bantry

It rained heavily again overnight. The campsite was a bog by the morning. I am beginning to know why Ireland is so green. That, or we are just a bit unlucky with the weather.

The roads around here are much narrower than those of recent days. Not always smooth either.

Traffic remains almost non existent compared to the UK.

The sea is ever present to our left and so it will remain for the days ahead as we follow the Wild Atlantic Way signposts leading us west.

We pass the towns of Clonakilty and Skibbereen. Here is Michael Collins birthplace. I will let you read about him here if you don’t know the name. He is very well known in Ireland.

The road is well posted and off it are far too many places to visit than time allows so we pushed on to Bantry for a Fish and Chip lunch.

We did stop on the way at the Alter Wedge Tomb to go and take a look. I had read about this Holy place and wanted to see it for myself. It is a listed National Monument of Ireland. You can read more here.

With your back to the tomb this is the view. The site was very well chosen.

We arrived and parked up in Bantry. It was pouring down but a rather sympathetic chip shop owner let a soggy dog and its owners come in and sit for lunch.

The road now follows the coast of the Beara peninsular forming the north coast of Bantry Bay. I had been in here with a number of ships to anchor off Bantry. Whiddy Island is prominent in the bay and I had read about the flying boats based here that flew out to attack U boats in the second world war trying to protect the Atlantic convoys.

A chance pull over into a lay-by close to Adrigole to let faster cars pass me resulted in this unusual find.

More can be read about it here.

The sinuous road climbs hills and ducks into valleys with the omnipresent sea always as company. The coast is rugged. We pass Castletown-Bearhaven and climb up into a Coll over to a small town called Eyeries and then head North east briefly to our resting place for the night at Kilmakilloge. Even here out in the wilds there is history.

We are off grid here. Alone. Peace and quiet. I love it.