Exploring Slieve League - Glencollumbkille Donegal wild camping trip 2013

Hello again. Here's an update on how I spent today..

I wasn't able to post when away as I don't have mobile internet access across the border into the Irish Republic. In Scotland I won't have this problem, but I may be without a signal sometimes. I've decided to write my posts anyway and upload them when I do get connected again - I wanted to let you know that.

Today I awoke after a windy night up on Slieve League cliff top car park. There were a few scary gusts of wind during the night even though I tried to park in the shelter of a grassy bank.

My camping spot last night

After breakfast I set off to climb the mountain, to get a look down from the top of the cliffs. It was a much better day than yesterday, and I had a clear view in all directions across the land and seascape. I added a picture from the cliff top looking down to the previous post. One of the most amazing things to see from up there are these perfect beaches beneath the sheer cliffs, that would be only accessible by boat on a calm day - I'm sure few people have set foot on them. The cliffs here reach a height of 601 metres. 

After returning to the van for a rest and a snack, I set off to explore the coastal lookout tower I had seen the night before, and decided I would definitely try to get down to it. The tower was perched on the end of a promontory of land at the bottom of a steep incline. It was also above some sheer cliffs.

It appeared closer than it actually was, abut eventually I found the remains of the original pathway down to it, along the headland. This tower was one of many, built along the coast of Ireland by the British during the times of Napoleon  to give early warning of a French invasion; that made them over two hundred years old. The towers are positioned along the coast so they an see each other and signal to each other by fire. The last section of path to the tower was near the edge of the cliff and the grass was slippery.

Looking down to the tower perched on the cliff edge

I made it down the slope to the lookout tower. It was amazing how well constructed it was, well to last over two hundred years it had to be. The ruins of a WWII lookout tower lay just beyond it. Its concrete blocks in a pile on the ground. I cast my gaze along the coast, thinking about how it must have been to live on the headland in those days long ago..

Have you got any recommendations for unusual, or off the beaten track locations to visit? Share below.

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Overnight at Slieve League cliffs, Donegal

I'm spending the night in one of the most incredible locations yet - at the top of the highest sea cliffs in Europe at Slieve League in County Donegal, Ireland.

The drive up here was steep and at some points just a bit scary I have to say. I'm the only person up here tonight, apart from some fearless sheep. The views are spectacular - and the vista looking towards the Atlantic from this height up is like no other.

Over the past few days I've been camping at Malin More and then Malin Beg, further round the coast from here. Great locations. I've been with my friends and some have come and gone during the time, making it a trip of many chapters.

We've been fishing, swimming, kayaking and singing. We caught seven fish in all, mostly pollock, but had one big Colley on the barbecue on Saturday night. We dragged a kayak down the edge of the 167 steps to 'The Silver Strand' at Malin Beg to enjoy paddling around the bay. Bad weather the next day meant that I couldn't paddle to the harbour in the next bay so it had to be dragged back up again.

We visited the abandoned village of Port - a 13km drive along bumpy and narrow roads to a really remote location - way out there. I explored the ruins and made it down onto the old harbour to gaze out to sea.

It's been a wonderful trip and I'm looking forward to waking up tomorrow morning and having my coffee with the view from Slieve League..



Whats the scariest drive you've ever been on?  Whats the most remote location you've ever spent the night in? Leave a comment.

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Location:Slieve League cliffs

On the way..

So, I'm camped up outside my friends place in North Belfast before we set off for Donegal tomorrow.. We've had a beer (or two) and getting off to bed for a reasonably early start in the morning. Looking forward to a good fry up in the morning :-)

Good kayak convoy through Belfast earlier with another friend who was driving on to Donegal tonight..


Through the city with kayaks and bikes

Today was my last day time shift in my current job. It's a great feeling to be free and almost ready to head off, leaving no trace..

Another friend visited me today; his circumstances have changed a lot recently and he's thinking of heading off with me for the first week in Scotland. That'll be great if it happens. You know, you just don't know what's going to happen next..

Any plans to head off on an adventure yourself this year? Whats the most exciting part about planning a trip for you? Share below.

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Glencolumbkille Wild Camping Weekend plans

Hi folks,

Today I spent some time making some preparations for the trip. I book my ferry ticket to Scotland on the Larne to Troon route - a single of course. I called 3 mobile and upgraded my contract to The One Plan, so I can tether to the laptop all I like form my iPhone when I'm travelling. I'm out of contract so I can do this on a month to month basis if I want, and reduce it again if I want. Its going to cost £25 per month for all the calls and texts and unlimited internet - pretty good!

Yesterday evening I picked up a camera tripod, which will make my video making a bit simpler and allow me to get some of the shots I want without having to balance the camera on walls and fenceposts - I'm looking forward to using that, and I already have a few good ideas for a new video.

This weekend a few, well eight, of us are off to Donegal on a wild camping trip. Its a chance for me to bid farewell to my friends here in Ireland and have a great time outdoors too. We plan to do some walking, kayaking, fishing, have campfires, and plenty of craic in the pubs there. We are heading to a part of Donegal called Glencolumbkille which is west of Donegal town on the atlantic coast..

The area looks pretty good on from what I've seen in the photos online, and a few of the people going with me have been before and say its a great place to visit. We plan to set off on Friday morning and return Monday evening, so its a long weekend trip really, and its about a 3 1/2 hour drive from Belfast I think. It'll really set me up for heading off to the Scottish Highlands for June as well and will be a good tester for the Kayak rack and other camping equipment.

By the way I have been driving around now for a few days with my boat on the roof of the van, and now I hardly think of it up there (always had it on a car before). I've been up to full speed on the motorway too, and on bumpy country roads - I'm now have total confidence in it. 

Well I am looking forward to this trip. As well as the things mentioned above, we can walk to the abandoned village of Port, visit Slieve League where there are the highest sea cliffs in Ireland, and camp out on the beach. The weather forecast is looking ok - fingers crossed..

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Dave's Citroen Camper Van / Photonic Universe Solar

I'm writing this post in my camper bunk before I lay my head down for the night. It's really peaceful. Up until a few minutes ago, the blackbirds were singing, and I can just now hear a jet passing overhead on its way to some unknown destination.. It's one of those peaceful evenings you get after a long sunny evening, when the night air cools and eases the senses..

Today I had a timely accidental meeting with an old friend from my school days, Dave. I pulled into a Tesco carpark and saw a converted van parked so I pulled up nearby, then suddenly as I was daydreaming about what to get to fill my fridge, there was a knock on the window - it was Dave and it turned out to be his camper van.


Dave with his blue Citroen van

Planning my route & pictures from Skye last year

Today was a day to really begin thinking about the route I may take, and a rough timetable I may follow in Scotland. I've never been one to plan a detailed itinerary, and much of my motivation for this trip is to travel free - free to stop and spend as much time as I like at any beautiful or alluring location I may stumble upon.

That said, my philosophy on travel, and often in life too, is in having a rough framework planned out, and then to allow for plenty of flexibility within that. This way I'll get to cover the areas I'd like to see, and still have room for spontaneity.

I've got a month to do it in, well that's how long I've given myself for Scotland, so I'll not be in any hurry at all. I've checked out the ferry costs, and a single fare isn't too expensive, I'll not be coming back to Ireland for quite a while, not to live anyhow. I've already spent time with the big road atlas out and decided on a rough route to follow..

My loose framework route

Stage 1 of the journey will be around a week long and I'll cross on the ferry to Troon, then head up the coast, before heading inland and following Lough Lomond. I'll then head on up into the highlands and stay in different locations on the way, before reaching my first 'destination', Applecross.

On previous trips I've been up as far as the Isle of Skye, but have heard many tales about 'The Pass of the Cattle' and the views of the islands from the top and from the coastline at Applecross itself - so totally new territory will begin there for me..

More about my plans soon, but I'd love to share with you a few pictures from last years trip to Isle of Skye..


On the Cullin Ridge


My friend Liz taking it easy


My bedroom view from the van after 10:30 at night.


Stunning view at the top of the island

Looking through all these, im really looking forward to getting on the road...

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