Herb Riddle's photos

A beautiful wild coastal round walk of 10km beckons us today. We are looking south here back to our base in Belmullet as we walk north to the rugged rocks of Kid Island and the 'Stags of Broadhaven'. The cemetery is just on the hidden track behind the small white post way down on the left. PiP. As can be seen, an empty part of the world with few locals and tourist. Enjoy full size.

Walking along this exciting coast can have its moments. Here we have a most extraordinary stile that we have just climbed over. The fences are like so many we have seen in the Republic of Ireland, extensive and dangerous. However the stile did suffice but I doubt anybody with any physical restrictions would have managed it. Enjoy full size! HFF, enjoy the weekend.

This is Kilgalligan Cemetery not very far from Stonefield. We have embarked on another loop walk called 'Portacloy Loop-Cliff'' just north of Belmullet, County Mayo. This kind of scene was one we were to come across often on our travels near here. Enjoy full screen.

County Mayo in Ireland has its fair share of dilapidated dwellings. I suspect because there is a lot of land to people ratio, once a place gets old or someone leaves it, it is simply left to rot. Quite unlike most places around England itself where a building like this would soon be re-built to make a new nice property again. This taken near our holiday dwelling in the hamlet of Tippe near Belmullet. The sky was grey and quite miserable and so the old fashioned mono effect here suits the mood and time I think. The wall belongs to the old slipway running into ‘Blind Harbour’. See PiP Have a good day.

Described as an islet that can be seen on this Erris Head walk. Pigeon rock is just to the left of this. Although from this photo it looks like it is possible to walk over a possible land bridge; that is impossible. Only a boat or hardy swimmer could get to this Island that has a fair amount of nesting birds on its cliffs. On the horizon can be seen the ‘Broadhaven Stags’ again. The headlands up there, we would visit too in a few days time. See last photo or below for alternative view. Enjoy full screen.

Having turned the northern corner we are greeted by wild rocky Islands. This is Pigeon Rock. We never saw any pigeons though. This as can be seen is the Atlantic Ocean and in fact the whole coastline is called ‘The Wild Atlantic Way’. A bit of a dangerous footing here with strong winds and high cliffs – only for sure-footed walkers and photographers! The hardy flowering plants here are most likely to be Sea thrift. Enjoy full screen.

We are on the headlands walking west and looking northeast here towards the 'Stags of Broadhaven' rocks (top left). A grey day with just a hint of brighter blue as is the norm here on the Wild Atlantic Way. The PiPs show two other views from almost the same spot looking east, The first to Danish Cellar with the old steps and the second looking west. Enjoy full size. Herb

Our first full day in this Irish County Mayo area of Belmullet takes us onto a fascinating coastal walk of around 5-7km. It starts from a carpark in a little cove intriguingly called 'Danish Cellar' about 15 minutes drive from our cottage. There is ample evidence of modern concrete ramps and steps built into the steep rocks to the water but I can find no more information regarding the history of this cove. This area did have a lot of Whaling stations in the old days and so I think it may have something to do with that. Notice the old rusty winch on the bottom left here. As all this area was invaded and occupied by the Vikings there are many references to the Scandinavian countries. Our path will take us up along the fence on the top of these steep headlands and reward us with some spectacular sights. ps - a great change from the UK is that we found that almost every country car-park was cost free. Best full screen.

As we leave Holyhead in Wales to the Irish capital of Dublin, I must admit to enjoying this pier matrix. Lots of fences for us all to admire with the promise of an exciting sail. Enjoy full size! HFF, enjoy the weekend.

A first look at the area that we were to call home for a week. Our big windows looked down onto the loch and beyond. This sea-loch emptied twice a day to leave just wet sand. Behind me, the Atlantic Ocean to the north with the next land being Iceland (see PiP). The landscape you see here, was pretty typical of this whole part of Ireland, being practically treeless with mostly low lying hills. Almost like my home but with no people and sea. That being said, there were some spectacular hills, too. As you might imagine- scrambling across these jagged rocks was a bit dicey with a heavy camera around your neck :) but we both survived. Enjoy full screen.

Dublin, Ireland, the gateway into the Emerald Isle as seen from a Britain-Dublin ferry crossing. The ferry is moving slowly into its berth and it will be soon time for me to take the car onto the solid earth again. We have spent some time in Dublin once before but today, we will take the fast motorway tunnel beneath the city travelling west across this land. Enjoy full screen.

I have seen this a few times from the land but this is a rare shot from the sea taken from the Hollyhead-Dublin ferry. The PiP's shows closer clifftop views.

Hi, and it’s nice to be back home from my trip to Ireland that took place during the last two weeks. We are here in Holyhead, Anglesey, the afternoon before our ship sails to Dublin in the next early morning (the same ship as can be seen here). ~ The start of our new adventure. The scene is actually a small bit of ‘Parc Asfordirol Penrhos Coastal Park’ Enjoy full screen and have a great week.

Standing at the old fine gatehouse of Skipness Castle. A fine set of gates leads us into the old lane to the castle itself. I liked the ornate pillars here as well as the gates. The Pips shows the Gatehouse and the Castle itself. Have a great weekend.

Another castle with some history, near the village of Skipness, standing about 20 miles north of our base here on Kintyre, “The main structure of the castle was built in the early 13th century by the Clan MacSween, with later fortifications and other additions made to the castle through the 13th, 14th and 16th centuries. The castle was garrisoned with royal troops in 1494, during King James IV of Scotland's suppression of the Isles. Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll, granted Skipness to his younger son, Archibald Campbell, in 1511. During the Wars of the Three Kingdoms in 1646, the castle was besieged by forces under the command of Alasdair Mac Colla. During the siege, Alasdair's brother, Gilleasbuig Mac Colla, was killed in August 1646. The castle was abandoned in the 17th century The Green Lady of Skipness Castle is said to haunt the location.” WiKi See Pip’s for alternative views. Enjoy full screen.

A springtime look at these wild flower fields just near the castle, Enjoy full screen.