County Donegal

The past two days I've been in County Donegal, Ireland's northernmost county and one of its most beautiful...which is saying something. Here's the Triangle in Donegal town at dusk, which comes around 10 PM this time of year. We're at latitude 55 here, well north of Edmonton Alberta.

Slieve League, the highest sea cliffs in Ireland...600 metres straight up out of the ocean. It was a primeval day when I visited. Gray, foreboding skies added to the majesty of the cliffs. 40 knot winds enhanced the bleakness deliciously. I would have liked to stay a long time...there were picnic tables, but 50 degrees and 40 knots did not constitute ideal picnic weather.

Loch Beagh, near Glenveagh Castle. The clouds parted just enough to let in some magical sunlight, on an otherwise rainy day.

Today I hiked the McSwynes Gun Loop trail near Dunfanaghy, where I'm staying. This proved to be a gorgeous 9 km trek over dunes, through grasslands, high above the sea, and through farmlands dotted with sheep and ruins of ancient houses. The wind howled, and the ocean roared. Raw nature in spectacular form. This is Tramore Beach.

Grassy dunes just inland from the ocean were almost as awesome as the surf. This far north, the light for photography is awesome.