In June 2022, I took a two-week adventure around Ireland in a van with my dog, Anayah.
When I got back home, I put together a travel journal scrapbook, and I can’t wait to share it with you!
Whether you're planning your own trip to Ireland and looking for some must-see spots to add to your itinerary, or you just want to scroll through a travel journal for some inspiration, you’ve come to the right place!
Hey! I'm TJ, welcome to the blog! If you have been before, hello again!
Welcome to the tour of my Irish trip scrapbook! There’s so much to share that I’ll be splitting it into two posts. This first one covers the adventures from the first week! I’ll be sharing photos of the scrapbook pages along with the text from each page for you to enjoy. Let’s dive in!
(Note: All human and animal names have been changed for privacy!)
Also, apologies for any spelling errors on the pages themselves, I'm Dyslexic!
Pre-trip:
The days running up to our departure for Ireland were manic: Work, packing and organizing everything. I was excited, nervous, anxious, in disbelief and proud. I was proud of myself for finally going travelling, and doing it alone.
I have travelled to France before with uni, but this was different, I was doing this on my own, just me and Anayah. I experienced it all with just her, and the idea of that was exhilarating yet terrifying.
No plans, no one to help if something went wrong.
With the French ferry, I wasn't nervous at all. This one I was stressed with because of Anayah. In my head I pictured the ferry sinking and me not being able to get to her. But it all went well, there were no issues!
Day 1 - 5th June: Rosslare Beach
Not sure if this counts as 'day 1', as I've been here for all of 4 hours. The journey from Home to Fish-guard was interrupted by frequent roadworks and traffic, turning a 3 hour (drive) into 4 hours, luckily I gave myself lots of extra time.
The Heads of the Valley road was long but beautiful with rain and low clouds. The ferry trip was long too, but I was chatting to other travelers which helped pass the time.
Arriving in Ireland was like a dream come true.
I drove to Rosslare beach after customs checked Anayah's paperwork. It was windy and showery and I first parked up on the hill over looking the beach, but it was too exposed so I moved into the beach car park. It's free and a 2 second walk from the beach. It's still raining, so I set a tarp up to cook under. I took Anayah for a walk but there wasn't much to see in the village! Bed time now, I'm exhausted.
Day 2 - Raven Nature Reserve and Wicklow Gap
Lessons Learned
- Be prepared for midges away from the coast
- Things don't always go to plan and that's okay.
- Some rest and food can be helpful
- Listen to your gut
I didn't sleep all that great but I was expecting that for the 1st night. It turns out Anayah is scared of the waves (on the beach). She can't figure out why they keep chasing her! Rosslare beach is very communal with swimmer groups and Tai Chi classes every morning. We met some lovely people including Lilly and her German Shepherd rescue, Rosa.
Wexford Wildfowl Reserve didn't allow dogs, so we found Raven Nature Reserve. It was busy with families but we found a quietish route. The forest was beautiful and dark with Spruce trees. Anayah enjoyed it and didn't react to other dogs much.
We then drove to the place I planned to stop for the night to have a look. It was beautiful and in the middle of nowhere. It had no signal and I needed water, so I carried on and filled up water. I had every intention of going back, but I'n not sure what happened. (Maybe I instinctively knew staying there wasn't safe!?). Suddenly I was half an hour from the spot. I drove through Glendalough (what a busy little Honey pot place) and found this lay by (Wicklow Gap, an old miners area). I'm too tired to carry on driving. It's not perfect, but after I finished my emotional meltdown, I realized it's beautiful. Busy during the day but quiet overnight. There's a French couple in a van behind us. It turns out this is a Miners Village. I'll have a proper look tomorrow, I'm desperate for sleep.
Day 3 - Wicklow Mountains and Robertstown Canal
After an emotional evening, I slept well and work up with a spectacular view with the clouds low in the valley. It's a Miners Village ruin, and made for a lovely morning walk. I had Anayah on her long lead and she and I explored before breakfast, watching the clouds in the Wicklow Gap. We didn't rush to leave, left by 9:30 and spent the day driving through the Wicklow Mountains. It was beautiful, narrow and bumpy! We stopped often but only for short explores. I saw Pied Crows for the first time, and it took me a while to figure out what they were! Their numbers were great! I saw plenty of Skylarks, too. We then stopped at Carrickgollogan forest. It was right South of Dublin, and I could see the vast sea of the city, visible in all directions. The woods were pine trees, but the local wood trust was chopping it down to replace it with a native forest. There were sections where cut trees were being allowed to rot to fertilize the ground before new trees were planted.
Now we are at Robertstown Canal where we are staying the night. The weather has been rough, so I am drying all of my wet kit! It's peaceful here, with so much wildlife. It's part of the Irish Waterways system, and a local boat-dweller let me use his 'smart card' for a shower. Free toilet access, too! I'm going to sleep well tonight.
Day 4 - Barley Harbour and Leitrim Canal
Lessons learned
- Anayah is scared of heights.
- The Irish are so friendly
- the waterways system is great of travelling
- Diesel is cheaper then petrol here.
Another lazy start, even more so than yesterday. Anayah and I had a lovely walk along the canal (dodging the rain showers), and we did loads of 'heel' and 'loose' training. It went well until she lunged at some cows. Then some ducks.
I then spent some time with my camera and got some nice shots! It was a very picturesque place, popular with walkers, runners and cyclists.
I then drove for a while and the rain and wind were strong! I found a place called Barley Harbour, connected to a giant lake connected to the Shannon Estuary. It was hidden and tucked away, a wild place indeed The car park was walled, so we had a small amount of shelter. We walked around the harbour with Anayah on the long lead going an explore! There was one bout harboured. Part of me wanted to stay the night, but the rain kept coming so instead of just hiding in the van, I thought carrying on would be a good use of time otherwise wasted.
Anayah was scared of the drop from the harbour wall and the water, she was even barking at the boar when it bobbed about. It was rather entertaining!
Now we are at Leitrim Canal, we are staying here tonight. It's another Irish waterways stop. I bought a waterways card this morning so I can use the showers. It's not as nice as last nights stop and it's close to a large village, but it's good enough. A few other vans tonight, a couple of families living on moored boats, too.
Anayah jumped out of the van to join in a water fight between some boys!
1 men from the vans either side of me thought they could help me light the BBQ, (even though I didn't need, want or ask for help), with WD40. Obviously it didn't work, and I was able to get it going my way after all. Bloody men!
Day 5 - Glenveagh National Park and Rossnowlagh
Today has been full of 'WOW' faces! Shock and awe.
It's been another incredible journey. Now I am getting into the swing of travelling, and we have a routine(ish) down. Anayah and I are loving life.
She jumps into the van after we are sorted, she's always ready to go!
I had another shower at the canal using the Waterways system. It was such a good idea to get the card.
John, one of the Irishmen from lastnights fire incident was waiting outside for me, which was creepy, right? It gets better. He proceeded to tell me that Christianity was life. I informed him of my Pagan beliefs and he told me I would go to hell, to which I replied I'd rather that than go to heaven, and that I'd see him there! He got angry and rude (how very Christian of him) So I walked away.
I then sat at the garage having breakfast whilst doing some drying using the machienes. It's been wet the last few days so I have been unable to dry much of my wet kit! Whilst sat there, the Christian man walked passed me and ignorned me, no skin off my nose! Because the weather was so fowl, I decided to drive all the way to Glenveagh National Park, and boy was it worth it, even if it was 2 and a half hours driving. It was so rugged and wild, in a dramatic, eery kinda way. After rolling my ankle and taking a chunk out of my knee, we took a walk from the visitor center. It wasn't a huge walk but it was beautiful and peaceful. Anayah loved it. We got attacked by a rather wet cloud that we watched roll in over the lake, but I did not care. The sceanery was well worth it. I'm pretty sure I saw an Eagle as it was too big for a kite, but it was too far away to be sure.
We then made it to the West Coast and HOLY SMOKES! It's wild, rugged and so much more... more!
We are stopping at Rossnowlagh beach. It's busy with surfers, but quieter as it got later. It's very windy, and the waves are huge, but the flying sand is rather annoying. It's everywhere, including my food!
A beautiful sunset, and now to fall asleep to the sound of the sea... and wind.
Info -Glenveagh National Park
"Gleann Bheatha"
Glenveagh is the 2nd largest national park out of the 6 in Ireland.
Tucked in the Derryveagh mountains in the 'forgotten country' Donegal, It's name translates to "Glen of the Birches"
Known for it's beauty, wildlife and recreation opportunities, the park has very strict rules on wild camping and parking.
Donegal: The forgotten country is known as such for being geographically isolated from Ireland, Pinned between the sea and Northern Ireland.
Geology:
Full of mountains, rugged coasts, lush woodlands and desolated bogs, Glenveagh is set in the wilderness of the North West. Mount Errigal is the tallest peak in the mountain range.
Fauna:
The park is home to a large variety of creatures: Fish, Pearl Mussels, Lizards, Frogs, Newts, Insects, Waterfowl, Falcons, Buzzards, Golden Eagles, Woodland Birds, Plovers, Red Deer, Bats, Otters, Foxes, Badges... This is not a full list!
Woodlands:
100 hectares of natural and semi-natural woodlands contain native and non-native trees such as: Oak, Birch, Rowan, Hazel, Holly, Scots Pine, Aspen and Yew.
Flora:
Glenveagh has a variety of plant life. Some of which is some of the rarest plants in Ireland. Mosses and Lichen, Fungi, Ferns, Heather, Bog Cotton, Orchids, Sorrels to name a few.
"Along this tranquil path I roam, caught between the valley and BLAH BLAH BLAH
Day 6 - Ceevy Peir, Glencar and Ballina
I actually slept oookayish, despite the weather. We had a lovely walk on the beach this morning. Anayah was on the long lead because no one else was around. She ran around like a loony!
I then got to drive on the beach for the first time. That was exciting! We followed the Wild Atlantic way and our first stop was Ceevy pier. It was at the end of this super narrow windy lane lined with HUGE houses! The sea was wild as we had a wonder out on the pier. Anayah got a tad nervous of the waves. I also put a new dent in Dizzy (the van) trying to get out of the stupidly narrow car park.
My plan was to then find Maeves tomb, but I saw a sign post for Glencar waterfall and followed that instead. Although no dogs were allowed, the drive was breathtaking. We stopped at the lake for a walk and lunch instead.
We tried to find the tomb, but were not successful. We did find Sandhill beach, though, with was a busy beach. We took a walk along the sea front and watched the waves; they were wild! We did some more loose lead training.
Tonight we are at a campsite. It's really quiet but I've met some lovely couples also travelling in vans. One from the UK!
There is no free overnight parking locally! So I've given the van a good sort, Brushed Anayah, showered, done some washing and washed all pots on hot soapy water in a sink!
It's now raining heavily to some reading and bed time I think!
I hope you enjoyed the insights of the first 6 days of my Irish travels! I can't help but feel grateful for the incredible memories I made along the way and that I can share them with you. From breathtaking landscapes to unforgettable moments with Anayah, every page tells a story that I'll cherish forever. I hope this little peek into my travels inspires you to explore Ireland or create your own travel journal!
Thanks for joining me on the first part, and if you don't want to miss the second part, follow me on social media or sign up to the mailing list (at the bottom of the page).
Safe travels!
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