Strangford Islands I missed - Stages 4, 5 & 6 the bits of Ulster I missed (mainly around Strangford Lough, Co. Down)

Running around Ireland - strictly by the coast - and once a month since Feb 2017.

It's taken me almost three years - or 40 different monthly runs - but I've now completed all of the coast of Ulster - that's 1,570 km (or 980 miles) - see the rest of my blog for full story. However, there were little bits I missed along the way which I decided to complete over the winter (in Nov/Dec 2019) before I tackle my next great adventure, ie the coast of CONNACHT, starting on Sat 1 Feb 2020. I reckon the western province could take me another two years to complete. 
See rest of Blog for details of all 40 Ulster Coastal stages between 2017 and 2019.

Sun 24th Nov 2019: Gores Island, Co. Down: Stage 5 - the bit I missed!

Together with my son Brian, who's in Clifton Special School (the school that this run is all about!) we set out to reach this island on a very pleasant Sunday afternoon in November. We decided to WALK today and parked the car on a grassy area just about 3km north of Downpatrick (on the Strangford road) at Castle Island Road 

Brian & I on Castle 'island'

and decided to keep walking to the very end of Castle island road. There we reached Hare Island but couldn’t get access to it as it’s occupied by Quoile Yacht Club and has a ‘No Entry' sign. We had no alternative but to turn back.

Brian on road leading to Hare Island

And so we tackled Gores Island. It was about 2.30pm now and I knew low tide was at 3.00pm so I felt confident about crossing over. 
Gores Island can also be called a drowned drumlin and apparently, these drumlins (or hills) became islands when sea levels rose as glaciers melted. When we crossed the causeway and reached the island itself we followed a tractor track on the right hand side 

Brian on the causeway leading to Gores Island

 After about half a mile the track ended at a farm gate with very muddy terrain ahead. We got chatting to a couple who were checking their sheep on the island and they said it was possible to walk around the coast of the island but warned us not to try to get across to Salt Island which was quite close now (only about 150 metres across) and which actually has a ‘bothy’ or bunkhouse to shelter up to 12 people. So not really the worse island to be stranded on I suppose!

It was hard work circling the island! Very muddy and lots of climbing gates and fences (some fences seemed to be electric too!). Brian was so good but nevertheless I felt a little worried at times – and I was wondering would the causeway be crossable on the way back. The causeway was still there of course and I was relieved to get back onto the mainland. Brian and I then sat on a nearby wall by the river and had a lovely (well deserved!) wee picnic of taytos and (homemade) buns! It was only a short walk back to the car.   Total Distance today 9.6km (or 6 miles)
       

  

Sun 15th Dec 2019: Reagh&Mahee Islands, Co.Down: Stage 5-the bit I missed!

From Lisbane to Reagh Island and Mahee Island

Although Reagh and Mahee are really proper islands (surrounded by water!) there is a narrow road/bridge that crosses over onto both which make the islands very easy to reach. I decided the best way to tackle these islands was to start the run in the nearby village of Lisbane.

North Down AC friends before heading off

Well earned breakfast in the Pochers Pocket 

I asked members of my ‘Sunday Morning Running 'WhatsApp’ group if they would join me and they did come along in great numbers (including Helen, who of course joined me on every stage in N.Ireland in 2017 and 2018). So, fourteen of us met in Lisbane at 8.00am on a bitterly cold, dark and icy morning. I think it was really the offer of full Ulster breakfast at the Poachers Pocket in Lisbane that sold it to everyone! Of course the running had to be done before breakfast!

Early morning on the road to Reagh and Mahee islands

So, we all tucked up and tip-toed through the ice along a country road towards Strangford Lough, sign posted Mahee Island. It was tricky enough at the beginning with ice on the country road – downhill too which made it less safe – but it got much easier as we got close to Strangford Lough. With daylight approaching we spotted on our right hand side a small road/causeway to Rolly Island.

Ancient Nendrum site

Rolly Island (like some others on Strangford Lough) was marked ‘Private’ so we continued on the ‘main road’ and crossed over the bridge at Reagh Island. We then passed yet another island marked ‘Private’ - this one was called Cross Island. We kept following the course of the road as it looped around to the right towards Mahee Island. At this stage two or three of our group had turned back but the rest of us continued until we finally reached Mahee Island passing Mahee castle on our right. On reaching the island we ran up the hill and the winter sun greeted us perfectly as we approached Nendrum Monastic Site. Perfect morning to watch the winter sunrise on this ancient site!
Nendrum Monastic Site on Mahee Island
The island takes its name from St Machaoi who set up a monastery on the island in the 5th century. St. Machaoi (pronounced Mahee) was the grandson of Diuchiu, the first person that St. Patrick ever converted. The ancient ruins at Nendrum contain a church and a sundial, the remains of a round tower and a graveyard. The site was rediscovered in 1844 by William Reeves (Bishop of Down).

I was thinking how privileged we were, being  able to watch the winter sun come up at this ancient site - just like St. Machaoi welcomed the dawn here ..over 1,500 years ago!   
 Total Distance today 10.4km (or 6.5 miles)

Winter solstice at Nendrum Monastic site on Mahee Island, Strangford 

Sunday 10 Nov. 2019: Rough Island, Co.Down (also called Islandhill and previously called Slesny Island) Stage 6 - the bit I missed!

My son Brian and I decided to walk to this tidal island on a pleasant Sunday afternoon. We drove from Newtownards and just about a 2km before Comber we took a left turn, following the sign that said ‘Islandhill Car Park & Picnic area’.

On the causeway to Rough Island/Island Hill

 We parked in the car park and then walked across the causeway to Rough Island.

Brian on causeway - it was quite safe at low tide

 It didn’t take us too long to circle this small island and on the way back, along the causeway, we got chatting to a lady who pointed out some brent geese who had just arrived from Greenland – ‘they’re on their holidays’ the lady told us! Apparently 30,000 pale bellied brent geese arrive here from Greenland every October to feed on the seagrass or eelgrass, which grows abundantly in Strangford Lough.

Also on Rough Island in 1936 a group of American archaeologists from Harvard carried out excavations and found evidence of occupation during the Mesolithic period (5,000 BC). So lots of people (and geese) have come and gone to this island over the years!
After coming back to the car park again, Brian and I decided to walk back to the main Newtownards Road (I was determined to cover exactly all the bits I missed”). We walked back through Longlands road, joined the busy Ards-Comber road for a short while and then returned through the main road back to Islandhill car park. Total Distance today 5.6km (or 3.5 miles)

Stage 4 - the bit I missed – small peninsula just north of Ballyhornan, Co. Down

Saturday 29th August 2020

4km or 2.5miles

Yes this is definitely the last piece of the Ulster coast! It was quite a nice day today and I decided I would try and see if I could tackle this small peninsula with my son, Brian. Ballyhornan is a small village just about half way between Ardglass and Strangford. I knew it was low tide at 3.30pm which made it easier (compared to when Helen, Sean and I originally passed Ballyhornan back in May 2017).  Also I was curious to see if it was possible to cross over to nearby Guns Island. We parked the car at Ballyhornan (about a half a mile before the village) and then headed back north east towards Killard Point.

                                            Brian on beach near Ballyhornan, Co. Down

Brian and I had to rough it a little but we were quickly onto another beach (not sure of the name of this beach, maybe Benderg), easily followed the coastline around to the Nature Reserve near Kilclief and eventually came back to the main road again. There was a picnic table here at the perfect spot for us so Brian and I stopped for a wee break. We then walked along the road back to our car at Ballyhornan.

Perfect place for a picnic table at Kilclief Nature Reserve

Interestingly during World War 2, the RAF built billets (small houses) here for military who worked at nearby Bishopscourt Air Base. Ballyhornan was quite a busy place even after the war with a cinema, dancehalls and shops.  Today it’s much quieter and, as it’s off the beaten track, not many people have even heard of it!

On Ballyhornan beach with Gunns Island behind

It is such a lovely long beach in Ballyhornan and Brian and headed south along the strand until we were close to Guns Island. Even at low tide it didn’t look accessible to cross over to the island, but at least it satisfied my curiosity. Still it was a nice view across, and with all the rain we’ve had recently, it looked like the perfect green isle in the sea.          

Contact Gerry on gerryoboyle@outlook.com or 00 44 (0) 7725613308

  

Stages 38-40:13-15 Sept: Last (Ulster) Stages!
Running around Ireland - strictly by the coast - and once a month since Feb 2017.
 
‘’Oh then fare thee well sweet Donegal, the Rosses and Gweedore’’


In Donegal Town with Red Hugh - the leader of all the O'Donnells


 
Yes I’ll miss Donegal after this weekend as I’ve literally been to every (coastal) nook and cranny in the county. Also I’ve almost seen every port and beach in the whole province of Ulster! Still a few more beauty spots to see before I finally reach the Donegal/Leitrim border on Sunday. Again I’m so lucky with the weather this weekend and it’s a very sunny and pleasant Friday afternoon as Maureen, Brian and I arrive in Donegal Town.  

Stage 38: Friday 13 Sept: Donegal Town to Rossnowlagh 26.7km (or 16.7 miles)

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 I started my run from Donegal Town at 5.20pm, confident enough that I’d arrive in Rossnowlagh a few hours later, before dark and be reunited with Maureen and Brian. However, as I’ve realised on this adventure, nothing goes according to plan! 


Brian gives me thumbs up as I leave Donegal Town

 

Donegal is called Tirconnell (land of Connell) and Connell was a son of Niall of the Nine Hostages who originally kidnapped Saint Patrick from Wales. Patrick then returned to this part of Ireland and blessed the Connells, who became the first clan to convert to Christianity.

I head south along the R267 and when the footpath ends (and road veers to the left) I take a right turn towards Dungally Strand, although there’s no sign of any strand here! It’s quieter though with just a few new houses along the road. After a while I see a rough trail to the right. I decide to take it but then I have to climb over a farm gate (bad idea!). It looks like there’s a track on the other side of the gate but it soon gets muddy and shortly I’m trying to manoeuvre along this rough trail through barb wire and more mud! Eventually I arrive in the back garden of a house just before the causeway to St. Ernan’s Island. There’s a big gate here but its wide open so I run across the short causeway and arrive on the wee island.

The causeway to St. Ernan's Island

 Yet another island I’ve been to without getting on a boat! (that's 12 islands... Rough, Gores, Reagh, Mahee, Mid, South, Chapel, Inch, Roy, Cruit, Iniscaoil and now St.Ernan's. I'm not including Doagh Island and Island Magee which are not proper islands). 
Apparently the causeway to St. Ernan’s island was built in the 1800s by local workers as a gesture of gratitude to the compassionate landlord John Hamilton, whose original house still dominates the small island. Mr. Hamilton built a mill and school and during the Famine he spent £1,000 on a relief fund to import grain and potatoes.

I leave the island and shortly rejoin the R267 again and after about a mile I come to a roundabout. Just at the roundabout there’s a road to the right which I take and I run parallel to the N15. I join the N15 just before Laghy and after passing the village I take a right (L2145) along the NW Cycle Trail. After about a mile I take a right turn (signposted Bay View B&B) and a left (just before the B&B) along a wide path. I’m really not sure if I’m going to arrive down by the coast but when I do reach the shore I get a nice surprise. There’s a pub (The Salmon Inn) here and people are sitting outside enjoying the sunny evening.

A pub on the coast - an unexpected pleasure!

I’m able to continue running along the coast, through the trail at Murvagh House (owner doesn’t mind I was told) and then I keep left along the track until I come to a hump back bridge. I cross the bridge and then after 500m I take a right turn at a wee crossroads (signposted Donegal Golf club).

Just before crossing hump back bridge at Murvagh House

At the Club House I keep to the right and run along the edge of the golf course heading north towards the top of the peninsula. There’s hardly anyone around so I know I’m not getting in the way or in danger of being hit by a golf ball. I discover later that this is one of the longest golf courses in Ireland and it does feel like it! Eventually I reach the northern shore and turn left (keeping the sea on my right as always!) Its 8.00pm now, there’s a beautiful sunset and I reckon I’ve still got another good half hour before it gets dark.

Donegal's very long Golf Course

 For a while I’m able to run along a grassy path along the sand dunes and even when the path disappears I climb down onto the beach which is now quite good for running on. The ordnance map seems to show a nice long yellow stretch along the strand to Rossnowlagh but I soon realise that, as I get further south, the beach is getting narrower. Soon I have no sand to run on and I’m stumbling over a rocky shoreline. I knew high tide was at 6.30pm which doesn’t help my situation.  

It’s getting dark too! I’d never been to Rossnowlagh before so I’m even wondering have I passed the village already. It gets to a point (that I know now is Loughtone Hill) where I have to make a decision to leave the rocky shore and try to get onto a road.

Not all yellow bits were sand!!

 Eventually I do find a quiet country road, which turns inland and I run along it for a couple of miles. There’s nobody about! A dog comes barking out of a house but there’s no people around. I see a house with a light on and I ring the bell a few times, to ask directions, but no one appears. It’s getting very dark now and I’m beginning to think this whole coastal run is a really mad idea! I ring Maureen at 8.23 (exactly three hours since I left Donegal town) to let her know that I’m safe, but honestly I have no idea where I am! I see a car and stop to ask directions and a group of young men tell me I’m miles from Rossnowlagh. I walk on a bit further, not really knowing where I’m going (and too dark to read the map on my phone). I stop another car and an older couple offer me a lift to a main road. I get chatting to them in the car, tell them my story and I think they feel a bit sorry for me. They end up driving me all the way back to Rossnowlagh. Thank you Betty and Denis Kelly!  

Rossnowlagh beach - picture taken on the following morning from our bedroom!

               

 

Stage 39: Saturday 14 Sept 2019: Rossnowlagh to Ballyshannon 22.2km (or 13.9 miles)

After yesterday evening’s disaster of a run it was so nice to wake up to a beautiful morning and to be overlooking Rossnowlagh beach. Maureen, Brian and I were so lucky to have such lovely accommodation at the Gaslight Inn and a room with an amazing view!

Brian in our 'room with a view'

However, even with the sun shining I still wasn’t in a mood for much running after yesterday’s problems. I re-learned a lesson though about tides and how it’s much easier running at low tide and in day light! Of course I knew had to go back and do the bit of the run I missed last night! With high tide at 7.00am this morning I didn’t mind waiting a few hours to start today’s run. Also, as I missed dinner last night (just crisps and buns) I decided I needed a good breakfast before picking up where I left off last night. So after some tasty poached eggs and toast, Maureen and Brian joined me as I left the Gaslight Inn at 10.43am.

A nice way to keep memories alive

We walked along the beach at Rossnowlagh (called Belall Strand) and then took the main road up from the beach. After about half a mile we took a left turn along a road that winds to the left through Manor House Holiday Park. At the Holiday Park we were able to join the beach just about 3km north of Rossnowlagh and so I was able to complete the piece I missed last night!



Rejoined beach at Manor House Holiday park

With Ben Bulben in background

 

It’s now such a beautiful morning and I see Rossnowlagh in all its glory - home to surfers, swimmers and walkers. There are magnificent views across on one side to St Johns Point, Slieve League and the Donegal Hills and on the other side Ben Bulben is clearly visible.

Mr. and Mrs. Fleming who we met on beach

 I leave Maureen and Brian and begin running on ahead. At the end of the beach I rejoin the coastal road where our hotel (Gaslight Inn) is. I continue along here until the T junction where I take a right turn towards Ballyshannon. After about 3k at a small crossroads I take a right turn towards Creevy Pier (or Bunatrahan Pier).

I've seen too many of these on my coastal runs

I know I call this an adventure - but FUN adventure is a bit much!

I decide to continue running on the headland to see can I get to Ballyshannon this way and I’m very pleasantly surprised to find a nice grassy path with lots of styles along the way. This is called the Creevy Coastal Walk and it’s probably the best coastal path I’ve been on in all my time in Donegal. The views across to Sligo are spectacular too and even when the path comes to an end I can get down onto Wardtown Strand.

The style of Annette leads me onto the Creevy Coastal Path

Creevy path - perfect for running on!

It’s such a lovely run along here and strange that I don’t even meet one person on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in mid September. I have a lone curlew to keep me company though and that lovely haunting sound - not sure if its the same curlew that's following me every month!

It’s low tide too, so unlike yesterday, everything is going my way! As I get closer to Ballyshannon, I see two cars parked on the shore and I realise there’s a lane that I can take up towards the town, passing the cemetery on the way. At the top of the lane, at the roundabout, it’s a nice 1km run into the town centre to my finish line today at Rory Gallagher’s statue, Ballyshannon’s most famous son. 

At today's finish line with Rory Gallagher

Apparently when Jimi Hendrix was asked how it felt to be the world's greatest guitarist, he is reported to have said, ''I don't know, go ask Rory Gallagher''     

 

 Stage 40: Sunday 15 Sept 2019: Ballyshannon to Bundoran, via Tullan Strand 17.1km (or 10.7 miles)

From Donegal to Ulster/Connacht border

I enjoyed another hearty breakfast in the Gaslight Inn at Rossnowlagh before we checked out. It turned out to be a miserable wet morning after the fine weather over the last two days. Also my upper back has been sore all weekend and I’m beginning to feel my age today!



With 'the world's greatest guitarist' again - but not such nice weather today

Maureen drove me back to Rory Gallagher’s statue in Ballyshannon to start my final Ulster stage. I knew I had to run along the R267 for about 5k – no chance of trying to look for a coastal path this time because this part of the coast was closed off. It’s Department of Defence Property occupied by the Irish Army (Finner Army Camp).

Finner Camp

Back in the troubled days of 1969 there was talk of the Irish Army preparing to cross the border (presumably from here at Finner Camp) and ‘liberate’ Catholic dominated towns like Newry and Derry. Apparently plans were even drawn up by the Irish Army envisaged a series of guerrilla attacks on vital installations in Belfast.

Today it wasn’t too unpleasant running on this road and the rain was easing off as I got closer to Bundoran. Just before I got into the town I took a right turn, signposted for Tullan Strand. I ran down to the car park at the cliff top overlooking the beach and it was so nice to see Maureen and Brian there to meet me. I carried on my own down to Tullan Strand – of course I couldn’t resist a beautiful beach like that and as I often say ‘sand is for the feet of the runner’!  

Tullan Strand, just north of Bundoran 

Tullan strand is another one of those spectacular Donegal beaches that most people probably haven’t heard of. However, there were signs saying that it was unsafe for swimming because of rip tides. Also the Irish Army had ‘No Entry’ signs on the sand dunes as they occupied the land east of the beach.

Still the rain has stopped and at the northern top of the beach I’m able to run on the grassy section (hoping I’m off the military land by now!) I follow hoof prints that circled the top of the strand and I run all the way back around the sandy beach and back to the car park.

Brian sitting on the Wishing Chair, near Tullan Strand

And at the Fairy Bridge where people believed fairies haunted the rocks!

At the car park again I was able to follow a coastal path all the way into Bundoran town. In fact, except for about 200 metres running along the main street I was able to stay along the cliff top and run 'around' the town. When I finally reached the end of the cliff path and came inland I was almost at the roundabout on the west side of Bundoran.

Finally.... at the Ulster/Connacht border

On the other side of that roundabout, Maureen and Brian had parked our car and were there to greet me as I arrived. As I got closer to them, I could clearly see a sign saying ‘Welcome to Leitrim’ ...and so I knew I had finally conquered the whole coast of Ulster!

             
  
Total distance to date: 1,557km (973 miles)
 


Next Stages: I’ve now finished running around the coast of Ulster and in any case I’m going to take a break until at least February 2020 – still unsure if I’m going to continue into Connacht. If you are interested in joining me in Connacht in 2020 let me know. In the meantime, watch this space!  

Contact Gerry on gerryoboyle@outlook.com or 00 44 (0) 7725613308

Stages 36 and 37: 24-25 August 2019: South Donegal
 Running around Ireland - strictly by the coast - and once a month since Feb 2017.

The weather forecast predicted perfect warm sunny weather for the long weekend but in Donegal the sun never quite got through the clouds. On Friday Maureen, Brian and I arrived at Derrylahan hostel in Kilcar at about 6.00pm. It was a nice evening so we headed straight for the cliffs of Slieve League which dominate the whole landscape of South Donegal.

Brian and Maureen at Slieve League cliffs
 

Stage 37: Saturday 24 August: St. John’s Point to Donegal Town – 44km (27.5 or miles)

 
I decided to do Stage 37 on the Saturday before Stage 36 on the Sunday. So we drove to Dunkineely and made the 11k journey along the never-ending peninsula to St. John’s Point. The peninsula has a real island feeling about it and is quite flat until you get to the last few miles.

At St. John's Point Lighthouse

Light rain is falling as I begin today’s run at St. John’s Point Lighthouse (built in 1833 to protect boats coming into Killybegs harbour). This area at the end of the peninsula has a great reputation for deep sea diving – the best in Ireland apparently – and we notice brave divers getting kitted out for their underwater adventure. I’m glad I’m only running!

 

Cyndi Graham's Studio - still on long peninsula!

I’m rarin’ to go and I run the first 10k along the peninsula at a good pace. Strava tells me I’m the second fastest runner from the Lighthouse to Castle Murray at a time of 44.18. In hindsight I’m going too fast!

I run through the village of Dunkineely and after a mile I take a right turn along a rough track. The ordnance survey map marks this as a ‘dismantled railway’ and it does feel like that. After about 2k I was surprised that the track brought me back out onto main road (I think I could have stayed on the coast) but at least I was then able to stop at Inver Post Office for a drink. Shortly after passing the PO, I took a right turn (really into Inver village).

The Inver fish sign that I came back to.

 I passed the Inver Fish sign and came onto a beach at Inver Bar. The river (Eany) was much too wide to cross so I followed it around hoping I would find a shallow part or bridge. However there was no way across and I ended up having to run through a wet field and back where I started at the Inver Fish sign! Still Inver (meaning estuary) was such a quaint little place that I was glad I got to see.

River Eany at entrance to sea

River Eany in Inver

 

And so I had to go back on the main road and cross the only bridge on the Eany River. After crossing the river I took an immediate right and then another right which brought me down to a beach (the other side of Inver Bar!) I contemplated whether I could rough it along the shore and luckily I met a man there who assured me I could. So I ran along a rocky beach for about a mile, came back up onto country road for a while and then roughed it along the shore again.

  

As I was getting close to the bottom of the peninsula I realised it was best to run up along the headland, even if I had to dip under one or two electric fences! In the distance I could see two farmers and as I got closer I stopped and told them what I was doing.

Skull of sheep ( I think) found near Raneely Port

The Scott brothers with Eagles Nest Rock behind

 

They were very friendly (the Scott brothers) and it was only when I left their field and climbed over their gate that I noticed the ‘beware of the bull’ sign!

Sign I saw, AFTER I Ran through the field

 

I was now on the country road again heading NE towards Mountcharles. I took the second turn right to try to stay by the coast and as I came over a hill a dog came barking towards me. The only human who appeared was a young girl about 3 years old.

Blowey the dog wont let me pass!

 I waited for about ten minutes for an adult to appear but none did so I had to backtrack up the hill again and continue along the main country road. At the second crossroads about 1k before Mountcharles I took a right turn and arrived down on the coast. This area is called Salthill and Mountcharles was originally called ‘Tamhnach  an Tsalainn’, the ‘green fields of salt’. It was strange seeing another Salthill as I grew up near the Galway Salthill!

At Salthill Cabin south of Mount Charles

Goat in Salthill

Even though I was tiring, it was now a nice run along the coast until I eventually came onto the N56. At least the busy road into Donegal town was straight. When I got into town there was plenty of activity with a food festival on. Feeling exhausted I headed for the Abbey Hotel where Maureen and Brian were meeting me. It was my longest coastal run for a while and I felt it!                           

 

Stage 36: Sunday 25 August 2019: Killybegs to St. John's  Point  35km (or 22 miles)

 

I'm learning so much about the Spanish Armada on this run - 1300 young men lost their lives on La Girona alone.

And so I went back to Killybegs to complete Stage 36 (having done Stage 37 yesterday!). Two good things about today ... 1) the weather is much better and ....2) I’ve got two companions (Maureen and Brian) joining me, at least for the first few miles!

We park the car near Killybegs Enterprise Centre and walk back to the roundabout and take the first left to Glenlee.

At Portnacross Pier SW of Killybegs

 After about a mile we stop for a few minutes at Portnacross Pier and then continue walking as the road climbs. There are lovely views now over Fintragh Bay and we eventually come to a T junction. I leave Maureen and Brian and take a right turn and run down all the way to the bottom of the peninsula to Drumanoo.


Brian delighted to see this old car near Roshin




With Fintragh Bay behind

 

Meanwhile Maureen and Brian take a left and walk back to Killybegs. I catch up with them later there and then continue running along Killybegs harbour. It’s a very long harbour – the largest fishing port in Ireland – and when I get to the end I leave the R263 and take a right (and right again) sticking by the coast on the other side of the bay.

Killybegs town from the other side

 I eventually come to a T junction, take a right turn and keep running for about a mile until the road comes to an end.

 

Outside a house there is a family (or families) enjoying the sunshine and I stop to ask whether I can get down to the bottom of the peninsula.

McHugh family at Carntullagh

 I get talking to Eddie McHugh whose uncle owns the land in this area. Eddie decides to run with me the short distance to the bottom of the peninsula and soon we’re joined by his children/nieces. Here, there was such a lovely view across to Carntullagh Head with the Lighthouse on Rotten Island clearly visible.

With McHugh children at Carntullagh Head

 William Steig, the children’s author wrote that Rotten Island is a ‘horrible place filled with horrible monsters that slither, creep and crawl’. I don’t think he realised there was a real place called Rotten Island in this beautiful part of Donegal!  

I continue up along the other side of the peninsula, taking a right turn at the top and I was able to stay on country road all the way. Eventually I could see the main road but I was still able to keep running on the parallel country road, which led me along a rough trail by Bruckless House and crossing over a nice grassy track.

Grassy path - at Bruckless harbour

 I ended up running through someone’s garden before coming back onto the main road (N56) which I only had to stay on for 1km until I saw the sign pointing right to St. John’s Point. So now I had only 11km to run along the narrow peninsula to the Lighthouse.

Castle on St. John's peninsula

 It was a long 7 miles and I was glad to have a wee break near the end at Killultan beach (just about a mile from the Lighthouse). Maureen and Brian were there to greet me, it was now a nice afternoon and some people were swimming in the very clear water.

Great to see Killultan beach as I turned around the corner! 

 As I was chatting to Maureen a young female runner came by and when I asked her if she was running to the Lighthouse she (Niamh McKenna) said she was.

With Niamh at finish point, St. John's Lighthouse

 So Niamh joined me on the last mile of this month’s coastal run. And so after all these months I'm finally getting through the coast of Donegal and slowly getting closer to the Connacht border. The adventure continues again in September!         

PS : Thanks to Shaun, the owner of Derrylahan Hostel for very generous £stg20.00 for Clifton School.    

Total distance to date: 1,490 (931miles)

Next Stages: Donegal to Bundoran (via Rossnowlagh Beach) Friday/Saturday of 13-14 Sept 2019. Final ‘Province of Ulster’ stages!

Contact Gerry on gerryoboyle@outlook.com or 00 44 (0) 7725613308