This travelogue tells my story of the roundtrip I made to Northern
Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. I travelled also through England
and Scotland. At first sight it looks strange to travel to Ireland
through Scotland, but the P&O Irish Ferries crossing, Cairnryan –
Larne is so much cheaper than the Wales - Ireland crossings, that a few
more extra miles doesn’t matter.
In my travelogues I often use a lot of text. This time however I want to
use more pictures than words. Keeping in mind that one picture says more
than a thousand words.
Sunday the 6th of July, Heerenveen – Europoort
Ready to go
The first leg of this journey to Europoort was an easy one. The ship is
somewhat more luxury than normal. The food was very good and I did sleep
very well.
Monday the 7th of July, Hull – Gretna
Today I did drive from Hull to Gretna along York. The fuel prices have
gone up by 18P since last year. The prices are now the same as in the
Netherlands. The pound has gone up also against the guilder.
Braids Caravan Park is on walking distance from Gretna and the
“Crossway Inn”. The “Director’s Ale” tasted very well.
Tuesday the 8 Th of July, Gretna – Stranraer
The most used route from Gretna to Stranraer is by using the A75 this a
busy road. Therefore I have chosen for the Galloway Forest drive. At the
Newton Stewart fuel station the price of petrol was even higher, this
can become expensive holidays driving a thirsty Volkswagen Camper.
Park
nearby Stranraer Harbour
The Aird Donald Camping Park is very quiet with just some Dutch and
German tourists having a stance. I didn’t see any French or Italian
campers this year. The campsite warden is complaining about the lack of
campers this year. The more expensive pound is been given the guild.
Wednesday the 9th of July, Stranraer - Enniskillen
I had booked the slow ferry crossing because I’m not in a hurry, just
having my holidays and it’s a lot cheaper too. I was to early at the
terminal and it seems that the fast Jet Liner isn’t full and the slow
one is, so they asked me if I had any objection to travel with the Jet
Liner without any extra costs. My answer was of course, No objection at
all.
Cairnryan Harbour
I was much earlier in Northern Ireland this way, so I decided not to camp
at the planned Larne campsite, but to drive on to Moira. The Moira
campsite didn’t look much to me, so I did drive to Enniskillen.
The A4 to Enniskillen however was closed, because of some Protestant
Orange marches. The traffic was diverted along B-roads. At both sides of
the road were armed soldiers in a distance of about 50 yards of each
other. A real escort of honour so to speak. More roadblocks were
expected in this area according to other road signs.
Thursday the 10th of July, Enniskillen - Athlone
It wasn’t easy to find the right exit to the N55 south. The Irish road
sign department had done everything to hide this sign between many other
signs in a town. The road signs and in the Republic aren’t so uniform
as the ones in the UK. I had to drive some extra but nice miles. The
fuel prices in the Republic are much lower than in the UK.
Dutch
Heineken is also sold in Athlone, Ireland
The pub is close by the campsite.
Caffreys
ale is real smooth. We had so much rain that the campsite was almost
flooded. The Dutch (wooden) cloughs are than very useful.
Friday the 11th of July, Tour Clonfert Clonmacnois
Today I made a trip to Clonmacnois. This is one of the earliest Christian
societies in Ireland and Europe. There are a lot of tourists.
Clonmacnois
The Pope did visit Clonmacnois in 1979. They honoured the Pope with a
nice tablet as seen on the picture below. Clonmacnois is now an even
more holy place according to the Irish.
In
honour of the Pope's visit
Saturday the 12th of July, Athlone - Lahinch
Lahinch is a chaotic looking town. The roads towards the west are in a
very bad condition. Because of the rain there stays a lot of water on
the roads. Lahinch has very much pubs, I wonder how they all can make a
living.
Lahinch a chaotic looking city
The
cliffs of Moher
Sunday the 13th of July, Tour The Burren
The Burren landscapes are sometimes surrealistic. Sometimes you think
you’re on the moon. I had a guided tour at the Aillwee Cave exhibition.
The last in the wild living bear is seen around the year 1000 in
Ireland. Bones of a bear who lived here around 500 years earlier are on
display in the cave.
The Burren, with sometimes
surrealistic views
Monday the 14th of July, Lahinch - Killarney
It was raining and raining the whole day. I had plans to visit Bunratty
Castle and the renewed Folkpark, but with this heavy rains it’s not a
pleasure to do so.
I couldn’t find Tralee campsite. There are a lot of new buildings in
that area, so it’s possible that the campsite is been closed. I
decided to drive to Killarney. The Killarney campsite is on walking
distance from the town.
Tuesday the 15th of July, Tour Ring of Dingle
Dingle is a nice and colourful city. The common road to Dingle and the
Connor Pass route are both scenic roads. The Connor Pass can be very
foggy; the road through this pass is dangerous than. Today the sun did
shine and it’s very beautiful than. Nice views.
Dingle steep and colourful
Wednesday the 16th of July, Tour Ring of Kerry
De Ring of Kerry I did drive before, just as the Ring of Dingle. The
weather wasn’t so good as yesterday. At the heights there isn’t much
sight than. Kenmare is a town you have to visit. It’s a lively city.
Kenmare
Thursday the 17th of July, Killarney - Cahir
I had planned to stay at the Cork campsite. After all it wasn’t a good
choice because the campsite is near the airport. It was still early in
the afternoon so I did drive to Cahir. The quiet and well-maintained
campsite “The Apple” is close by Cahir.
Cahir
Castle
Friday the 18th of July, Tour Cashel
Today I did visit “The Rock of Cashel” and Cahir castle, so I did see
a lot of stones today. I did speak to a lady collector. She did asked a
contribution for the Irish diabetics. I’m diabetic too, so we talked a
little. She did find it strange that I travelled alone as diabetic. I
told her I do my own blood sugar measurements and make my own decisions
about how much insulin I have to inject each time. We have courses in
The Netherlands to learn to handle our diabetics. After this talk she
better understood why I could travel and handle my diabetics alone.
The
Rock of Cashel
Saturday the 19th of July, Cahir - Wexford
Wexford was my go today. The fuel tank has a leakage. So I think it’s
better to keep the fuel tank half full to see what’s happens than.
Wexford
Campsite
Sunday the 20th of July, Wexford - Dublin
Around noon I was at the Dublin campsite. The leakage of the fuel tank
has stopped. A half full fuel tank is the solution to solve this problem
fore the time being.
Monday the 21st of July, Dublin city
Dublin is just as the last time I did visit the city. Busy and nice.
Nice
way to advertise
in Dublin
Tuesday the 22nd of July, Dublin - Markethill
This morning I did go to Northern Ireland again. I drove along Newry to
the “Gosford Forest Park” nearby Markethill. Markethill is divided
in two parts, a Catholic part and a Protestant part. The gates can be
closed at any time. In the pub I had a talk about the Army’s and so on.
I’m from the Orange country and sometimes it’s an advantage over
here since the battle of the Boyne.
Markethill, Northern
Ireland's dividing in a picture
Wednesday the 23rd of July, Markethill – Benone (Limavady)
This morning it was a really nasty weather. This afternoon it became
better. I did go to the beach and with me a lot more
.
Benone
Beach
Thursday the 24th of July, Benone - Larne
The green coastal route A2 to Larne is very nice to drive. I did visit
the Bushmill’s distillery. It’s the oldest whiskey distillery in the
world and the first legal too, since 1608.
View
from the Larne
Campsite
Friday the 25th of July, Larne - Stranraer
Larne was a little bit bigger in my memory as it looks now. I was here in
1993 too. I had a quiet day and did some shopping. Stranraer was insight
around six o’clock.
Cairnryan insight
Saturday the 26th of July, Stranraer - Gretna
A lot of rain today. The sky light of my camper has a leakage. I made a
temporality repair with some aluminium tape. The leakage of the fuel
tank is over since I keep the fuel tank half full. I have enough work
this way after my holidays.
Sunday the 27th of July, Gretna – York
Today it was a nice drive from Gretna to York. The weather was fine.
Monday the 28th of July, York city
York is always nice for shopping. There are a lot of second-hand stores
and curiosity shops. Every year I take a lot of goods home because
Colman’s mustard, Cheese & Onion and Salt & Vinegar Crisps,
Chutney’s and Ale you can’t get in The Netherlands or are very
expensive. Tesco was my supplier this year.
York
city centre
Tuesday the 29th of July, York - Hull
This morning I did pack the camper for my last drive to Beverley and
Hull. Beverley is a real English town; it’s always my last stop before
leaving England.
Beverley
Wednesday the 30th of July, Europoort - Heerenveen
We had a quiet crossing. The first parts of my drive to the Northern part
of The Netherlands are always busy. From Utrecht to my hometown the
roads are much more relaxing to drive. At half past eleven I was at home
and everything stayed the same.
