Our Days in Dublin: Horseback Riding in Cleggan

On Tuesday morning we headed out from Clifden again, carefully--not only because of the sheep, but because of the road signs!

Much to Maggie and Johnny's chagrin (they are sick of being in the car even though we really haven't driven that far) we took the scenic route to Cleggen where we had scheduled a traditional Connemara activity: a pony ride!

Look at that gorgeous coast. Little lovely beaches dot the whole area.

The coastal roads are gorgeous and well paved but fit for a horse and buggy rather than even a small car! We are driving a tiny Volkswagon.

At this point Johnny was well under the belief that a coast is a coast is a coast and why would we bother to pull over and take a picture. "It's JUST the SEA!!"

We looped through the Inagh Valley in Connemara with its lovely lakes, and the Kylemore Abbey (where, again, John wondered -- it's just another castle!!!).

Instead of going in, he and I skipped rocks and watched for trout and eel in the river!

And then we finally got to Cleggan (the guidebook says that it is a MISTAKE to miss this charming fishing village!). We got there a bit early so we headed straight to the "tra" or beach so I could take a quick dip before riding the horses (they turned out to be horses, not ponies!).