The Wild Atlantic Way

We were at 'Sleepy Hollows' campsite on the west coast of Donegal for 5 nights - lovely site and lovely owners - Nic and Ian - would definitely recommend. Fantastic area for scenic landscapes and the sea looked so inviting - we dipped our hand in, expecting it to be absolutely freezing, but it was not, surprisingly. Cold yes, but not freezing. We still didn't venture in though! 

Glenveigh National Park includes the Derryveigh Mountains which are really rugged, good for hiking, and surprisingly, there is a castle in the middle. It dates back to 1867 and has had some interesting owners and stories to go with them. 

Phil hiked up the volcano look alike, Mount Errigal (751m), in very windy weather, late PM before we left the following day. The view sitting on the top of the very windy summit was amazing, just before the rain set in for the descent.

The calves here wear coats!

We hand fed this little robin at the castle cafe

We've crossed the Irish Sea

We enjoyed our time in Hexham and headed north west into Scotland and an overnight stop at Port William before taking the ferry from Cairnryan to Belfast - the same day it seems that Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak had the same idea! We narrowly avoided a storm blowing in - I think we were in the calm before it as the ferry crossing was fairly flat.

We headed via Londonderry into Donegal and the ROI. There has been some 'unrest' in Derry (the "London" part, we noticed, has been scrubbed out on many signs).

Donegal is very craggy and wild looking in the area were are in - near the Glenveagh National Park and the Wild Atlantic Coast. Most of the time we have had rain but it is glorious here when the sun is out.

Some people over here have a very strong accent and are difficult to understand - and some speak Irish (Gaelic) which we obviously don't understand! Quite a lot of the signs here are only in Irish so we have had to guess what is what sometimes!  

The sea view in Port William

Purdy thought he had a treat!

Off to Ireland

Lovely Mount Errigal in the background!

Hexham and Northumberland

We have enjoyed our week here in Hexham - the weather has been mostly glorious and there is lots to see. Hexham is an ancient town with a very interesting Abbey and England's oldest purpose built prison (opened in 1333).  

Dancing with Death depiction in the abbey

We had a day out hiking along Hadrian's Wall yesterday which is close by - plenty of Roman Fort ruins to see along the wall. 

The famous Sycamore Gap along Hadrian's Wall

A visit to Wallington Hall today

We are settling into life in the camper - all seems to work well - so far so good!

We're off again!

Some of you will remember our last long adventure to South/Central America on our Africa Twin motorbike. This trip is a bit different as we now have Purdy! She had to be comfortably accommodated so we are travelling in a demountable camper.

The plan is to explore the more remote Scottish Islands - we have a kind of plan (factoring in the midge season and the "warmth"). 

We left Suffolk on 2nd April and are now in Northumberland for a week and have set up camp on Hexham Racecourse which is located on a ridge south of the town with lovely views.

I (Dee) have been to a workshop in the Hexham Art Centre to make a traditionally designed Ukrainian Easter Egg. It was a fun afternoon - this is me with Annechka showing off my egg along with some others.

Link to our previous Blog in South and Central America.

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