Western Isles adventure day 1. 19 May 2024

 

Bringing supplies aboard in Bangor marina prior to setting off on our next maritime adventure. 

We left Bangor at 08.30 heading into a brisk northerly wind - the forecast didn’t have any ‘brisk’ in it.  Cool but sunny and pleasant. 




Whitehead and Blackhead lighthouse looked lovely in the sunshine, but as we got towards The Gobbins the sea state was getting worse - really rather lumpy, with a lot of spray coming right over the boat.  It was blowing a steady 17 knots, the very top end of the forecast, and with this against the tide it was quite rough. To add to the joy a fog came down, patchy but quite thick in places, and so we became reliant on radar and AIS.


Our hearts were set on getting to Jura this evening, and so we stuck it out until we got past The Maidens, which in the great scheme of things isn’t very far.  However the pounding sea got the better of us and so we turned left and headed for Glenarm. 

And I’m glad we did!  Who knew all the delights that Glenarm has to offer?!!





I’m serious!  Actually Susie and Gordon, and Mary, knew. It’s just me that didn’t. 

Glenarm village is a little run down, but harbour area is a hotspot for visitors. There is good parking, a good fish and chip van (that seems like a permanent fixture), an ice cream van, a lovely old pier to stroll down, and areas where motor homes park up.  All very busy on a sunny Sunday. 

Then there is Glenarm Castle grounds. Free to visit there are about a dozen upmarket local shops - clothes, second hand stuff, ice cream (very busy and good and good value), perfumes, wood carving, coffee stop, cafe restaurant, and others.  Lovely place to visit.

And then there is Glenarm river and forest.  Beautiful in every way.

Mary found friends in Glenarm Castle grounds. 

Glenarm Castle - dating back to Norman times Glenarm is the ancestral home of the MacDonnells - the Earls of Antrim.  Sir Randal MacDonnell built the first castle on the site in 1636. In 1750 the fifth Earl had the castle rebuilt as a Palladian mansion. However, it was Anne Catherine MacDonnell, Countess of Antrim, in the 1820’s who was responsible for adding the fairy-tale towers, crenellations and the dramatic Barbican Gate with its fake portcullis slits and boiling oil holes.

Glenarm River. Beautiful. 

And you never know who will turn up!  Clive and Judith arrived for a 5 o clock stiffener.  Lovely to see them. 

The evening calmed considerably and got very sunny and warm. BBQ time.  ðŸ˜€ðŸ˜€ðŸ˜€ðŸ˜€

The boat bird list was short at just 25 species. Nothing unusual but good to see.

Our route today:





























































































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