Tyler and Mazie wanted to try surfing in Ireland and there are a number of places that do surf lessons but we weren’t having luck with any of them. Then we found Rossnowlagh Surf School on the beach and they were happy to have them join. 55 °F with 15 mph winds.
Ireland 2024 Log - Day 10
Weather: Overall good. Some sun. Kind of windy. Chilly but not too bad.
- Picked up to go baked goods and breakfast items at the Bakery Shack in Rossnowlagh.
- Drove to Teelin Pier.
- Took Sliabh League Boat Trips and got a tour of Sliabh Liag Cliffs from the water with Paddy.
- Lunch at The Rusty Mackerel.
- Coffee stop at Brew In Thru in Teelin.
- Drove to upper car park for Sliabh Liag Cliffs and hiked up to viewing location. Mazie hiked up beyond to a further point.
- Drove to Silver Strand Beach.
- Delightful time on this incredibly secluded beach.
- Started drive back to Airbnb.
- Stopped in Donnegal for food. Ended up having crêpes at Little Mamma’s as most dining options were closed.
- Fed the Alpacas at the Airbnb.
- Evening hot tub at Airbnb. Tammy gets an evening walk in.
Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or see Ireland 2024 Collection.
Mazie has been enjoying feeding the Alpacas here at the Airbnb.
Today was filled with sheep as we ventured further north.
Silver Strand Beach
After taking in the Sliabh Liag we set the navigation to Silver Strand Beach about 30 minutes North. We drove through the most remote part of Ireland that we had experienced so far with tons of sheep everywhere, including some on the road. When we arrived we were greeted to one of the most picturesque beach scenes we’ve ever taken in. This beautiful harbor with a perfectly crescent beach that seemed almost undisturbed by anything. Including the four of us there were never more than 10 people on the beach.
Toward the end of our time we had a bunch of dolphins show up in the bay jumping out of the water and playing. It was incredible.
Sliabh League Hike
In the morning we took a boat tour to see Sliabh League from the water. We also wanted to see it from the surface on top as well. We made our way to the upper parking area for Sliabh League and then set out on foot to walk up to the viewing point at the top. It was a wonderful walk up. We got to the viewing platform and took it in for a while and then to Jamie’s chagrin Mazie decided to go up to the next point in the trail. Tammy and Tyler stayed back mostly to hang out with me while we waited for her return.
These spots are incredible and are over three times higher than what we saw at the Cliffs of Moher. However, the Cliffs of Moher at least appear to be more sheer in their drops. Sliabh League looks more mountainous with plenty of vertical drops as well.
Today’s Guinness at The Rusty Mackerel.
Sliabh League Boat Trip
We met up with Paddy at the Teelin Pier this morning to take his Sliabh League Boat Trip to see the Sliabh Liag cliffs from the water.
These cliffs are the highest in Ireland, rising three times higher than the Cliffs of Moher. The rock formations were incredible and the scene was more like mountains.
Ireland 2024 Log - Day 9
Weather: Cool with gentle but steady rain much of the day.
Today was a longer transit day starting in Doolin and making our way to Ballyshannon for the next stop.
- Left Doolin at 8 AM.
- Drove to Galway.
- Breakfast at Dela.
- Shopping and exploring in Galway: Port West (Tyler Jacket), Butler’s Chocolates (Truffles), Aran Sweater Shop, Weavers of Ireland, Intersport, Life Style Sports (Tyler Jersey), EuroGiant (Tyler Fan), Coffeewerk + Press (Jamie Mug), Wooden Heart (Mazie Maileg Mice), Le Petite Delice (Jamie Scone), Harper (Tammy clothes), The Sheep, and Murphy’s Ice Cream.
- Checked out the Galway Market.
- Drive to Ashford Castle.
- Go on a Hawk Walk!
- Drive to Bundoran.
- Dinner at Blue Leaf.
- Continue to Cria Lodge to check-in.
- Try out hot tub for our first night.
Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or see Ireland 2024 Collection.
Guinness in the hot tub tonight outside of Ballyshannon.
The kids meeting the Alpaca that live here at Cria Lodge.
Hawk Walk at Ashford Castle
If I was living hundreds of years ago I would like to have been a person that hunted with a hawk.
On our way to Ballyshannon we stopped at Ashford Castle to experience a Hawk Walk. After completely missing the car park on the first round through we found ourselves back outside the castle grounds getting more thorough directions from the gatekeeper who found us quite amusing. The second time through the gorgeous estate we found it. The castle and estate were amazing on their own. The Guinness family owned it at one point.
We made our way on a nice 10 minute walk through the grounds to the Ireland School of Falconry and started our Hawk Walk with a tour of the facility and seeing some of the 32 hawks that they have there. The Harris Hawks that we would walk with are unique in that they hunt like a pack. They work cooperatively.
We all took turns with Mazie and Tyler starting out with the hawks. We took Walnut and Chestnut out for the walk. The hawks came to the glove quick and obviously knew that the morsels of rat were waiting for them.
We went out on the walk and it was incredible to have these hawks pacing along with us as we went. Anytime you raised the glove they would immediately come. We would then launch them off again and they would fly away. In between they would survey the area and swoop in around us joining along on the walk. Their speed was amazing. They can routinely go 60 miles an hour.
An amazing experience made even more incredible with Ashford Castle as the backdrop. Photos don’t capture this experience that well but the videos really do. The power and grace when the hawk lands on the glove was inspiring.
Enjoying a flat white from Coffeewerk + Press in Galway. Love the graphics on their cups. Delicious coffee.
On Quay Street as we explore Galway.
Final look at Doonagore Castle as we check out of Doonagore Cottage. On to Ballyshannon and a full day in Galway today.
Ireland 2024 Log - Day 8
Weather: Best weather yet. Good amount of sun. Reasonably warm. Not too windy.
Another day spent entirely on foot. Activity for Tammy is 40,995 steps and 95 flights climbed and Jamie 32,498 steps and 81 flights climbed.
- Tammy and Mazie go on independent runs.
- Tyler and Jamie walk to Irish Craft for breakfast. Tyler got pancakes. I got a scone and ham & cheese croissant.
- Tyler, Jamie, Tammy meet at Doolin Inn about 10 minutes early for cliff walk. Mazie arrives 2 minutes late.
- Pat Sweeney collects the group for the amazing Doolin Cliff Hike.
- After completing hike visit the shop at Cliffs of Moher and Tammy gets a purse.
- Take shuttle back to Doolin Inn.
- Shopping at Village Crafts. Tammy and Mazie get hats to vibe with Jamie’s.
- Ice Cream stop at Doolin Ice Cream!
- Chocolate stop at Village Crafts.
- We try our hand at golf at the Doolin Pitch & Putt.
- Everyone is very hungry so walk and have dinner at Stonewall Wood-Fired Pizzeria in Hotel Doolin.
- Walk back to cottage to hang out for a bit.
- Walk back into Doolin for music and Guinness at Gus O’Connors Pub.
- As we lose light, walk back to cottage to wrap the day.
Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or see Ireland 2024 Collection.
We got to take in a bit of Irish music tonight at Gus O’Connors in Doolin. The place was packed and it was very warm inside.
Pitch & Putt
We are not a golfing family. I’m not a golfer. The extent of our golfing is really some mini-golf once in a while. But while in Doolin we walked by the Doolin Pitch & Putt and it looked like it might be something we could do.
Many people go to Ireland in part to play on gorgeous golf courses. Our Pitch & Putt was right off the ocean and had some great scenery. Our golf game? As bad as expected. 🤣
Hiking the Cliffs of Moher
I was pretty anxious about today. Today was the day that we did the hike along the Cliffs of Moher.
First of all, I’m fairly scared of heights. Going to the top of tall buildings is not something I look forward to. Being on very tall things with a lot of wind makes me just more uncomfortable. And then you add people that I love to the mix and I’m just a ball of nerves. We did a cliff walk in Ballybunion and that got me spooked a bit and I knew that was beginner level for the heights that we would get on the Cliffs of Moher.
The plus was that we were going with Pat Sweeney of Doolin Cliff Walks. Pat has grown up in this area and he was instrumental in this cliff walk even coming about. He worked with all the farmers that own the land along the way to get hiking routes through and make this a reality for the last 14 years. Pat was calm and confident, but also realistic. He stopped a couple of times along the first half of the hike to remind us of safety and being careful. He shared that accidents do happen on the cliffs. Every year there are people that fall off. Some for doing things that they really shouldn’t be doing. Others because an accident happens. At one of the stops he shared that just four weeks prior a college girl traveling with three friends fell off the cliff. There was flooding on the trail. So they got on the grass edge to avoid the water, which was probably fine. But then there was an oncoming group and she stepped aside to let them go through and lost her footing.
In fairness I know people fall into the Grand Canyon every year and you should always be aware and cautious in places like this. So, that is what I focused on. That and keeping myself firmly in the right place on the trail. The kids were kind to me and realized I was anxious and they did a great job. Tammy was helpful too. In the end, we did it and it was an incredible day with amazing views. All while sometimes just a few feet away from a 600 foot drop. 😬
The walk started very close to the cottage that we are staying in, just down the road. The first stop was to take a moment to take in the area and see Doonagore Castle and appreciate the stone bridge we were walking over that was over 300 years old. The cottage that we are staying in is actually connected with Doonagore Castle and only became an Airbnb recently.
We passed through and along many farms as we went along the coast.
After rising about 150 feet above the ocean the views become more stunning.
There were some stones laid as bridges across streams. Pat commented that this particular stone crossing had been washed out twice by the ocean in the last 10 years.
Our first true view of the cliffs.
There is always wind on this trail.
The “peak” on the left is the highest point we reach as we make our way along the cliffs.
Another warning sign of the extreme danger along the cliffs.
Here we are at the fort after we completed our hike.
The cliffs continue to go along the coastline. You could keep walking for the whole day.
Nice cappuccino from Irish Crafts this morning.
