Day 11: Loop Head

I took the first crossing on the Shannon Ferry to Loop Head at 7:30am.

Loop Head is a slender finger of land pointing out to sea from the most westerly point of County Clare, on the Wild Atlantic Way. Cinched between the ocean on one side and the Shannon Estuary on the other, this tiny peninsula would be an island but for a meagre mile of land connecting it to the rest of County Clare.

Despite its isolation, its people are far from insular, having spent hundreds of years welcoming strangers by water. In 2010, Loop Head became a European Destination of Excellence in aquatic tourism.

However, I was all alone when I arrived! Not a soul in sight with the exception of two farmers on tractors I saw coming and going. The roads are very narrow and not passable for tour buses or large vehicles.

It’s also right in the middle of the Wild Atlantic Way, 2,500 kilometres of the finest coastal scenery in Ireland.

Loop Head epitomizes what the Wild Atlantic Way is about: panoramic cliff views, abundant local seafood, and plenty of quiet beautiful spots where you can pause and wonder at this unforgettable part of the world.

I revised my travel plans a bit and am now just a few miles from my ancestral home in Ballinasloe, County Galway.

I'm taking a three night break from the Wild Atlantic Way before returning on Tuesday for two more days on the west coast.

Tomorrow I will visit notable places of family history in and around Ballinasloe.