Thursday 26th August, 2016
We left our colourful B & B after a very nice
breakfast; adequately filled. Our host suggested we take a
side trip to a fishing village of Roundstone which we did. It meant going south again, but a round trip
back to Clifden. Well worth it, the
countryside very pretty, the heather and gorse at its peak I think; the
landscape barren & sparse at times.
Many little villages along the winding seaside road, when we arrived at
Roundstone we weren’t disappointed – these little harbour villages have a
certain charm.
Because we couldn’t get into Kylemore Abbey yesterday (there
was a function) and as it was on our way north, we called in, paid the
necessary Euros (with senior citizen discounts) and wandered around the rooms that have been made available to
view. Around the walls is the history of
the Abbey – very interesting and quite sad too.
We then meandered through the beautiful trees to the Gothic Church,
built in 1877, ten years after the Abbey.
In the other direction is the Walled Garden covering 6 acres.. Quite a walk to this incredible area, both
formal gardens and a vast vegetable garden.
What they do with all the produce I have no idea but impressive it was.
We had lunch at a wee café and finally we found a sandwich
(like the ones we have in NZ, two in a cardboard pack affair) very yummy along
with a coffee. We sat outside and watched
the continuous flow of people come and go.
Then off we motored north into County Mayo, via Westport, through Newtown
with the lovely arched bridges, past the long narrow Kilery Harbour, with many
many mussel farms. The landscape I
thought, not unlike our McKenzie Country but greener of course. Gone are the rock fences and replaced with
post and wire.
We passed many areas that have been harvested (not sure if
that is the right word) for peat. The
peat in groups of white bags which looked awful in the landscape I thought.
We drove through Bangor then onto to Ballina where we have
found a superb B & B on the outskirts of the town. Early to bed tonight.
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| Our Colourful B & B in Clifden |
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| Boat Harbour Roundstone |
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| Love the coloured houses throughout Ireland, these at Roundstone |
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| Boats in the harbour |
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| Fishing area, surrounded with heather and gorse. |
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| Kylemore Abbey |
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| Interior of the Gothic Church |
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| Walled Garden |
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| The arched bridges at Newtown |
2 comments:
That was a beautiful selection of photos. The place looks like a postcard.
Finally this morning have caught up on your blog. What a wonderful time you are having, especially catching up with Freespiral. Loving the pics, such picturesque country and loving the towns. Sorry Dora has been misbehaving, they do strange things some times. After great weather in Norway for the first week, we have some rather wet days, along within single figure temps. Layers of merino needed! Xx Meg
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