So there was supposed to be a half day walk scheduled for today but Steve didn’t appear keen to organise anything. Mostly due to our travel arrangements – we would be leaving Spiddal at 23.15 to drive back to catch the 07.30 ferry – so extra sleep time was required. Mirella and Annie decided to visit the island and they were picked up to catch the earlier ferry from Spiddal.
So Sheila, Tom , Jack and myself decided we really would do a coastal walk even though we had no actual idea whether there would be a path! We knew that there was one close to Spiddal but we weren’t sure before that.
We got a lift to Barna which was about 7 miles down the road towards Galway and we knew had a road leading down to the bay. We started by going in search of some lunch and Jack and Tim both had large Irish breakfast so no longer needed to buy lunch!
It was a matter of picking our way along the top of the beaches and occasionally there was a small path along a narrow grassy ledge but nothing like coastal paths in England.
We passed across the back of a large hotel and for a short while there was a path – I don’t think they were expecting their guests to walk very far. At this point we diverted back up to the road as Tom needed water and we also needed to avoid some building work which went right down to the shore line.
Having followed a lane back down to the beach we were following a particularly difficult section of non path – sometimes the boulders we were walking in were like crossing ball bearings, especially if you ended up on a slope.
We then came to a place which had more of the large stone wall we had been following and a difficult walk way on the beach – there was a huge piece of land and a gate in the wall and a wonderful flat path on the other side. Very naughtily the three of them climbed over whilst I wriggled underneath. Sheila and I set off and somebody came out of the house and started shouting at us – we carried on and the two men tried to reply. We put our heads down, apparently if we did it again she would call the police – as this was our only excursion along here we carried on!
The path just continue next to the wall and then stopped as it met another perpendicular wall, so it wasn’t actually going anywhere. At which point we had to climb back over the wall and regain our freedom – it was nice walking on a flat path for a short while though!
Shortly after this we did start seeing yellow way mark signs – not that they actually indicated a path! It was great to be walking next to the water but it was by no means an easy walk and the seven miles by road turned into nearly 11 as we twisted and turned around the intricacies of the shore line.
We kept thinking we would spot Spiddal church tower but we didn’t until we were very close but we did see the harbour pier in the distance, which at that point was very reassuring.
When we reached Spiddal Beach Sheila and I detoured away from the shoreline to visit the craft village and hopefully find tea! Tom and Jack stayed and got wet in the sea. We did find tea further on in the village in a little shop and we managed to sit outside for a short while to drink it before she closed and we had to abandon our seats. Cheekily we joined the other two in the hotel/ pub and sat with them whilst they finished their pints.
Then back up to the campsite to pack up tents and put everything in the van before coming back down for our evening meal and Irish Music in another pub. And then the long drive back! Well sleep for most of us!
It was good to feel very well exercised on the last day and the four of us had got on well together.
Marion's 50 Walk Challenge 