Time to be out travelling in camper again, target is west coast Connemara area, first to Clare Island in Co Mayo. Easy to get there by 10 min ferry from Roonargh pier.
It is still a good number of people living in the island hence a regular ferry service through out the year. At one point 200 years ago there were over a thousand inhabitants. Enough people in the island to have to cut/burn down all the trees for cooking and land clearing for farming. Hence it is now a bare treeless island, still very green because of animal grazing.
There is a good gentle hike up to the light house to see the peaceful environment, with a few well kept houses dotted around, many sheep on the way and many old stone walls on the hills, used as fences for farm animal.
The misty view is atmospheric, the cliff sided coast is dramatic, the light house has been converted to BnB, so not open for visit.
The castle near the water front was built in the 17C, when they used to collect tariff from passing by boats.
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