15/8 2021. Accordantly to the forecast, the only sun within the next two weeks, will occur in the late afternoon. At least, the sun didn't pay attention, and I see quite some of it, during the day. The first site is just around the corner; St Eunan's College, which I just found fascinating, when I passed it yesterday. Then I head back down south to Donegal town,
which should be nice, and Outside of town, the mirror fjord make a great
motive, although the sun is missing. I stop breathily in Aigham,
to see the round tower in front of the church. Now the sun is
present, and any photo look great.
A small river meet the sea, penetrating some
huge boulders, and it look great. Then I reach the parking-lot for
The Sliabh Liag Sea Cliffs, and start
The cliffs do not really appear that big, but when a boat passes, it is tiny! I make a lot of photos, and they all look alike. Some areas look like snow, but it is just barren gravel. This is apparently a popular tracking area, especially on Sundays. I fail to talk myself into the peak-trail, mainly due to the cold wind and rain-forecast.
The
narrow road continues down the valley, and the grass covered
hillsides are steep. A few areas have conifers, but most are just
grass. I follow the sea for some time, then I reach The
Assarancagh Waterfall. It is quite impressive, and impossible to
make a proper photo of.
The road leads through a almost marsh-area, with plenty of creeks and rivers and swamps. I see a few old houses which appears to have dry grass roofs. I make another huge de-tour, over the mountains and back through Glengesh Pass again. The giant hills seems to have their original cover of rocks, and her are only a few stonewalls. I see the Maghera Strand way down, but let it be with that. Ardara village is fare from as
interesting, as I had hoped, and I head homewards.
A few things I keep forgetting to write: I do
see some road kills: Badgers, fox, hedgehogs and rabbits.
I also see live rabbits and some Irish Stoat; Mustela erminea
hibernica - or alike.
16. I continue by the small and scenic
roads through ferns, peat-fields, small lakes and heather country.
The bedrock is exposed in many places, some fields are covered in
small boulders and rocks. I am sure these roads
I
reach Crolly Waterfall, which is defiantly not
commercialized! Actually, there are no path to it. And walking the
soaked field, belonging to a farmer who have put up a sign;
Intruders will be prosecuted, is not that tempting. The
I do the
rest of the peninsular - in the car, with the heater on - and
despite the The road eventually leads out on Rosguill Peninsula, with some summer-houses and more or less abandon farms. Her are some small, but perfect sandy beaches - except for the lack of sun. Then the road turns into the mountains, and the clouds are low. I reach the little Knockalla Fort, but
decide a photo from the road is sufficient.
I head home to Letterkerry, and make a stroll through Lower and
Upper Main Street, once again. Most shops are open by now, but I
still fail to find anything to buy.
17.
The day starts in north Ireland with Grianán of Alieách;
which is "closed to further notice" due to Covid-19. Well, I'm her
all by myself, and it is outside in a fresh wind. I walk the 600
metres around the pointy hill. Here are no views today, as the fog
dominates.
My
A huge area is walled, and several buildings, dating back to then, are found within the area. I do a bit of the wall, among some huge black powder guns. The shops are closed, the drizzle persistent and I head on, after an hour.
The
I
find the North Sperrins Scenic Route, it clears up a bit, and
I try some of the minor roads as de-tours from the route. It is a
great drive, but the photos are a challenge, due to the lack of
light. I pass a high area dominated by heather for miles. Then
follow some conifers, some real huge ones.
A huge glazier tunnel; Spurs of the Rock, make a large gorge through the hills. On a clear day, it will look great! I pass a few small towns, but they do not look that interesting, despite the age. A few potatoes fields are found in the lowland, and they are flowering by now.
I
reach the shore of the mighty Lough Neagh, looking like the
sea. In Ballyronan, there is a marina, bigger than any I have
seen so far. I walk a bit along the shore, and find a few freshwater
mussels-shells. The entire area seems almost deserted - but is is not
a summer's day. As I head out the town, I spot a sigh to Beaghmore Stone Circles, and that sound interesting. They originate from the Bronze Age, around 3.500 years ago, and should be Northern Irelands finest prehistoric monument. They are not that impressive; I guess I could move all stones, except a handful. Besides from the circles, there are some rows and some piles. Well, they look nice on the perfect lawn, surrounded by heather fields in flower.
I find more minor roads, fields with cows and
sheep, stonewalls and a lot of green grass. Then a sign show off to
Archdale Castle, but is is fare from as impressive, as I had
hoped. It is getting late, and I have 100 kilometres to my hotel in Easkey; Ireland. I set the GPS for the border, and if not, I would have missed it. It is a small river, and the only signs are the "translation" of the speed limits: 50Mp/h and 80 Km/h.
BACK IN IRELAND, I find the cosy
hostel, where a key is waiting for me in the letterbox.
Day 16. |