Trip to Northern Ireland - Day 3

On the Saturay of our trip away I had booked to go to the Giant's Causeway in the morning. However, on Friday, the Airbnb owners had told us that there was a huge motorbike race in the area, between Coleraine, Portrush, and Portstewart. So we decided to swap the Giant's Causeway to Sunday, and I'm really glad that they sorted it out via email for me so quickly! Instead we headed to Donegal on Saturday, into the republic. I wanted to show Lee at least a little bit of southern Ireland, even if the bit in question is more north than Northern Ireland! 

We set off past Derry again and got to Buncrana in about an hour and twenty minutes. We drove to a little beach bit and had a walk on there. There was a lovely mural on a youth centre there too! Then we drove to the pier and walked along that, and then headed to Tank & Skinny which I had researched and which had lots of veggie options. We arrived just as they were switching over between brunch and lunch so we had to wait a little bit, but we had such a beautiful view that I couldn't complain! The day had started off misty but it had burnt off and had become a really warm, sunny day. I had a slushy cocktail which was really nice, and then an egg, cheese, hash brown burrito which was gorgeous!

After lunch we drove up to Malin Head, which is the most northerly point of Ireland! We weren't sure what would be there, but there's quite a big car park (and there were a couple of coaches) and "Ireland's most northerly coffee van". We bought coffee and another traybake each and walked on the cliff top. It was pretty cool to see, I'm glad we bothered to go all that way. 

Afterwards we drove back to Ballymena a slightly different way, through Muff. I was wondering if the border between the north and the south would be different after Brexit but I'm glad to say it wasn't - you barely tell that you've moved from one to the other until the signs change and the petrol station signs are in euros. I'm glad people can still move freely between the two. Lee and I will really have to go to the republic again - maybe Dublin or maybe Galway as I loved that so much last time! 

Again there's lots of photos but as you'll see there was so much beauty I couldn't stop taking photos! 

Buncrana - this is not actually the sea, it's a lough that does eventually lead on to the sea

This part was a bit murky but I bet it was lovely and clean a bit further out

Another gorgeous mural!

These people were repainting the sign that said Buncrana

I loved these boats on the harbour

This was where we ate - again there were a few of this chain in the area and I would recommend them!

We were seated right on the front part of the patio (it had a retractable roof, but was only partially open on this day) so this was the view one way

And this was the view the other way! How beautiful! 

I liked this sign inside too 

My passionfruit and lime cocktail

The lighthouse on the end of the pier. There were plenty of people on the beach and even some people swimming too 

On the way to Malin Head - there was barely any traffic 

The coffee van! 

To the right of the most northerly point

The point itself

These words were made in World War Two to inform enemy bombers that they were over Irish land, which was neutral, so they knew not to bomb there

Look how beautiful the surroundings were

Lee standing on the rock

The sign 

And the top of it - the wave shows that it is part of the Wild Atlantic Way 

Driving away from the point

We saw this sign and thought it was so amusing - I've really no idea what it pointed to

Here's what I was wearing - my purple Scarlett and Jo skirt and my My Little Pony t-shirt!