Achill Island, it's worth the miles. and other Ireland Off The Beaten Path Tips

Achill Island, is an out of the way place that many don't take the time to visit. It has no tourism so to speak, just miles of remote barren loveliness. It might be one of the few last pioneer areas in the world. There is no actiivity on Achill island if one is looking for fast adventure and night life.
This is a backpacking paradise, hill climbing, walking, photograpy treat place to be. I could live here.
Check out the "Wild Haven" Hostel" on left just after you cross the bridge.

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Website: http://www.achill-island.com/

Inishowen Peninsula, Co. Donegal has to be one of the most memorable parts of my trip. We found a wonderful B&B but I cannot find a web site for it. It was called "Highpoint B&B" and it was very close to Malin Head in Ballygorman. Her phone number is below.

Anne Hawes was our hostess and she was wonderful, loved to talk and visit with us and sent us to all kinds of places by the wayside. One being the Wee House of Malin, a cave on a beach where Mass used to be said in hiding dring English rule.

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Phone: 077-70283 or N.I. 0035377-70283
Website: http://www.visitinishowen.com/
Other Contact: Ballygorman, Malin Head

Inch Beach on the Dingle Peninsula in Co. Kerry is a mysterious place. Every time I visit it has a different face to show me. You can walk the whole distance or just sit and ponder and watch the changing colors and rays of light, or movement of fog and mist.

There is a famous scene in the movie "Ryan's Daughter" that was filmed on this beach. Before then Dingle was not well known.

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Website: http://www.godingle.com/inch.html

The Bloody Foreland in Co. Donegal is remote and far from the maddening crowd. It is vast and more open, it's mainland reaching out to the ocean with long fingers. I would say it is in the top left hand corner of Ireland.

I was most impressed with it's stone walls, and also the ocean seems to mean business here. If you do take the time to drive here also check out Dunfanaghy, an interesting area.

Check the site below for another great photo to temp you.

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Website: http://www.celticcamera.com/pages/gallery/IA.CODE/IRELAND/donegal/pages/I-Full.00016.html

I only discovered this area because I went to Achill Island, and it was the best way to get to Co. Sligo from there. Otherwise, I would have missed it. I'm glad I didn't.

We seemed to be in the most flat, non-descript area...a nothingness, when all of a sudden we came up unto this point of land on the edge of the sea, it was dramatic, or maybe the drastic change caught our fancy, but it was memorable. The way from there was a delight of quaint villages and open beauty. Belderg, Ballycastle, Killala (lots of stone houses) and Ballina.

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Website: http://www.cityreference.com/ireland/north-mayo/

Slieve League Mountain and the Ballyduff Cliffs are in Co. Donegal, near Teelin. The higest sea cliffs in Ireland.

It is an amazing place, the coloration of the mountain and how it drops into the sea is unique. There is a trail you can walk and climb...and even in the fog, we found it very enjoyable to do. An easy walk for most, and then you can go to the summit if you are more experienced and fit.

It is hard to find, there is a sign off R263, you will come to a gate, that you have to open and close due to it being a sheep farm. Then you will go up a steep incline and come to a parking lot. From here you are on your own.

You will not be disappointed. A must, if you go to Co. Donegal which is off the beaten path itself.

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Website: http://www.ostansliabhliag.com/

Probably my favorite part of Ireland, Connemara, Co. Galway is easy to miss, and thank God I didn't. I am going back this fall and can't wait.

Connemara is a section of Co. Galway in which you will find diversity and beauty beyond compare. Not only that it has a barren remote loveliness. Treeless in some places....almost haunting. Yet, it can be lush and green. Known for it's marble and ponies. Interesting when they transport these Connemara ponies to other parts of the world they loose their strength and uniqueness.

Maam (Bridge) I believe has one of the oldest Pubs and Inns in Ireland, and it is here we had our first Guinness. The owner gave us an article written in a Travel book dated 1860.

I do highly recommend spending at least two days in Connemara, don't rush, just go with the flow...which is the best way to appraoch Ireland in the first place.

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Website: http://www.connemara.com/

Fintown, Co. Donegal is very remote, nessled in the center of the county, so it makes a good base of touring Donegal. It is known for it's railway that takes you to Glenties, and also around Lough Finn.

It is north of the Blue Stack Mts. and located on R252 and R250. Aghla Mountain is a beautiful backdrop for the town as is lovely Lough Finn. There is a great general store, which is also a Bus Station and a Post Office. And the post mistress is as helpful as she can be. She also owns a rental cottage if need be. Not to mention the Buses and Store and Gas Station.

This area is remote, and if you want to rent a Traditonal Irish Cottage (only in the late spring and summer would be my suggestion) you will have a nice time among the sheep farmers and Tree farm growers and lovely local people that you can meet at the Ceili House Pub. Many attempts have been made to replace the trees that England had destroyed over two centuries ago.

Try Fintown, it is definately Off the Beaten path. And County Donegal is so lovely.

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Website: http://www.intercelt.com/level3/level3.php3?ident=66&cat=18

The Wee House of Malin is actually a cave off the beach at Malin Head, where legend has it was the home of St. Muirdealack, who also built a church in that area that is only partially standing today.

It is also said by the locals that the Cave was a hiding place for the priest and local Catholics to secretly have Mass, during the Penal Days of England in Ireland.

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Website: http://www.goireland.com/scripts/low/area.asp?AreaType=T&AreaID=3586