Not a day for fishing so we went for a walk instead. Just a nice gentle loop around the north of the Belmullet peninsular. We got up early, packed some sandwiches and headed north in glorious sunshine. Rain showers dogged us as we passed through Keenagh and then Bangor but they had cleared by the time we rolled through Belmullet and the blue skies stayed with us for the rest of the day.
This is a cliff top stroll so it is best to leave it until a dry and relatively wind free day. Even today in bright sunshine a cool onshore wind kept the temperature down. Despite the chill, the views out to sea were amazing and well worth the effort.
We stopped for a spot of lunch, munching sandwiches amid wheeling birds. We saw curlews, kittiwakes, fulmars and the usual smattering of gulls. The open ground was home to a ringed plover, lapwings, grey wagtails and wheatears. Larks filled the sky with their song.
Looking south we could see the lighthouse on eagle island in the distance.
Belly’s filled, we marching up to the old lookout with its commanding views out across the Atlantic. Below it the word ‘EIRE’ is still spelled out on the grass in white washed stones, a relic from the dark days of the second world war. Ireland remained neutral during the conflict but the west coast was provided with these identifiers so allied pilots could figure out where they were as they attempted to return home from long range missions.
I am planning some fishing for the the week ahead, watch this space!
Claretbumbler 