Ireland awaits - part 2

 I forgot to mention in the first blog that in Belfast we took a hop on hop off bus tour (good recommendation Lois!). It was well worth doing.

Apart from the usual city centre sights and buildings, it all took in the Falls and Shankhill Roads, the murals, Crumlin Road jail, and the "peace" wall. Now this was fascinating, and shows that a lot of people have not moved on. The driver did a good job of staying neutral in his descriptions of the atrocities, bombings etc.

Sunday saw us travel along the very beautiful Antrim Coast Road, stopping at all the views on the way. The stop for the night was in Bushmills carpark, which gave us the opportunity to visit the Bushmills Distillery, and naturally try a few samples.






We knew everywhere was going to be packed solid on Bank Holiday Monday, so there was an early start to get to the Giants Causeway. We were just about the only people there, and it was so peaceful and quiet - the bird song was immense. Just as we were leaving the tour busses arrived.





Dunluce Castle was the next port of call, a pretty impressive place.



nd then to see if we could get in to Portrush and Portstewart, but with the upcoming NW200 motorbike races it was just too busy, and nowhere to park. Colraine was much the same, so we moved on to Magilligan Point and caught the small ferry across Lough Foyle to Greencastle, in Donegal.



It was then just a short journey north to our stop at Stroove Beach, Inishowen Head. This was a pretty little beach, with views back over the Foyle. No facilities, but free.




Today, Tuesday, we carried on the Wild Atlantic Way, stopping at Culdaff Beach and the visually immense Malin Head (the most northernly part of Ireland).





We called in at Malin (to see if McClean's Bar was open - it wasn't), Carndonagh, Ballyliffin and Clonmany to our best stop yet overlooking Tullagh Bay.

Imagine having this for free: 



I hope that video link works.

Anyway, that's me up to date.


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