Aug 01, 2012

Our first view of Timoleague across the mudflats of the estuary. The Abbey was an impressive sight when we moved further inland.

The morning started as another grand soft sort of day with wet slick roads and slow travelling. Kinsale was a bustling little fishing village but we were soon out of there and heading west and throughout the day enjoyed a variety of views from rolling green farmland, manicured towns with really pretty cottages and larger town houses as well as tiny (ancient) shops jammed in higgledy piggledy almost on top of each other rather than beside. I loved that there were rarely two shops the same colour and in some areas the houses as well in the villages which made for a colourful display.



A view to Baltimore.

We wound our way along the coastline and were rewarded with many spectacular views to both rugged wild and rocky coastlines with breakers smashing up the rocks to long estuaries with extensive mudflats at low tide this morning. Everywhere there were streams / rivers emptying into the water the flow was absolutely galloping so beautiful to see. As we headed for Baltimore we left a lot of the farmland behind and started coming across more rugged rocky outcrops amidst the farmland and this has increased as we have headed west.



Mizen Head, ferocious water wearing away at this cliff face.

From Baltimore we headed for Mizen Head and the countryside became more and more rugged. There seemed to be more exposed rock than anything else with pockets of lush grass, scrubby trees and in every nook and cranny of the rocks heather and ferns growing. It truly was spectacular. Every so often in the midst of this we would find a farm struggling along. The wind was ferocious as we headed towards the head which explained the absence of any decent trees except in little valleys where we often rode through green leafy tunnels. A magnificent contrast.



Heading back from Mizen Head another view complete with an Irish cottage and views into the bay.

We appreciated that the rain dried up for the most off the afternoon so we could take the waterproof jackets off but donned them about 30 minutes before we got in as there were some more scattered showers as we wound along the Beara Peninsula on our way here to Castletownbere where we found a large harbour with some sizeable ferries lined up as well as fishing boats and other watercraft.

To quote Norm ‘the views we’ve seen today were way too big to be captured in photos’ and he’s right. We could only capture small pieces of each and at times the view was dramatic because of the rain sweeping in across the mountains or water and we didn’t get those ones at all.

Bits and Bobs:

We have discovered that it is exceedingly difficult to find public toilets in Ireland. Many of the servos don’t have them or tell you they’re out of order and go somewhere else and they seem to be well hidden or absent in towns. Not helpful for the travelling public either locals or tourists and it isn’t just us, every time we have been trying to track them down others have been equally frustrated with the set up as well.

Last nights’ Accommodation:

The White Lady Hotel, Kinsale Ireland

A combination of two buildings clinging to the cliff face on a narrow little street just above the harbour. It has had a reasonable sort of refurbishment program and the young people running it are establishing a lot of different offerings including a night club (where we parked our bikes for the night….really). Our room was an adequate family room with a desk as well. The food was delicious and service great but a little more focus on routine maintenance is needed with a number of blown light globes and dusty venetians. I hope they make a go of it they are trying hard.



The White Lady Hotel, we were in the 3 story part at the top of the stairs! The entry to the Nightclub is to the left on the side out of the shot.