May 7th Errigal / An Earagail

 Wednesday7th May 2025.  3.4 miles and 1650 feet of ascent (and descent).

We had seen the distinctive pyramid shape of Donegal’s highest peak from a distance. From closer as we drove past on a bank holiday Sunday it looked less tempting. Ver stony, almost like my memories of coal slag heaps of the 1950s and 60s.

However, we decided, since it was there, it should be climbed.

It was 3pm when we set off from the nearby car park and began the relentless upward trek.

Fewer people around on a Wednesday, but it’s a popular route with a very clear well marked path, complete with rocky steps -

hard work both up and down, but the views repaid the effort.

A very worthwhile afternoon out!  We were down by about 6.15 - we hadn’t rushed this one!

Sliabh Liag

Saturday 3rd May 2025

A longish drive through magnificent scenery in Glengesh area.

We had lunch in the pub in Carrick. good food, but very weak tea! Chatted briefly to a group of young Spaniards, who live in Ireland

We continued to Sliabh Liag - spectacular cliff views and a strenuous short walk, though we didn’t have time to reach the summit. A fine, but very windy day. Probably about 2 miles and around 600 feet of climbing on rugged terrain.

. 

We drove up to the Sliabh Liag Tourist Centre

where we caught the shuttle bus to the viewing point.

That boat is a long way down

We walked for a couple of pretty tough miles part way along towards the summit,

but as we were pushed for time we decided to return.  This was partly because the wind added to the effort, and it was almost harder walking downhill than uphill. 

We caught the bus back down, and indulged in a coffee and muffin before returning to the car.

Tea is good for you, you’ll die with it and you’ll die without it.

Not so much a walk - just a look at Dungloe.

 Dungloe, in Irish Gaelic An Clochán Liath (the grey steppung stones) is a small town in the Gaeltacht, but only about 15% of inhabitants speak Irish as their main language.

We heard it spoken in shops from time to time, much to our delight. It is very much in evidence on signs throughout the town.

We walked along the main street and down to the shore.

 

May 2025 - Further local exploration, railway walk plus.

 May 1st 2025

And the weather looks greyer and cooler. 

The cuckoo continues to call.

A two-cups-of-tea-and-delay-getting-up day.

Then out for a walk, which turned into about 6 miles. Much pleasanter walking weather today, cooler, some cloud, and a breeze.

We follow the same route as I took yesterday as far as Loch Altencar

and Meenbanad.

We chatted briefly to a man with a fishing rod, near Lough Altencar. “are you lost?”

“Not yet.” Then I ask him, “Do you catch much in here?”

“We took a house up here years ago - my mother came from a few miles down the road - and I tried fishing and caught nothing. I thought I’d try to get my revenge. That was in, the sixties or seventies. Things have changed a lot since then.”

I told him I’d visited Ireland in the sixties. “County Kerry”

“Ah you mean the Kingdom of..”

“Ha? Well I think things are very different here now “

“Ireland has grown up.”

 

We leave him and walk a little way down the road opposite, but can’t find the railway track path, so we change plans and decide to follow the busier road towards the shore, passing a memorial to two men who died in the Irish war of Independence against the British in 1918.

For a mile or so we dodge the traffic - busy enough, but nothing like on some English minor roads.

As we reach a junction, a youngish woman slows her car to ask if we’re lost. This time, I smile and say,”no, just mad”.

We miss the turning on to a smaller road, and walk beside the R259, partly along a low sea wall structure to the next turning. This is a small road with grass growing in the middle, a few houses, a couple of ruins, some conifers, some flowering horse chestnuts. It goes down steeply, then climbs up again. 

We see one car on this stretch.

When we reach a junction we turn right, and perch on some boulders in a dried up (ish)bog, for a drink of water, our mini-packs of biscuits - and we share an apple.

A woman is walking her dog along the road below.

Houses become more frequent and eventually we meet the railway track again, and walk the last mile to the cottage.

Total of about 6 miles today.

Another dramatic sunset, unexpected as it was cloudy just before. Plus the newish moon.

Railway walk - north then east.

 Wednesday 30th April 2025

A fine morning and washing on the picturesque line.

Brief walk along the railway track, to the right from the house road. A bout 1 mile.

Quite a few butterflies on the dandelions in the sheltered hollow - three or four peacocks, looking slightly paler than the ones at home, and orange tips and whites. Another orangey patterned flutter further along. Cuckoos were calling again. 

Then back for coffee and a bit of a laze. 

After a late lunch, at 2.45 I went out for another walk along the old railway track.

Very warm today, and not a lot of shade.

Walked just over 3 miles, with two stops for water.

One of the places I sought shade for a swig of water..

Back as the church clock was striking 4.

Met several cars on one stretch of road near the last lough(an), plus one woman walking and one man cycling along the track. A few butterflies, though it was hot.

A lovely sunset - reminded me of La Serena - wide horizon, the red ball of the sun slowly sinking.

  And now a beautiful crescent moon.

Yesterday’s crossword by Philistine was fairly straightforward, with some clever clues.

And that’s pretty well a wrap for April!