Glen

Saturday morning, 21 Sept, my old friends the Renzis arrive at my house and, after a brief tour, we set off for Donegal. We had a lovely beach walk for starters then, after a Guinness at the Glen pub and fish tacos in Downings, we settled in our wee cottage in the lovely village of Glen.

It was idyllic. View from the kitchen table:

Glen Lough in the middle ground and Muckish Mountain in the background.

Sunday Catherine and Al explored Glenveagh Castle and gardens. Catherine is an artist and I thought she'd enjoy the back story of the head of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, who bought and restored the castle. Meanwhile, I planned to take Paddy for a nice long walk.

I hadn't set out to climb Mt. Errigal – I had no water, food, or a hat. But it was there and I figured we'd give it a go. Us at the top:

We were at the top in 50 minutes. I was told it would take 90 minutes by hikers on the way up. Pshaw. The nice thing about the top being in the mist was that you couldn't see how steep the sides were.

It was probably the best hike I've ever been on, from a footing perspective. A trail and steps has been laid the whole way up. A fellow hiker said that trail wasn't there 10 years ago. EU money? I was a teenager the last time I was up that mountain – probably all bog paths then.

It was a perfect day for a hike and I enjoyed every minute.

I took Catherine and Al to Glebe House, home of artist Derek Hill, however it was closed. Then we went to an art gallery in Dunfanaghy, also closed. Back to the cottage to freshen up, then an amazing four course meal at the Glen Restaurant. Very difficult to get reservations, but we got lucky. The chef had worked at a top London restaurant. It is a bit disorienting having haute cuisine at a cross roads village in Donegal, but there we were.

Mt Errigal (the mists lifted after my hike):

Final photo of a famous church in Dunlewey, where I went after the hike.

Monday morning I took Paddy swimming again at the beach then we headed back to Belfast. I took the Renzis into city centre to catch their bus to Dublin, where they were spending the evening with other Americans visiting Ireland. Then I played golf in the afternoon with my old school chum Stuart, who is over from England visiting his dad.

It was a full weekend – lots of laughter and good company.

21-23 sept