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 Topic: All Four Provinces
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 via mobile 28/12/2024 at 2:51pm
Location: N. Ireland
Outfit: Elddis Xplore 304
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Joined: 10/1/2005 Diamond Member 
Forum Posts: 2042
Tent Reviews: 1
| Site Reviews Total: | 31 |
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| Site Nights 2019: | 68 |
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On 4 separate trips this year we managed to stay in all 4 Irish provinces, each trip getting progressively better.
We started off in April with 5 days in The Meadows CL, near the small village of Gortin, Co. Tyrone, Ulster. A pleasant enough place for a short break but we didn't travel very far, this was just a starter trip really.
Then in May we went to Belleek in Ballina, Co. Mayo, Connaught for 2 weeks. Nice site, town a bit ordinary and very busy but lots of good places to visit - Westport, Downpatrick Head, Ceide Fields and the Museum of Country Life being highlights. So much space in Mayo out in the countryside and coast. Nice short walking in small woods beside the site with a good castle / hotel restaurant. The weather varied from wet to windy to wet & windy. All in all though, very enjoyable.
Our main trip was the whole month of July to Co. Cork, Munster.
First week was at the very tidy Blarney park, lots of space, good facilities, although you had to drive to get anywhere, and the area was quite busy. Blarney castle gardens and Cobh were the main highlights.
The second week was supposed to be in Mountain Forge Escape near Clonality, but we only stayed 3 nights, our nerves were shattered by the near constant playing of football and hurling on the camping field around the caravans. A shame, a well placed site with promise but having to guard your caravan does not make for a relaxing break. Clonality town was nice, it was the only place we got to.
So that meant we now were going to spend 2.5 weeks in Eagle Point near Bantry. What a treat this place was, stunning setting, an adults only section, some wonderful inexpensive restaurants in the area too. Bantry and Glengarrif towns are nearby and a host of other attractions like Bantry house and gardens, Kenmare, Garnish island garden, and the various peninsulas to explore. I think the forest of Gougane Bara just might be my new favourite place on earth.
The final trip in September was for 2 weeks to River Valley in the village of Redcross, Co. Wicklow, Leinster. An all singing all dancing family site this, but again we were on the adults only section for some peace and quiet. This was a good finish to the year, watching red kites soaring over the site and visits to the wonderful Glendalough and the treetop walk in Avondale forest plus a massive number of Wicklow gardens. I wouldn't say River Valley was better than Eagle Point, but different and in its own way just as good.
Bantry and the adults only sections of both Eagle Point and River Valley make it onto our Top X sites in Ireland (X currently equals 8).
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