Tour of Connemara 3/3

There is a plan to convert one of the old rail line in Connemara into a Greenway for biking and walking, and at the moment, only 8KM is finished. Still while in the area, we decided to enjoy the path. It goes through a pine forest then along a famous salmon fishing river. Short but varied scenery. 

In the afternoon, drove to Gurteen bay for the view and a bit of fishing, always love this big golden sand beach and popular with swimmers. 

End up at Moyrus Bay for the night. This is a idyllic small peninsula, with beautiful golden sand, clear water, big rocks, seaweeds, and some holiday houses, few people. 

Tour of Connemara 2/3

From Clair island, we drove south around countryside dotted with lakes, where there are no house at all, only sheep and grazing fields, a typical Irish scene. Settle down at Lake Mask for the night, where there is a good camper stop right in front of the lake. 

Cooked the lobsters we bought at the Clare island ferry pier, as we spotted a white van parked there to purchase on every Tuesday afternoon, all the lobsters that the fisherman caught in pots around the island. 

Tour of Connemara 1/3

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.