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| Click on this image for our track in Google Maps |
Gotta get that miserable ascension of Snaght out of our system... And so, as a brilliant evening points its head on Fanad yet again (but not so much further inland it seems — why am I not surprised in the slightest?), off we set to a new destination.
Knowing that we'll definitely be out for another evening walk in two days' time, we decided that we might as well pick a beach for today. And one with benefits at that.
To Doagh Beg Strand, and beyond!
We do happen to like this one, because it is recluse, just like us, and it does have a "only for the locals" vibe. One of the many hidden gems of Fanad, if you ask me. So much so that I'm not entirely sure I want to blog that publicly about it... In other words, if you ever find your way to it, don't tell anyone who sent you there!
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| Walking down to the hidden beach |
The path to the strand is pretty secluded. In fact, because the beach itself is mostly hidden then, unless you've already been there, you may think this grassy alleyway is just a field access for cattle or something.
As a matter of fact, as we stride along, we are fast starting to make friends with inquisitive young cows that I suspect have been in the stable until fairly recently and are about as excited to enjoy the great outdoors as we are:
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| An unusually appreciative public for a change |
But we're not here to make friends with local cattle, and thus we promptly arrive at the beach.
Even as I can't help but recall just how drenched I was just 2 days ago, the striking views of Inishowen are starting to make me forget about that incident already, and instead whisper more of the sirens' song in my hear, inviting me to go for yet another hike on the other side of Swilly Bay. I mean, with views like this, how can one ever stay mad at this place?...
And since we're overlooking the waters, as well as other things, we may also try keep an eye open for whales, that are said to frequent the bay. Never managed to spot one but who knows if today could be the day. Alas, as we'll find out, this evening will be no exception either. But at least, it does suit itself to taking pictures:
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| Swilly Bay, with Inishowen's Mamore Gap in the distance |
Yet, no sooner are we on the beach that we exit it through the left, since we do have an alternate destination in mind.
After a small walk along the more or less inviting coastal path, and after crossing a field where an old sign says there might be a bull (which, thankfully, wasn't there) we finally arrive at the round pebble beach, that constitutes the threshold of our main goal.
But first, we'll make a small detour to get a better view of the huge stone block that sits on top of a rock bar, across Inishowen's Dunaff Head in the distance. That rock probably has a name, but I don't know it. So I'm just going to call it Clyde Rock, as an oblique reference to the famous legend of the voracious & golden-coloured Eamon Pac-Mahon, also known as the Celtic hero who found himself pursued by four rather blocky ghosts in an endless maze. I mean, this is well know Irish mythology at this stage; one that has long ceased to be the sole domain of the arcane.
ᗣᗣᗣᗣ ᗧ···•····
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| Clyde Rock, with Inishowen's Dunaff Head in the distance |
Yet, Clyde is still not our goal. This is:
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| The Great Pollet Sea Arch |
Heck, the arch deserves more than one main picture to do it justice, so here's another:
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| The still Great Pollet Sea Arch |
I could talk about it some more, which I may do if we come back here, but for the time being, I'd have to talk about not so pleasant things regarding coastal rights of access, which I'd rather abstain from doing until specific ongoing matters have been resolved. "If you don't have anything nice to say" and so on...
Therefore we'll just take a few more pictures (some of which you may find below) before heading back to the beach:
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| Coming back to Doagh Beg Strand |
At this stage, maybe I should mention that we have the whole beach to ourselves, as usual.
Also, since the tide is low, I can't pass on the great opportunity to have you discover what stands at the very southern tip of these sands.
That's because, in case you ever read Hergé's Adventures of Tintin (a staple of children's comics in French speaking countries), and especially The Black Island volume, you may remember how the hero's daringly escapes into a sea cave, as he is pursued by his foes, and then his predicament as the sea rises...
Well, it turns out that Doagh Beg Strand does have a sea cave that is strikingly similar to the one depicted in Tintin's Scottish adventures:
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| The sea cave, at the very southern end of the strand |
And with the high tide, this cave does happens to get flooded with sea water, just like
We haven't tried to climb its walls yet, to see if it also leads to a band of bandits printing counterfeit money, but, while this may not be Rossguill's Murder Cave, it certainly does look inviting to smugglers...
I guess it's time to conclude that this evening has achieved its goal of making us forget Sunday's very damp affair and is therefore a success. Can't help but wonder if we might not have been better off heading to Fanad then, where clear skies always abound, instead of tempting our fate on Inishowen...
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| Time to head back |
Suggested Sound Track
Obviously, we still have very recent memories of that rain episode we got on the other side of the bay. Plus, with the sea shore at out feet as well as rocks left and right, it's not that big a jump to go with this next treat:
I too could talk about time if I wanted. I could also talk to you about arch-something, naming stuff (or lack thereof) and other elements, but it's way too early for that and I happen to have work to do. So just enjoy this great piece of music and leave me in peace...
Additional Pictures
