http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Donegal/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Ireland , County Donegal en-us Fri, 24 May 2013 01:04:16 +0000 Fri, 24 May 2013 01:04:16 +0000 And so we begin our big trip. Ian flew out to London today from Cork after midday on a flight to Gatwick.He won39t fly out to Dubai until tomorrow at 10am. He will stay there for 5 nights and then move onto Bangkok to spend time travelling around SouthEast Asia Starting in Bangkok onto Cambodia Vietnam Laos then back down through Thailand.I will put a new update in when there is more t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Donegal/blog-751668.html There is something about the extremity of land that has a compelling draw. Slope Point and Cape Reinga in New Zealand spring to mind as per our blogs from the bottom of the world. The Republic of Ireland was no different. Malin Head is the most northerly point of Ireland. The most northerly point of Inishowen. North of Northern Ireland but its in the South. The compelling draw was big news. It http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Donegal/blog-740571.html It was shortly after 9.30 pm on a wet Tuesday night. Mine host of our accomodation kindly provided a superb drop off and pick you up at the pub service .............. only up to 1am mind or we39d ask you get to get a taxi. This sounded late to a man who specialised in the 8.20 pm bus. It looked like they weren39t planning to call last orders anytime soon then. We entered the bar in the vill http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Donegal/blog-739870.html They say a week in politics is a long time. It stands to reason then that 2 weeks in travel can be an eternity. In early August it was all hustle and bustle and the thrill of London 2012. 80000 in a packed athletics stadium almost half the population of County Donegal . Noise. Excitement. Donegal was therefore the peace and quiet and relaxation. Empty beaches. Fresh air. No more of the trinke http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Donegal/Donegal/blog-739688.html Friday May 18 Donegal to Killybegs via the Blue Stack Mountains and return.Today Noel Christy and I headed North west out of Donegal and explored the Blue Stack Mountains and went to Killybegs. The drive was very nice but also very tiring. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Donegal/blog-717822.html Hi all So the countdown is on and we have finally set up the blog today. Just testing it all out after a day of checking through packing lists Looking forward to keeping in touch with everyone on here please comment or message us along the way We are both going to be blogging and it will depend on the dayweek who has decided to do it Share the link as you wantChat soonCiara http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Donegal/blog-680261.html Hello folks another update as I have been travelling again.If you remember last year this time I was in Australia and swapped my house with the lovely Susan and Geoff in Port Maquarie NSW well here I am in Ireland with them as they have swapped with an Irish family who are now in Port hope thats not too confusing and while I am here another family from California are staying in my house http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Donegal/blog-662984.html Hi everyone I tried to send this note 2 days ago but as i am new to this blog site i think it may not have gone so this is round two. Bear with me if you got it first time a this is repeat.Hello all Today was one of those rare days for us this month in Ireland with the weather being sunny and clear. After so much and very unusual flooding rain we were blessed with perhaps the best day weat http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Donegal/blog-661309.html Today lynne leaves for home or rtaher for her daughter in Newcastle.The rain held off untill we had just about arrived at the local pub The Squealin39Pig in Muff for a Giunness.before we had driven to the old hill fort at Grinnan Aileagh sp with a fabulous view and dreadful driving cold wind. Amazing place 2000 years old. Afetr we went to Inch island the photo of the road sign was unmi http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Donegal/blog-660626.html This is the first time I have done a blog so I am trying it out on Lynne.Today we had a rainy walk around the walls of Derry with a guide very informative. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Donegal/blog-660405.html Day 24Departed Tory at 0900 and anchored in Lough Swilly at 1530. The wind was a F3 right on the nose so we motored most of the way at 4 knots until we rounded Fanad Point and turned into the Lough. It was from here that the Flight of the Earls took place in 1607. O39Neill and Red Hugh O39Donnell sailed away leav ing Ireland to the Crown. The visitors moorings were all taken with paddle boat http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Donegal/blog-626806.html Today we went on the ferry to Burtonport hitched into Dungloe and got a cab back to Burtonport before returning on the ferry. We needed to get some lube oil for the engine and that was the main reason for going to the mainland. The ferry trip is a delight. Its a narrow channel and both sides are lined with what appears to be sandstone with a pink tinge. There are numerous tiny perfect beaches lin http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Donegal/Donegal/blog-625994.html Depart portnoo at 10.30 and arrived aranmore 17.30 . we covered 15miles in 7 hrs...the day began almost too well in bright sunshine. we raced along at 6kknts towards the tip of Aranmore in a northern breeze.From the southern tip of Aranmore to Tory is only 20 miles we decided to continue about 8 miles west so that when we tacked we could make tory.As we headed west the wind freshened to a good for http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Donegal/Donegal/blog-625777.html We left Killybegs at 09.30 and arrived in portnoo at 18.35. WE went ashore in afternoon to Killybegs. its a desolate town a reminder of what it once was. today all is quiet supermarket closed hotel closed fish factory on minium. we walked 1k to garage to get diesel as fuel depot on pier was closed and luckily got a lift back from a local woman. she is married to a fisher man and was telling u http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Donegal/Donegal/blog-625773.html Departed Frenchport at 1900 and arrive next morning in Killybegs at 0700. This was the first night sail. The was an anticyclone 200 miles west and the weather was very mixed with four seperate forecast for four different parts of the coast. There were gales in Munster. F6 in the Irish Sea. But Donegal Bay was promised good for Tuesday night Wednesday morning so we decided to go for that. Its 63 m http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Donegal/blog-625131.html As the last of the visiting Americans departed the pristine coach I watched as one by one they ambled towards the waiting craft shop and tea rooms where piped Irish music reminded them that they had made it to the heritage town of Aradra which sits on the edge of the Atlantic in Donegal Ireland.The coach arrives each day during Summer with different passengers of course although mandatory na http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Donegal/Donegal/blog-619594.html This morning we ate another great breakfast at the Ardmore House BB she even had little menus of all of the options and it was just great with a child seat ready to go for Zoe. We headed out with a lot to do and see first stop was Kylemore Abbey it is as lovely as every picture I have ever seen of it. So pretty we didnt go inside just did the photo of the outside. Then on into Letter http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Donegal/blog-593380.html Hey folks I am very late... again We are now in Ballyliffin. It has been since we left Dublin. I will write about what and where we went since in my next blog. This one is all about the greatest day of the year after Christmas. I should almost say a week. I have been to all sorts of festivals on four different continents but I was really looking forward to this one. Did it match my expectation http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Donegal/Malin/blog-589464.html We spend last night in a 350 year old manor house in the town of Letterkenny. What an experience Very old and kinda a little creepy but fun Today we are in Bundorin on the coast. Had dinner at a pub and tomorrow we are back to Dublin to return the car While on the Northern Ireland coast we went to the Giants Causeway and we walked the rope bridge too The north coast kind of reminded me o http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Donegal/Letterkenny/blog-533844.html Monday 6th September to Sunday 12th September 2010.Monday 6th Sept 2010Looked around Londonderry not much happening as lots of shops are closed as it is Monday and they open Saturday and Sunday. We have noted that we have to make Mondays our catchuprest day.Drove to Letterkenny and found Hymer dealer. Have booked in the motorhome for next Monday so went into tourist information office to plan http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Donegal/blog-533800.html