Nearly never got back from the Wild Atlantic Way - and I mean honestly

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So the day started really well. We got up early as I wanted to go to Giants Causeway before the crowds descended. Well a tip for you here, if you do not want to go to the Visitor Centre you can go down to see the Giants Causeway free apart from parking which is free for National Trust members but doesn’t open until 9am - a bit late to miss the crowds. But you can park in one of the private car parks for £5 and then walk to the visitor centre and go through the arch and down to the Giants Causeway. We are members of the National Trust so we could park and go to the visitor centre free. Anyway as the visitor centre car park does not open until 9am this was definitely too late for me as I knew there would be crowds and I wanted to see this special place with as few people as possible. So Mike stayed in the van while I walked down - it was magical there was only one other person there. Once parked, Mike joined me and at least I had got all my photos crowd free by then. We started walking back and the crowds that were coming down were enormous. From 9.30am until 10.15 am there were 932 people booked and remember you do not have to book to see it - bullet dodged there then.

So we carry on the WAW (Wild Atlantic Way) and get to Inishowen Head which is a lovely spot and we have a drink on the beach before carrying on to our final destination Malin Head. But first problem of the day. I am map reading again and I am convinced the road ends at Inishowen Head and that we have to retrace our steps to Greencastle despite the WAW signs saying carry on. So back we go and no sign of the WAW route. So Mike says we should try going back past Inishowen Head and carryon. I tell him this is ridiculous but he should try it to prove me right haha. So he does, and then checks with a local who says Yes carry on, that’s the way to go. Got that one wrong didn’t I. Now you would think things could not go further wrong as the day started great. But they did!! I have been told to be careful just following WAW signs as some people turn them around - well we got caught and followed the sign down to Kinnegoe Bay BIG MISTAKE - YES MASSIVE. We drive down and it is a one vehicle road round a hairpin bend with cars parked on the outside. We manage to get down even though Mike had to pass parked cars and really it should have been no parking but he managed it and we end up in a car park for a beach - not bad if you want to go to another beach but we were looking to get to our destination. So he manages to turn the Motorhome around and manages to get past the parked cars until we get to the hair pin bend and then things really turned for the worse. We could not get around the corner due to the parked cars - the Motorhome wheels kept on spinning and as it was hot the tarmac up was breaking up. So after a number of times reversing and then making a run at it we decided to reduce the weight of the van by dumping the water and putting nearly all our belongings, and me, at the side of the road - did this make any difference No. As we had to let vehicles up and down we parked on the bend. We decided that the only way we were going to get around the bend was to find the owners of the cars on the beach and ask them would they mind moving. So Mike sets off with photos of the number plates and starts going down to the beach to find the owners whilst I stayed with the Motorhome and guided cars up and down past us. Whilst Mike is looking for the owners of the cars one of the owners came back and moved his car phew - but Mike was still on the beach looking for the owners and the phone had no signal but low and behold a lovely gentleman Kieran, who had been sent by his Mum to try and help, and his girl friend came up and he said he drives HGVs and could he help as he thought now the first car had moved he could get the Motorhome up for us - and he did, what a knight in shining armour he was - I could not say thank you too many times to him and his girlfriend. Whilst this was going on someone said to Mike, whilst he was still looking for the owners, your motorhome is moving up the hill - to which he thought if Paula has managed to move it he is in big big trouble!!

When we get back to the top we realised someone had turned the WAW sign around - not going to make a mistake like that again, map then sign.

We managed to get to Malin Head in the end and are staying in a field at The Seaview Tavern had a beer and food and then retired for the night. Malin Head is the most northerly part of Ireland - bit of info for you there. I wonder what tomorrow will bring, ha ha

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Photos

Kinnegoe Bay
Avoid like the plague if in a Motorhome the hair pin bends is a nightmare

View from the Seaview Tavern
Where we are parked up for the night

Comments

[MarySparks]

Wrong turns, Dead Ends
Resonates for us driving the Lincoln Highway. Luckily we don't have a motorhome! Glad you got out of that pickle!

[PJandMike]

OMG Mary
If you ever have the chance to go to ireland you should go amazing but understand you have so many places to go also - we are so lucky we can travel

[MarySparks]

Ireland
Have done bits and pieces of the Wild Atlantic Way in western Ireland. This is where my Corcoran ancestors came from. You're bound to find at least one pub named Corcoran if you are in the Galway/Cliffs of Moher area. Amazing, yes! Enjoy every minute!