose to build it where it is, but how it could have been achieved. It must have cost a bob or two even back then.

The gardens are exquisite and full of so many exotic and local flora. Capability Brown - eat your heart out! Here is just a small sample.

After a rustic lunch in the Castle Tea Rooms, we headed off to our next stop. The tides around the local headlands are notorious for their speed.

If you compare the two pictures and notice the lack of sandbanks in the second one, and realise the pictures were taken less than twenty minutes apart, you get a rough idea of what is going on!

Horn Head is another example of how beautiful the West (and North) coast of Ireland is.

Our final touring stop was to visit Marblehill Beach, a quite deserted and oasis of calm on a chilly, bright May afternoon. I expect in the summer holidays, there will be rather more people taking advantage of this beautiful panorama.

A stop for coffee during which one of our party decided to go 'off piste' and order a completely decadent alternative, the details of which will remain a secret for fear of reprisals on the author. Details might be revealed in return for a small fee!

This final photo shows an example of the age old technique of peat cutting, which is still carried out in many parts of Ireland despite the clamour for peat free compost in other parts of the world. More investigative work needed on this before we head home, methinks.

Saturday 16th May

Our last full day in Donegal dawned rather cloudy and we had a little liquid sunshine to contend with. 

We all decided there was little value to be had touring the area when the drizzle and cloud meant you couldn't see very much so we had a really leisurely breakfast and a morning doing very little but laze around and chat. After over two weeks of covering nearly 3000kms, sitting on a comfy sofa drinking coffee was an absolute delight. The weather cleared by late morning and after an impromptu lunch of cheese and nibbles (with the obligatory glass of wine), we decided it was time to venture out once again.

Our first stop was a view of a relatively recently constructed bridge, quite aesthetically pleasing to the eye as it happens, with a rather interesting history.

Known as the Harry Blaney Bridge in honour of a prominent local politician who succeeded his brother Neal as leader of the Independent Fianna Fáil party until it was dissolved in 2006. His politics spanned both support of Irish republicanism and populist localism. 
He continued in politics until his death in 2013 and enjoyed the use of the bridge to ease access around the local area from 2009 when was completed.

The bridge connects two peninsulas, Rosguill and Fanad which leads to one of the most scenic parts of Donegal.

As we had been accustomed to, Fanad did not disappoint. The view of the lighthouse and it's surroundings once again show why the west and north areas of Ireland offer some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. The Fanad lighthouse is a sectored lighthouse, which means as shipping approaches, coloured lights are visible depending on where the ship is positioned relative to the lighthouse and the areas of danger. If your position is approaching an area of danger the light you will see is red and it will remain so until your boat, ship, canoe, or I suppose a surfboard, moves to an area of safety when you will not be surprised to know, you will no longer see the red light! All clever stuff!

Around the headland, is a small inlet which although quiet at this time of year, I would imagine it would be overwhelmed in the height of summer.

As we climbed the next hill, we came across one of the most photographed beaches in Ireland. It is featured in the front page of many Ireland.com publications and you can see why.

The area which surrounds Lough Swilly, one of the biggest and deepest sea loughs in Ireland is equally impressive and on one of the viewing areas there stands a memorial stone to those lost when the HMS Saldanha was shipwrecked on 4th December 1811. The stone was erected exactly 200 years to the day in 2011.

Returning home in the evening, we were still able to be enthralled by the view of a cracking rainbow, the vibrancy of the seven colours clearly visible. We couldn't see the other end of the rainbow so sadly no pot of gold !

Sunday 17th May

Today was moving day where we left Donegal and travelled the two and a half hours or so across into Northern Ireland to the town of Ballymena, our home for the next couple of days, courtesy of Girvan and Liz ( what great hosts they are!).

We had hoped to stop off in Derry to see and experience the walled city but sadly the Sunday parking and the heavy rain meant we could'nt do the hour long walk along the walls. Next time we will!

We did manage to grab some quick shots of some of the sights, The War Memorial, The Peace Bridge and some reminders of the Troubles from times gone by.

We exited the city via the A2 towards Belfast over an older bridge!

As we joined the A6, Viv and I needed a quick bite to eat and fell upon a pub and restaurant (reputed to be the highest in Ireland, a claim later to be disproved). Paddy Joe's is the pub and The Ponderosa is the restaurant. A rather foolish schoolboy error ensued! We walked into the restaurant hoping to get a pot of tea for two and a sandwich or something similar. We were shown to a table and given a menu. A quick glance showed us the error of our ways! A fixed price for a two or three course Sunday Lunch..... why? Well it was Sunday and it was just after 1pm. Eating this evening we had a dilemma - eat too much now or just have a shared starter and pay a fortune.

We played the daft English tourist card, long journey, no clue where we are, helpless and useless. It worked, a very accommodating maitre 'D, took pity on us and found a couple of scones and a pot of tea and charged us accordingly - a top man!!

Thankfully Girvan and Liz had beaten us home and were able to welcome us on our arrival.

Monday 18th May

Our last full day in Ireland, in Northern Ireland, in fact Ballymena to be precise. 
Girvan and Liz suggested we might like to visit the Bushmills Distillery on the North Antrim coast, not surprisingly in the village of Bushmills, only a few miles away from the Giant's Causeway.

On the way, we passed Glenarm where Girvan has been known to moor his boat. A quiet harbour along a fairly rugged coastline.

One of two local churches dominate the skyline close to the harbour wall.

From there we travelled along the Coastal Route, passed the Giant's Causeway viewing point and the entrance to the Causeway itself and on to the little town of Bushmill. Warned by the reviews advising that late entrants to a pre booked tour would be declined entry if they were late, a tried a nearby bistro tucked away at the rear of a craft shop where we hoped to grab a quick drink and a bite to eat. As with the Glenveagh Castle some days ago, we were thwarted, this time not by a Friday closing but a Monday closing! 
No matter, four packets of crisps and a giant pack of seven penguins later, all was well.

Bushmills Distillery was working distillery since the late 1700's. It is the oldest licensed distillery in Ireland.

For some reason, maybe industrial espionage, you cannot take pictures iinside. Tim our guide took us round the one hour, 145 steps, nearly one mile walk to show us the finer workings of the distillery.

The key lessons learned, for me at least, was that a 10 year old malt whiskey means that the youngest malt in the bottle is 10 years old. It may contain other malts older than that. To be called an Irish Whiskey at all, it has to be lain in a cask for at least three years.

The casks the whiskey is matured in does have a marked effect on the taste of a whiskey. Casks are sourced from all over the world and the Chief Buyer ( a lady with a good nose), is then tasked to use all her talent and expertise to create the desired taste.

Each cask is labelled to show the place of origin and the type of liquid previous put into the cask, eg a sherry, port or even bourbon from Tennessee.

The Chief Blender, the Whiskey maker, will decide on the blends, the casks and how long the various mixtures will remain in the casks before bottling.

The view of the operating area was amazing with each bottle being cleaned with a whiskey of equivalent age, no more, no less, then packaging, bottling, finishing and bubble wrap ready for distribution.

The next feature of our tour was the best, the tasting. Five Bushmills whiskeys each expertly explained by Tim, how to use 'the nose', how to read the colour, what to expect on the palette. We started with a blend, followed by a 10 year old. Then the ladies favourite, the 14 year old, a 16 year old and last but not least the 'boss', a 21 year old.

Pictures followed and a great time was had by all.

At the end of the event you get to ring the bell ( or at least try anyway!).

Last but not least, before leaving the distillery, a chance to buy something from the gift shop ( had to be done) and some final pictures as a momento of a great tour.

The North Antrim coast is said by many to rank alongside the Wild Atlantic Way in parts and they are not wrong. 

These two pictures are from Magheracross and Dublin's (if you look carefully you can see the ruins of Dunluce castle on the cliff side).

The last stop before a well earned coffee and chocolate chip cookie, was a quick view of Portrush Golf Club, scene of recent Open Golf Championships in 2019 won by Shane Lowry and 2025 by Scottie Scheffler.

Our day finished off with a lovely meal at the Galgorm Castle Golf Club, and a nice glass of Bushmills Irish Whiskey (would be so rude not to!!)

Tuesday 19th May

Well, here we are, our last full day on the island of Ireland, as we say goodbye to Ballymena and head back to Dublin. We have a one night stay there in readiness for the ferry back to Holyhead tomorrow morning.

Nearly three weeks in the beautiful place with so many memories to cherish. Things we have seen, people we have met, and an experience we had dreamed of, but in reality exceeded all of those expectations. 

This recollection of our journey along the Wild Atlantic Way and the brief stop in County Antrim will soon come to an end. We have a couple of days in North Wales before we finally head home. 

To everyone who has read this, Viv and I say thank you. As always, a shared experience for us, even this blog - I write and she proof reads (with on this occasion a little help from Liz). It has been a pleasure as always to share our travels with you. As we have said on so many occasions, we have been so blessed to be able to see so many wonderful places in this all too troubled world.

We hope in our our little way, these thoughts and pictures help you to enjoy the experiences we have been able to share.

For regular readers, I must let you know that I have been in touch with the developers to see if the posting of content can be set up so that the most recent additions appears at the top. The answer is sadly no, at least how I am using it, so I will see if I can change the way I set this up to make it easier to access.

PS. If you hadn't guessed, it was Girvan who will now be forever lovingly known as 'Marshmallow Man'.