Day 11 Loop Head

Today was my 70th birthday.  I opened all my cards and the girls made breakfast for me.

As the forecast was good we headed south to the Loop Head Peninsula.

First stop was at the resort of Kilkee where we walked along the beach and back along the promenade.  It was very warm and sunny and families were on the beach and swimming in the sea.

 
Kilkee Beach

 
Kilkee Beach

 
Kilkee promenade

 

We then made our way onto the peninsula and stopped at a viewpoint to see some really lovely cliff formations.

 
Loop Head Peninsula

 
Loop Head Peninsula 

 
Loop Head Peninsula 

 
Loop Head Peninsula 

 

Next stop was The Ross Bridges.  There were originally 3 natural bridges over the sea but 2 have now collapsed leaving just one.  It was quite a walk until we found it but it was quite spectacular.  It started to rain heavily as we left.

 
Typical tourist site sign seen all around the Wild Atlantic Way

 
Ross Bridges view

 
Only remaining Ross Bridge

 
Only remaining Ross Bridge

 

We went to Loop Head Lighthouse where Steph, Vicky and Gary did the lighthouse tour and the rest of us just did the exhibition.  There was an interesting film where the last lighthouse keepers talked about their way of life before the lighthouse was automated.   We also saw some ariel shots of the lighthouse and nearby was a white stone structure spelling our "EIRE" on the coast which was visible to aircraft to inform pilots that they were entering Irish territory.  When the others were on the tour I walked down to try and find this sign but couldnt see anything.   As they finished the tour, Steph and Vicky started to walk down as they wanted to see it.  We did find it but it is not obvious.  The stones are no longer painted white so from the ground it just looked like a lot of stones.  We did see some Rock Pipits and a Chough.

 
Loop Head Lighthouse

 
Small island at Loop Head

 
View from Loop Head

 
Not easy to see but this is the EIRE sign for
 aircraft entering  Irish Airspace

 
Rock Pipit

 
Steph, Vicky and Gary at top of lighthouse

 
Chough

 

On the way back we stopped at the lovely town of Kilrush.  Steph and I visited the Vandeleur Gardens which were not very big but did have some lovely flower displays and an arboretum with many trees from all over the world, including a Chilean Monkey Puzzle Tree. 

 
Maze at 
Vandeleur Gardens

 
Vandeleur Gardens

 
 Labyrinth at Vandeleur Gardens

 
Chess set at Vandeleur Gardens

 
Car display at Vandeleur Gardens
 

 
Car display at Vandeleur Gardens
 
We then came back to the town and had a walk down to the harbour before meeting the others in the pub.

 
Kilrush town centre

 
Kilrush - gardens near harbour

 
Kilrush - bridge over Kilrush Creek Marina

 
Kilrush Creek Marina

 

We had a birthday meal in Fritz's bar in Doolin and were not disappointed.  We all enjoyed our food and then went back to our accommodation and had champagne and birthday cake.

 
Fritz's restaurant


 
Champers back at the accomodation


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