Home & Away with Robert Walshe
www.robertwalshe.com
Weekend Hotspot – Ballyliffin Lodge Malin, County Donegal
Malin Head is Ireland’s most northerly headland situated on the Inishowen peninsula. Anyone who has listened to the BBC & RTE shipping forecasts at night will be familiar with the weather reports from Malin Head & ‘sea area Malin’ as it is termed. At Bambas Crown (Mythical Queen of Ireland) on Malin’s north tip a Marconi telegraph station was situated there during the early 20th century making the area an important telecommunications hub in years gone by. Malin Head has always been an area of strategic importance & during World War II then Irish President Eamonn De Valera permitted British defense
n Malin Head, Co Donegal
personnel to operate signals from there for the duration of the war in direct violation of Irish neutrality. For a unique insight into how the mighty Atlantic Ocean has interacted with land over the millennia, visit this spectacular area of north Donegal. Stunning cliff caverns, Europe’s largest sand dunes and maritime relics going back centuries are just some of the treats in store. Walk along the dizzying cliff top to Hell’s Hole, a remarkable subterranean cavern 76m long and 2.4m wide in the cliff face, into which the tide rushes with great force to create a mesmerising explosion of foam. Marvel at the picturesque natural arch, called the Devil’s Bridge, nearby. To the north-east, pick out Inishtrahull Island, where a lighthouse was put first put into operation in 1813.
Further out to the east, on a clear day you can see the Scottish hills. As you gaze at the exceptionally distinctive shoreline around you, you will begin to visualise the dramatic and changing connections that have occurred between the mighty ocean and the land over the 15,000 years since the glaciers began to melt. If you’re a nature lover or photographer, then the mixture of dramatic landscapes, rich birdlife, rare flora and rock formations, is compelling. Carndonagh which is approximately 20kms from Malin Head itself is the main population centre for the area & also hosts the only ATM in the locality! Depending on your budget there are plenty of choices of accommodation to choose from including Hotels, B&BS, self-catering apartments, cottages & backpacker type hostel accommodation. We opted for the wonderful Ballyliffin Hotel & Spa. The property is family run catering for all occasions including weddings, golf breaks, walking breaks and family holidays. Located in the heart of Ballyliffin this 4 star property is the perfect location for you to explore the Inishowen Peninsula with its vast range of local activities to suit everyone. With spectacular panoramic views over Malin Head, the hotel is located 1km from the golden sands of Pollan Bay and the
(074) 9131018
n Ballyliffin Lodge
& Spa, Malin,
www.keeshotel.ie
Co Donegal
world famous Ballyliffin golf club. Jacks Bar and Restaurant recently refurbished offers fresh Donegal fish with an emphasis on the best local produce. All forty bedrooms are designed well and the executive suites with sea views are my favourite. The Leisure complex and Spa at the Ballyliffin lodge is unique to the area and a fabulous addition to the hotel. Ballyliffin is also a golf lover’s paradise with two famous courses, The Old Course and The Glashedy Links Course. Just below the village is the wide, sandy expanse of Pollan Beach, which is fast becoming a major windsurfing attraction. There is an exhilarating purpose-built sea walk that wanders between the
north Atlantic shoreline and Ballyliffin Golf Course that will take you to Carrickabraghy Castle which dates back to the 15th century. Stay two nights at The Ballyliffin Lodge and Spa and enjoy a third night’s complimentary accommodation for two people sharing with full Irish breakfast. It is valid on any 3 consecutive nights from €115pps. For best rates visit www.ballyliffinlodge.com Robert Walshe is a travel broadcaster with Q Radio Network and Travel Editor for River Media newspaper titles across the island of Ireland. www.robertwalshe.com