The Kindhoof family have been frequent visitors to this area for many years and we were delighted to see a new walk installed which takes visitors around this beautiful headland of Kildoney. This series is intended to complement our nearby Creevy series and is a bit of a longer leg-stretch. (Although your activity is likely to be constantly interrupted as you stop to take in the gorgeous scenery and local wildlife). The views are constantly changing and you will marvel at the enormity of the sky and sea. Take in the sights of Kilbarron Castle to the East, St John's Point and Sliabh Liag across the bay to the North, and then the Erne estuary and Mullaghmore headland as you come round the headland itself towards the town of Ballyshannon, with the Aroo Plateau and the dramatic glacial scenery of Benbulbin and Benwiskin mountains in the background. There is a wide variety of birdlife, including a heron which we have frequently spotted around the area at low-tide, and also look out for sea-otters and dolphins which, we are informed, can occasionally be seen.
The trail starts close to the pier, where parking is available, next to the toilet block at the Creevy Pier hotel which has unfortunately now closed. Local children (& the Kindhoofs) can often be seen jumping from the nearby pier into the Atlantic ocean at high tide, and it has also become a popular place for open sea swimmers! Look for the stile which takes you over the wall and along the well-maintained and signposted path around the headland.
The path takes you through a number of fields in which livestock graze, both cattle and sheep. Please respect the farming community and observe the signs about behaviour in these fields. Note that dogs are not allowed on the path.
The path also takes you very close to the edge of the headland which is steep and rocky in places - take care, particularly in wet and windy weather, and keep children away from the edge. Wear appropriate footwear and take into account the weather conditions before you set out. You are not required to stray from the marked footpath to find any of the caches in this series.
You need to bring your own pen or pencil.
More information about the Creevy Coastal Walk can be found on the SportIreland website: https://www.sportireland.ie/outdoors/walking/trails/creevy-coastal-walk
This series will be added to in due course to cover the full length of the Kildoney loop.
As you make your way along the path from Kildoney Point, you enter moorland, so be careful with the heather underfoot. The path divides in two - the right takes you lower onto the rock pool beach, and you want the left one to continue the series, which takes you up a short steep hill to this next cache. Now you have a view of the Sligo mountain range, Mullaghmore peninsula and the golden sandy banks of the River Erne estuary, as the river fans out into the south after running through the town of Ballyshannon. Beyond the sand banks, you might be able to spy the red and white radio mast of the army training camp on the Bundoran Road (and sometimes you might hear the rattle of artillery fire on a training day!!). Look for the high drumlin which dominates the Rossnowlagh road out of Ballyshannon, usually spotted with its Donegal flag on top.
This is an exposed location - be careful in high winds. Cache might have shifted a bit in its hole given the wind strength here.