Connemara – West Ireland at its Best?
SEM and I took the opportunity of a beautiful sunny day to take a drive in the West of Ireland area of Connemara. A cross between The Lake District and The Dales but without the people and traffic.
While we had previously driven through the area we decided to venture out for the day, and would you believe it we didn’t get back to Srah for over six hours. Even had GM on the phone wondering where we had got too.
Now SEM is not a great fan of narrow lanes, especially with huge drops close to the edges, but with so little traffic on the roads it wasn’t the tense drive it could have been if we had been in the UK.
The area of Connemara, for those that don’t know the area or are unlikely to ever venture there, is full of wonderful scenic countryside, including Mountains, Lakes and as you get towards the coast lovely sandy beaches, all of which can be savoured without being inundated by other people, pure joy!
I just loved the drive great scenery but so peaceful and tranquil. Even when we stopped off at Clifden, which is a small town, it still wasn’t busy but provided an opportunity for a brief walk and a mosey at the local shops, restaurants, and bars.
Clifden in County Galway is, I had forgotten, is famous for the landing place of the first Trans-Atlantic flight by Alcock and Brown in 1919. Now when I say landing it was more of a crash landing, but they survived but it is a feat that many seem to have forgotten or overshadow by the single Trans-Atlantic crossing by Charles Lindbergh in 1927.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transatlantic_flight_of_Alcock_and_Brown
Now when you view the surrounding area it is not surprising they crashed, what is more astonishing is that they both survived the landing.
Anyhow back to our drive which consisted of the many recommended circuits of the area, and we enjoyed a great day out which was rounded off with a very pleasant and great value for money meal at the Leenane Hotel
If you get a chance and are in Ireland, I strongly recommend a trip to the Connemara area, you definitely won’t be disappointed…….
