Ireland, Haunted castles to stay at in west

Now we are getting ready to leave Newport after a hardy traditional breakfast, I know I'm gonna get fat anyways!! We take the ring road N59 out of Newport and start heading north. We stop at this pretty beach area called Mulranney Beach and watch a couple of early arrival seals frolick about. We continue along the Atlantic Coast road with beautiful views. We see Clare Island in the distance and continue on thru the bridge on 319 to Achill Island along the coast road, pass beautiful cliffs and views out . Nearer the end we spot alittle area to pull over and decide to walk over to the cliffs for a picture and discover a walkable area were you can make it down to the waters edge. Lynn grabs her book, sits down in this little grassy area and I make my way down to the mighty Atlantic Ocean. It is this perfect little cutout bowl area where the cliff face collapsed long ago and made an accesible are. We scared away a couple of sheep grazing there, every once in a while they would peek back down to see if we were still there. So Lynn reads and I go scampering, or at least as best as my knees let me scamper about the waters edge. Now I start to get alittle warm from all of my excertions and decide to go skinny dipping or as Lynn says chunky dunking. The water looked so inviting and we were secluded, well off go the clothes and in the water I go, COLD, but refreshing and I get to say I went swimming in the North Atlantic Ocean. I air dry and we pack it up and continue to the end of the island . When we see in the distance this beautiful turquise beach, nestled in a hook and the rolling hills down to the ocean. Turns out Lynn kept her eyes closed as we approached on the cliff road as we switchedback down to the beach, photos posted. We walk about the beach, explore alittle in the rocks and collect some rocks from the beach. What a pretty place for a daytrip and a boxed lunch. Ok time to head off again and we need to get over to Knock were we have reservation at a BNB. We stop off at the Beehive Coffee and Craft Shop, buy a few knick knacks, get alittle late lunch and drove back to Newport, Castlebar, Bally, stop for ice cream, Lynns bathroom break, then serious back roads on to Knock. We arrive at Knock with a Mass going on and people everywhere, town is packed to the gills. Knock is a Holy Shrine for the Catholics and Lynn wanted to see it. We drive about till we find our BNB, Drumhaven, very nice, fairly new construction, young couple with 2 children, very nice family home. We settle in and then go to the Belmont Hotel for dinner and Guiness, again I have a Traditional Irish Lamb Stew, delicious, our son Daniel calls, makes mom very happy, we finish dinner and walk up to the shrine, alot fewer folks about, we enter the shrine and walk about the grounds, walk in town and Lynn buys a few knick knacks, back to BNB for a little reading and bed.
tbc

Fred, was away on vacation, down at the property in NC. Finally got a chance to look at your new pictures in the Gallery. I thought this was a "Family Oriented Forum". Looks like you will be the new "pinup", once the ladies figure out how to save that picture.

whoa!!! a back side view!!!

The honey took the picture, I'm innocent.

Everybody who has gone swimming in the North Atlantic off the western coast of Ireland raise your hands.

Ever see the movie Waking Ned Devine?? They set precedence!!!

USN

Other than the side show, they are really nice pictures. I have yet to make it out to Achill but your pictures tell me that it goes on the list for the next trip.


Great job!!

You mean this old place?


By the way, it's called Ashford Castle Hotel
http://www.ashford.ie/index.php

Attached Image. (Click thumbnail to expand)

Yea, thats the little old castle! Very picturesque, and there is a falconry school on the grounds also. What a pretty walk up from the center of town, past the Church of Ireland then pretty woods, then the castle view of in the distance, the river. Beautiful place.

I went back and looked at my scribbles and you are right, it is Ashford not Ashland.
USN

I won't raise a hand for me but raise it for hubby.
He swam in the 4 seas while there. And imagine how cold for we were there in October.

LOA

I won't raise a hand for me but raise it for hubby.
He swam in the 4 seas while there. And imagine how cold for we were there in October.

LOA

Good for hubby!! and brave too!!!!! or perhaps a cup of hot cocoa would be more appropriate!!
USN

No more stories Ulsterscottnutt?

He's playing hard to get again.

LOA

I'm tellin ya the Royal Ulster Constabulary has got a warrant on him and he's in hiding.

No, he's just all full of hisself since he had his DNA test done.

No, he's just all full of hisself since he had his DNA test done.

ctbard;

Yeh them Irishmen EH!

Camac.

No, I think he decided not to be our friend anymore