Where to go?

GristlyEnd

I have next week of work and I really want to get out of Dublin for a couple of days for photography.

I was thinking of heading to either Glenveagh, Saltees, Skellig Islands or even Fota. It all depends on the weather I guess. It's mainly for wildlife.

Any other areas worth checking out?

311

Donegal always seems like a good option.

sineadw

I know I keep saying it, but the north is fantastic. Lough Neagh has some beautiful spots with hides along the lakeshore, bird sanctuaries etc. Tourism is still in its infancy so whereas you get hordes here you can be sitting on the top of Navan fort on the best day in summer and not meet another soul. There's a lot to be said for that. Crap restaurants though!

GristlyEnd

I'm actually heading up north in August for a photography weekend. Really looking forward to it.

Fajitas!

South? Wexford & Waterford coastlines have a lot to offer.

Fenster

Galllwwwaaayyy

leinsterman

The Burren and the cliffs of Moher ...

bigeoino

West Cork.
Glengarriff, Whale watching in Castletownsend...
But then I'm a bit biased too.

If too far, You could try to capture one of the Donegal Golden Eagles...

elven

I've only been to one place of all those you suggested and it was Glenveagh. I was only there for about half an hour, in the pissing rain and howling wind but *damn*, that place is beautiful. I reckon you can't go far wrong with Donegal. There were deer in our back garden when we woke up in the morning, ffs...

The fact that it reminds me an awful lot of my homeland has nothing to do with my reccommendation, of course

Benster

sineadw wrote:

I know I keep saying it, but the north is fantastic. Lough Neagh has some beautiful spots with hides along the lakeshore, bird sanctuaries etc. Tourism is still in its infancy so whereas you get hordes here you can be sitting on the top of Navan fort on the best day in summer and not meet another soul. There's a lot to be said for that. Crap restaurants though!

She's right, you know, biased though I am...

Try the Mournes in Co. Down and Tollymore Forest beside Newcastle, absolutely gorgeous (on a good day :-). Also, just across the border from Dundalk off the road to Jonesborough, Slieve Gullion forest park is very wild. I haven't been up there yet, but I hear Black's Mountain overlooking Belfast is pretty good. Then there's the North coast, Dunluce Castle, Shane's Castle, the shot-to-bits Giant's Causeway, Carrickarede rope bridge, etc, etc.

And also as Sinead said, the magical Navan fort just outside Armagh, a less-hyped but better looking version of the Hill of Tara. Again I'm biased 'cos I'm from there Check out the foggy pic in my Flickr.

B.

[BTW - plenty of good places to eat up North, as long as you like curried chips, gravy chips...]

rymus

bigeoino wrote:

West Cork.
Glengarriff, Whale watching in Castletownsend...
But then I'm a bit biased too.

I second that. Day in Fota with a long lens and then a drive around west Cork for a couple of days. Weather permitting, a ferry out to Sherkin island and probably Garinish island off Glengarriff for some macro goodness Crap, now I want to escape from work and head wesht!

Stephen

Fajitas! wrote:

South? Wexford & Waterford coastlines have a lot to offer.

Speaking of Wexford (and Carlow), I'm always partial to Mount Leinster once the weather is good. You can park your car about half way up and hike it the rest of the way. According to Wikipedia its about 2500 feet above sea level. There's usually people doing hang gliding from beside the RTE transmitter at the weekends and you can see for miles when its clear.

Last time I was up it was sunny but hazy so you couldn't see too far. Here's some not-so-great photos I took on that day.

sineadw

Benster wrote:

[BTW - plenty of good places to eat up North, as long as you like curried chips, gravy chips...]

You forgot the peas! Chips peas and gravy with everything!

Now I want to get out of Dublin Just sorted my hols in Kerry though. Yay!

440Hz

Id go North, but if you are heading up there in August somewhere else might be in order.

West Cork or West Kerry I think are the nicest spots in the South. Ive moved to Galway recently and while its nice here (working in the West so see lots of Connemara) Im sorry if I offend anyone but its not a patch on Kerry, honestly. If you know where to find them Kerry has some of the most spectacular spots in the country.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/click_click/sets/72057594122411712/ just some Kerry photos to get you thinking

sineadw

Kerry has some of the most spectacular spots in the world! It really is my favourite place ever, but you *have* to get west of Dingle. Slea head, Smerwick harbour, Mt Brandon... mmmm...

Its a HELL of a drive though.

Morlar

The area around keel bay in mayo is worth a trip too.

440Hz

sineadw wrote:

Kerry has some of the most spectacular spots in the world! It really is my favourite place ever, but you *have* to get west of Dingle. Slea head, Smerwick harbour, Mt Brandon... mmmm...

Its a HELL of a drive though.

Yeah west of Dingle is wonderful, Clahane (near Brandon) is one of my favourite places of everywhere I have ever been. There are some stunning spots on the way that are easily missed unless you are a local though And even then, Im still finding places every time I head out. Killarney is also beautiful, and Kenmare. The Ring of Kerry and Dingle are the most touristy spots but if you veer off the beaten track you find some really wonderful gems.

Like this spot I just found about 3 weeks ago, utterly deserted. About 30 mins from my house. (more views and map on flickr)

amcinroy

In summer, go north.

The sun is ideally positioned for all those NW (sunset) and NE (sunrise) coasts.

Inishowen would be my recommendation.

Andy

trilo

Come on down to cork, i'm off work in the latter half of it, how could you refuse to spend such time in such delightful company.:D

Fota Fota Fota!!!!!!

sineadw

Hey 440 - I can't see where to get maps on Flickr? I've been heading down to Ballyferriter for about 10 years, the other half's family have had a 6-months-of-the-year house in Gortadoo for about 30, so I'm as much of a local as I'll ever be at this stage:) Don't know that spot though? You from there? I'm bloody DYING to get the camera out this time round - hadn't a clue what I was doing last year...

Sorry, hijacking thread- its Kerry though!

Oriel

Sineadw, DarrenG, met me know when you are coming up!

sineadw

I'm up and down to Tyrone a lot. Aughnacloy is not the most photogenic of places though :rolleyes: Hey maybe a Boardsie trip some time?

440Hz

sineadw wrote:

I'm up and down to Tyrone a lot. Aughnacloy is not the most photogenic of places though :rolleyes: Hey maybe a Boardsie trip some time?

Hehe! Anytime I go up it rains lol! Been waiting for the summer, but now I have this stupid thing called 'work'! Must look into these things you 'real world people' call 'holidays'

Sounds like a plan Sinead

Valentia

The Skelligs (before the puffins go) from Ballyferriter seems like as perfect as it could get..Jazus hurry up 21st July.............

440Hz

sineadw wrote:

Hey 440 - I can't see where to get maps on Flickr?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/click_click/528176207/map/?view=users

For that spot anyway!

Im from Tralee Sinead. But have spent almost every weekend for as long as I can remember exploring the county. Especially back west. Handy thing about Tralee, good location to get to the best bits of North and South Kerry!... and you can still get the hell out to a more metropolitan county quite quickly! Best of all worlds in the Kingdom!

Oriel

sineadw wrote:

I'm up and down to Tyrone a lot. Aughnacloy is not the most photogenic of places though :rolleyes: Hey maybe a Boardsie trip some time?

Definitely! I know a few people who pop up this way from time to time. Perhaps a few hours at Imagery Studio in Randalstown too.

Oriel

440Hz wrote:

Im from Tralee Sinead.

Cork *cough*

440Hz

Oriel wrote:

Cork *cough*

Shush! Quiet you in the corner :rolleyes:

GristlyEnd

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've decided to head up to Donegal early Thursday morning and head back on Friday evening.

What would be the nearest town to Glenveagh National Park with a half decent hotel?