Saturday 14 September – Bushmills to Buncranna

A dry, clear night, only disturbed when the wind got up and started scraping tree branches along the back of the van – very noisy but harmless, but it was getting up time. After breakfast Bren popped into the Co-op across the road for some bits to top us up whilst Terry had a clean-out of the van; we had stopped at a couple of places where the grass had been recently cut and had been brought in on wet paws, shoes etc. Glad we'd left the carpets at home!

Today our plan was to cross over to Ireland Republic, via the Lough Foyle ferry from Magilligan Point onto the Inishowen Peninsular in County Donegal at Greencastle. Still following the Causeway Coastal Route we first called in at the service point at Portrush, where we could have stayed last night but it was a pay aire and we had no need anyway. We continued westbound, pausing to view Dunluce Castle, another NT site which looked to be very busy, from the empty viewpoint just along the road.

Dunluce Castle

The ferry is only seasonal and we had been told was finishing this weekend (thinks, in view of Brexit will it ever re-open?) so as it avoided quite a long drag round through Londonderry we felt the £13 cost was acceptable. Up the edge of the lough and to Dungaree Beach for a romp with Jamie and lunch before joining the Wild Atlantic Way up to Malin Head, the most northerly point of the Irish Republic.

The Wild Atlantic Way is a well signposted tourist route following the west Atlantic coast of Ireland for some 1350 km and was our objective for this trip. It even has dedicated TomTom routes, which we had downloaded although not really required as it is so clearly signed.

Malin Head (c. Active Me, Ireland Travel Guide)

Unfortunately the weather had started to deteriorate again and by the time we'd managed to find the only space big enough at Malin Head in a coach layby to park, a sea fret had moved in. Nevertheless we treated Jamie to a walk to the top for the view before it was obscured. In the UK a place like this would have a visitor centre with tearoom, gift shop etc. Here we found a mobile tea van with a trailer of simple souvenirs – refreshing! All this for the ruins of the old watch tower which actually has the history of being the very first radio signal tower for ships crossing the Atlantic, recorded by just a few information boards.

The reality!

Chased back to the van we rejoined the Wild Atlantic Way and headed for another overnight stay suggested by Campercontact at Buncarra. A short stop to deal with a poorly puppy – we think the chicken we gave him at lunchtime might have been off – but he soon recovered although we're left with a bit of washing to do.........

Situated behind the T.I. Office, Buncarra has created a dedicated campervan parking area – a bit not quite right because the spaces are marked out car-size. Apparently the construction company “hadn't thought about that” but it didn't matter as the dozen or so vans had sorted themselves out, leaving just one space for us which we squeezed into, narrowly missing a tree which was in just the wrong position. Kettle on – and the gas bottle ran out! Changed over and checked for refills to find of the few autogas stations in Ireland, two are located in less than 7km from us!

We had intended calling in to a local place of interest, the Doagh Famine Village but ran out of time today. Despite it meaning a backtrack of around 10 miles we'll try to visit tomorrow when we leave here. The day has ended very grey and damp with the forecast showing a clearance after lunch on Sunday. Meanwhile we're warm, dry and comfortable so might try some TV tonight for change.