I don’t believe it today is the first time I have seen the sun and a blue sky but I don’t know how long that will last as it looks like grey clouds are rolling in hopefully not when we cycling along the promenade into Galway.

Thankfully it is not so busy today in Salthill a very trendy town with a number of hip pubs. The wind coming off Galway Bay goes right through you with our usual warm clothes and weatherproof jackets we are off on our bikes cycling round the shoreline promenade taking in beautiful Irish coastal scenery, beaches strewn with seaweed and rocks, a lighthouse and gloriously big sky on our way to see what Galway has to offer.

Galway is a harbour city on Ireland’s west coast, sits where the River Corrib meets the Atlantic Ocean. The city’s hub is 18th-century Eyre Square, a popular meeting spot surrounded by shops and traditional pubs that often offer live Irish folk music.

Our first views are along Claddagh Quay and Nimmo’s Pier of the boats moored and across the riverbank is the famous Spanish Arch, centuries ago the visiting Spanish merchant sailors who came ashore at this point of the harbour with their cargoes of wine, spices and silk gave their name to this landmark. From the bridge we took in the views of the fast flowing Eglington Canal linking the Corrib River and Galway Bay.

Just off the bridge is the Fishery Watchtower one of Galway’s most treasured architectural features and is also one of the city’s most recognizable historic landmarks. Built in 1852/53 by the Ashworth Brothers, the building is the only one of its kind in Ireland and was originally designed as a draft netting station. Draft netting involved the process of netting fish using a row-boat and a long net secured at one end to the shore. The building also served as a look-out tower for fishery personnel to monitor fish stocks as well as illegal fishing activity along the river which we found very interesting.

We parked our bikes across the tiny square to stroll down the winding lanes of the Latin Quarter lined with brightly coloured pubs, stone-clad cafes, boutiques and art galleries stopping every now and then to listen to the buskers playing Irish music and a lass dancing. The streets are alive with so many people and tourists enjoying the sights Galway has to offer.

John F Kennedy Park was interesting there is a busk of him when he was made a Freeman of the city in June 1963 commemorating the iconic Irish-American President, the Browne Doorway dating back to 1627 originally part of the Brown mansion (one of the famous 14 merchant families who ruled Galway in the Middle Ages) and lastly the rusting sail fountain symbolizing the sails of the Claddagh fishing fleet.

Took a rest on the seat between the sculptured images of Oscar and Eduard Wilde the contemporary Irish and Estonian writers. Many of the historical building have been turned into banks, cafes or shops so it is very easy to miss them like the Lynch Castle now the Allied Irish Bank features decoratively carved windows, gargoyles and the coat-of-arms of Henry VII the Fitzgerald family of Kildare and the Lynch family.

Even though it rained a couple of times we had a very interesting morning strolling round the old city streets there were plenty of sights to see but we weren’t into cathedrals, museums, art galleries or universities.

Time to say goodbye to Galway as we drive through the town to the outer suburbs the traffic is very heavy till the R446 motorway lined with closely planted trees buffering the dual road to the N18 and we do love all the roundabouts as we get back onto the Wild Atlantic Way route round the coast with the normal views of farmland, cattle, sheep, horses, cluster of homes in the distance countryside, also homes along the roadside. Beautiful rich green fields probably the peat soil as we can see where they have been bagging the peat, views of mountains, woodlands and forest in the distance. Had bumper to bumper traffic at Kilcolgan a very busy seaside town where we continued onto N67 to stop at Dunguaire Castle on the estuary at Kinvara a picturesque town with beautiful thatched homes and buildings. Pity one couldn’t get a proper look inside as it has been turned into a craft shop at the entrance.

Panoramic views of the Burren Mountains as we weave our way around the coastline, pity about the nasty rock walls lining the road. Stunning views from the mountains as we drive towards Ballyvaughan on the bay rich countryside lots of dairy farms. The road is very busy lots of tour coaches poor Richard has to concentrate on the narrow winding two lane roads.

Passed through a small section of barren rocky mountainous countryside between Ballyvaughan and the turn off to R480. Climbing the mountainside there were four nasty sharp hairpin corners to the top where we stopped at the view point on Corkscrew Hill to take a photo and marvel at the panoramic views of Gregan “The Rocky Place” before continuing on through pine plantations and farmland to Lisdoonvarna. Finding the narrow lanes to Doolin on the oceanfront was proving difficult with the signage plus the satnav trying to send us somewhere else. Finally found the Nagles Doolin Camping and Caravan Park after being cheeky and asking another site for directions. Good racket these sites they only take cash and you pay €1.00 for a 10 minute shower plus use of hairdryer and cooking facilities in the kitchen, laundry is too dear, but WIFI is FREE if it works seeing it is too slow.

The views of the Cliffs of Moher make up for the price and it is somewhere to shower, wash the hair, have power to use the microwave, do a chemical toilet bump and water waste.

Hope the beautiful sunny weather we have had today continues tomorrow when we go to the Cliffs of Moher.