Up handy and out on the bikes to cycle to Malin Head. It’s only 4km but steeply uphill at the end so we don’t quite make it to the top. We first did hills after I got my e-bike in the Cotswolds in 2020. We were obviously younger lol,  and much fitter as a result of months of lockdown walking and we both managed longer, steeper hills back then!

There’s a rather ugly Napoleonic tower at the top but absolutely glorious views. It’s a gorgeous day. We buy a cuppa and share a piece of cake drinking in the vista. North from Malin Head is the Artic, West is the Americas.

Easy cycle down back to the van and a short but pretty journey to Buncara where we hope to get a ferry across Lough Swilly to Rathmullin.

There’s already a long queue of cars waiting for the next ferry which is due. When it arrives I talk to the crew and we agree we’re just not going to fit on this one. We nearly decide to drive but instead enjoy lunch sitting on the quay.

First on the ferry this time. It’s a  slightly nervy loading as the tide is low and they have to use wooden blocks under the wheels so we don’t scrape the deck! The ferry is packed with people and cars and when we land in Rathmullin it’s a traffic jam! Fewer wooden blocks to get off though and we can’t get to the campsite as the right turn is jammed with cars waiting for the ferry so end up going along the coast road for a bit. After turning around we drive back to the harbour and the jam has happily disappeared with the ferry.

Desperate for a pint but we have to wait for the man who comes to collect our €10 to park overnight on the football pitch. He’s a blue whose son attended Hope Uni and still lives in Liverpool. Much EFC chat follows.

We have a pint in The White Harte, then move to the Beachcomber Bar and find a seat outside overlooking the Lough. Meet another blue here who used to live on Smithtown Road.

Our final pub is a bit further up the coast road. We pass the  rather lovely but ruined Rathmullin Abbey built early in the 17th Century and abandoned in 1814. 

A pint in Mary Mac’s before returning to our van via a chippy van. We did intend to BBQ but ….

Football again watching Scotland this time and being very disappointed with the result followed by the end of the second series of Marcella.

Another good and varied day with gorgeous weather too.

23:06:24