Blogs from Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, Europe - page 8

Dear All Greetings, from London! Although I am currently back in London again, I have just returned from an amazing four-day trip to Northern Ireland, it currently being our half-term break here in London. I really did have an amazing time over there in Northern Ireland, and although I only initially intended to write one Travel Blog entry upon my return, I have decided that in order to be able to do the trip, and my experiences there, justice, I plan to write it up in a total of three Travel Blog entries, based mainly on my three full days of travel over there. The idea for this trip came towards the end of 2017. Having recently returned from West Africa, and it still being many months away until my next planned big summer trip, I ... read more

Belfast and Northern Ireland has a chequered history. Having spent many years living and working here during what is euphemistically referred to as "The Troubles" I can attest to there being more than that chapter in history to define this place. Here I am some 20 years on, returning to my adopted home, not only to revisit parts of "The North" but to cast southward into the Republic of Ireland. The largely coastal route will tease back the cassock to reveal the magic and silliness that masquerades as day to day life on this wonderful island; but first it's to Belfast I go. Spot of luck to kick off the visit by not being welcomed by the customary tipping rain. It is cool, I will not lie, but there is a promise of a colourful visit ... read more

Unser Urlaubsplan für dieses Jahr: Irland, genauer gesagt: Die gesamte Insel einschließlich Nordirland. Wir starten in Portrush, einem kleinen trubeligen Städtchen auf einer Landzunge ganz im Norden. Wir werden von unerwartet schönem Wetter empfangen und beziehen ein älteres, aber nettes B&B, mit tollem Blick aus dem Fenster direkt auf eine Meeresbucht und den Hafen. Wegen des guten Wetters starten wir mit einer Wandertour: 14 km immer an der wunderschönen Küste entlang, vorbei an Schafen und Kühen, über Strände und Klippen, über Wiesen, Zäune und Stiles, links der Blick ins Grüne, rechts der Blick auf das Meer, und dazwischen Felsen und Buchten. Am Ende der Tour wartet das erste touristische Highlight: der Giant's Causeway. Das Ganze ist eine eigentümliche Formation von 37.000 sechseckigen Basaltsäulen, die beim sehr gleichmäßigen Abkühlen von Lava entstehen. Das ist schon sehr se ... read more

I left Glasgow about 20 minutes later than planned but I put a little buffer in my timing. The forecast was for clear skies the entire route However, I got spit on about 20 minutes outside of Glasgow. The rain was not so bad that I had to stop and change helmets. Most of the ride was similar to when I was going the opposite direction a week earlier - beautiful. I stopped a couple of times to take pictures of the Scottish West coast. I finally learned the name of the big solitary Island between Scotland and Belfast. It is called Ailsa Craig- which translated means Island of Rock or Rocky Island. It is really an imposing figure, although you would have thought they'd have given it a little more mysterious name! It is noted ... read more

A port call in Belfast provided the opportunity to see a bit of Northern Ireland. The region appeared peaceful now, after so many years of factional strife. We selected another Paddywagon Tours excursion as our port tour at Belfast. Our first stop out of Belfast was at the Dark Hedges. The Dark Hedges is a line of 18th century Beech Trees along Bregnagh Road in County Antrim. They are very mysterious looking, like something out of Tolkien. In fact, the road and the overhanging trees were used in filming the TV series Game of Thrones, where they appeared as the King's Road. Other productions have also made use of their menacing appearance. The trees were planted ca. 1775 along the entrance road to Gracehill House. The entrance drive has long since become a public road. (Gracehill ... read more