• Ellen Withers
  • Andy Withers
  • Grace Withers
  • Ellen Withers
  • Andy Withers
  • Grace Withers
  • Oscar Withers

Wild Atlantic Way

Our version of the Wild Atlantic Way in our beloved camper with the dog! Read more
  • Downpatrick Head Stack

    August 15, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    What an amazing walk up to the stack, via the blow hole. The water wasn't high or rough enough for it to be 'blowing', but you could see the power of the water from the formation of the rocks!

    Carrying on past the stack was another blow hole. The whole walk was lovely and we were blessed with beautiful weather too! 😊
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  • Tonights stay, sunset and beach combing!

    August 15, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    At first glance I was disappointed with the beach at tonight's site. Thinking that there was nothing to find other than the nasty feeling of the sand hoppers around me!

    We (Oscar and I) were called in for tea and so I decided I'd look on the sand after tea having gone through the rocky area.

    I was complaining about the lack of funds when all of the sudden I finally found my first shark tooth! Quite a good one too I think.

    There are a few shells in there and some other rock that identified as 'meteorite' when I Google lens'd it. So I'm happy with my finds tonight 😁

    ...then there was this perfect sunset. All of a sudden the cloud cleared enough for us to get these lovely views of the sun setting over the beach ❤️

    Our last night in Ireland... And we're all sad (although all looking forward to a proper shower, ours beds and Oscar is missing pizza and his Lego 🤣).

    Tomorrow is the drive to Larne... So very functional, and slightly sad 😢.
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  • Heading home...

    August 16, 2024 in Northern Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    ...well towards Larne, and the ferry anyway!

    There's a kind of quiet about how everyone got sorted this morning. Each in their own thoughts and conflicted between wanting their shower/bed and not wanting to leave this wonderful place.

    It's a purely functional drive this morning, we're aiming to get to Larne, make some lunch nearby and let Oscar play on the park, then visit the nearby waterfall before boarding the ferry and heading to Scotland for our selected site tonight 😁
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  • Eric the travel dog!

    August 16, 2024 in Northern Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    He's been great, taken it all in his stride and been great on the long (and short drives). Doesn't object when we need to leave him in the van temporarily... and loves to come out and play on the beaches as well!!

    The only thing he's a bit of a pain for is the 🐑 he likes to chase them! 🤣
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  • A little Irish reflection...

    August 16, 2024 in Northern Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    We've just swapped and I'm catching up on here now Andy is driving. What a couple of weeks it's been! I have no idea where the time has gone, this holiday has gone faster than any I've ever known!!

    The scenery has been absolutely beautiful! The little people have been awesome and we've watched them really unwind after the school year and take in the experiences we've offered them. They both look windswept, tanned and tired in a good way and seem genuinely at ease ❤️

    We've had our own little journeys as well. Both needing to unwind and recalibrate after the intensity of the last 4 years of me studying. Both considering the next few months where we'll settle into a new normal... with two wages again (phew!).

    We've had van trouble, which thanks to the GC group on FB got solved relatively quickly thank goodness. And we've figured out some subtle changes to the way we do things to allow us to be off grid MUCH more than on.

    Some learnings:
    1. Better Ecoflow charging when driving.
    2. More meal variation needed.
    3. Instant coffee does NOT cut it!
    4. Don't forget Eric's harness 🤣
    5. We underestimated the WAW.

    Finally, if it even crosses your mind that you might need your walking boots on... You probably do! 🤣

    We definitely but off more than we could chew... And as the map shows, we fell behind early on and tried to correct by missing out a peninsula (really plays with my OCD having missed that one out!! 🤣). But pretty quickly realised that was probably a mistake as we were likely to fall behind regardless, and actually it was the quality of the trip that mattered. Which is when we decided to just follow the signs and enjoy it, which is what we did after that.

    The result is we didn't quite make Sligo, and today's drive was a functional long drive across Ireland to the ferry so that we didn't miss it.

    So Ireland, we'll be back! We need to do the Beara peninsula and finish the WAW from the point we had to stop!
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  • Larne waterfall 😍

    August 16, 2024 in Northern Ireland ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    We didn't know what to expect when we headed for the waterfall. The others we have seen on this trip haven't been spectacular!

    But they were great and we loved having a little walk round to them and climbing around a bit to get some nice pictures 😊Read more

  • Crossing the Irish Sea

    August 16, 2024 in Northern Ireland ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    I've finished my book, so it's a bit more boring this time round... Despite being half the time! In fact everyone is definitely more subdued than on the crossing on the way over!

    I'm quite looking forward to going into Scotland, albeit briefly, we're planning on staying in a lovely place. 🤞🏼there is space for us!!Read more

  • Our pitch for the night

    August 16, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    We tried to stay right down by the lighthouse, but there was very little for the little people to do (it's a car park) and the wind was pretty keen.

    We came back a little way to a private campsite, with no facilities, but an awesome view and a little out of the wind (although still windy).

    We can see the lighthouse from here and the little stony beach is lovely! I can't wait to do some beach combing!
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  • Beach combing...

    August 16, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    ...and there was NOTHING! Well maybe a fossilised crab claw 🤷🏻‍♀️

    I've been out all evening, and amongst the stones were occasional shell lines, but there was nothing really to find. The usual shells (that I already have lots of) and some interesting stones, which always just turn out to be nothing.

    Oh well... Least successful beach comb yet!
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  • View this morning

    August 17, 2024 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 13 °C

    ...and a little excitement at seeing sand!!

    There is sand!!! I put my coat and water shoes on and rushed down before the tide came in... SURELY there will be something now?!

    ... NOPE!

    Nothing 😞

    Oh well, time to get sorted and move on. It's the penultimate morning of the holiday. We're heading for Whitby today (Grace has always wanted to see the Abbey) and then home from there tomorrow. It's going to be a long one, so an early start is needed 😊
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