Cloghane to Castlegregory

 Today the planned route was 27 km along the shores of Brandon and Tralee Bays.  We walked for over 11 km of sand at Fermoyle Strand, Ireland’s longest beach.  We decided to clip off the last tip of the Strand and cut through on an unmarked trail in a cow pasture.  We came  onto a road on the eastern side where there was a nice little coffee stand and after an ice coffee, we followed the road mostly into Castlegregory.  The Strand with all its beaches on both sides was home to many summer caravan parks.

We were excited to see Fitzgerald’s pub as we arrived into the village but it was closed until 400 and we arrive around 2 with our air Bnb being 10 km out.  Some electricians working outside the pub suggested we buy beer at the grocery store and sit outside for our end of the walk beverage.  So off we went but the least we could buy was a 6 pack.  We weren’t planning to drink them all but they really hit the spot, especially after I went back in for a bag of ice and a bucket.

After this we headed back to the pub for supper and watched the Royal Ascott races.  We met a nice couple there Maria and her husband who farm land on the outskirts of town.  They suggested we follow them to Boland’s Bar for a night cap when we were finished our dinner.

Boland’s Bar was an old milking parlour that was nothing short of charming.  So many nooks and crannies and beautiful stonewalls.  And the largest selection of redbreast Irish whisky I had ever seen.

Marie, Barb and myself.

The bartender lady was sharp and on the job and she brought this bottle down for me to take a photo of for my boys back home.  She said it had never been opened and there was only 200 bottles of this one made.  I settled for a 12 year old redbreast to cap the night off and then Barb rang our host Annette, who came to pick us up.

Saying goodbye to our friends and pool playing buddies from Boland’s Bar.  Never mind my neck - it was a tough selfie lol.

Our fav bar on the Dingle Way at Castlegregory.

Below is a photo of our lovely room at The Shores 5 star Guesthouse.  The beds and the linens were second to none and a bath tub, such luxury!

Today we clicked 19 km and very few metres in elevation, but the sand was trying at times both physically and emotionally lol (in the heat).  Breaking free through the cow pasture was my highlight.😎