Slieve League Donegal Ireland

Day 70/Ireland 5

Travelled:84km Donegal Region 

Visited: Slieve League, Muckross Head, Killybegs, St.John’s Point

Stay:Montcharles Pier carpark N54.6299 W8.2063

Feeling excited this sunny morning as we set off to see Slieve League and some of the highest sea cliffs in Ireland (3 times higher than the Cliffs of Moher). We’ve been told it gets  very busy so we were very happy as we drove into the carpark at 7:30 am to find nobody there! We had our breakfast and set off through the gate (you can drive to the Bunglass lookout but we thought we could do with the extra exercise).

These signs were used all along the coast for WWII aircraft.

The end of the road..

 At the end of the road we enjoyed the spectacular views.

 We then walked up a stone path for another couple of kilometres to the highest point on the cliffs which offered some more stunning views including the valley we had driven through. 

On our return to Bluey we followed a grassy path to another Napoleonic tower and more amazing views... 

By the time we got back to Bluey the crowds were building and so we decided to leave and have a cuppa down at the pier. There where many people heading out from here to go diving near the bottom of the cliffs. 

We once again headed off along the Wild Atlantic Way making our way to Muckross Head that has unusual horizontal layered rocks that have become popular with rock climbers. 

Again the roads were slow going due to their narrowness and Sunday traffic but we eventually arrived in Killybegs in time for lunch at the Tara Hotel (recommended by locals). 

Seafood chowder and glazed pork were our choices today..

Cheers

The town has one of Ireland’s busiest fishing ports and we had a stroll around admiring some of these huge trawlers. 

There was also a rowing competition going on attracting plenty of supporters.

 As we travelled towards Donegal, we did a detour to the peninsula St.John’s Point. The beach there was very popular especially that it is a bank holiday weekend.

 But unfortunately our visit to the end where the lighthouse resides was thwarted by a broken down car on the one lane road! So we managed to do a 5 point turn and head back to the N56. A little further on we thought to have a look at Montcharles Pier and decided to call it a day. The clouds had built up and we watched the storm approach us and an hour later the heavens opened up.