Off The Beaten Track —
Hidden Irish Coastal Villages That Will Satisfy Your Adventure Living Needs
So, you want to live by the ocean? You’re not alone! There is a wonderful buzz for outdoor activities circulating throughout Ireland, and even more so since this pandemic began. We seem to be appreciating our own natural landscape more and more these days. Have you considered moving to one of the many small rural villages that Ireland has such an abundance of?
From the intimidating mountains to the roaring sea, the eerie forests to the glistening lakes, we kind of have it all, don’t we? Adventure is right at our doorstep, and even more accessible if you live near the beautiful rural coastline.
So I’ve been doing some research on the great coastal places around Ireland and not just the usual hot spots that every tourist knows about. Here are some less-visited spots, but with incredible character and the potential for so much life and adventure. To tell you the truth, I am amazed. Amazed that it has taken me this long to truly delve into the map of Ireland and pay more attention to those tiny unknown places. I’ve stumbled across some absolutely beautiful locations here! See for yourself.
- GLOSH, CO. MAYO
Now, this location spiked my curiosity. On the South-West end of the Belmullet peninsula, I noticed some small village names. I decided to take a look and found this absolute tranquil haven called Glosh. It sits idyllically on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean with a clear view of the Inishkea Islands. Glosh beach stretches as far as the eye can see, ideal for an evening stroll to watch the sunset over the Atlantic. Check out the Tonn Nua Surf School located here if you want to get the heart rate going! https://www.facebook.com/Tonn.nuasurf /
The Glosh Tower stands guarding the edge of the Ocean and is a historical attraction worth taking a wander to.
While living in this remote location would offer a magical sense of truly living on the edge of the world, there is still a quaint surrounding community. The nearby fishing village Blacksod has a pub called ‘Una’s Bar’ and just up the road there is also Teach John Joe, giving you some options for getting that much needed social interaction now and again. Take a look! Personally, I can’t wait to get here.
3. MAGHERY, CO. DONEGAL
Donegal! Let’s have ya. Heading near Dungloe here and the beautiful Maghery. Now this place is probably a bit more active than Glosh because of the larger community and fantastic initiatives here, but I imagine the amazing coastline offers the same tranquil experiences. Maghery Coastal Adventures has so many activities in store for the local community and all adventurous visitors! From snorkeling, and kayaking to surfing and cycling, this location truly has it all. Maghery is situated less than 20km from Donegal Airport and less than 7km from the official Wild Atlantic Way route. This quaint village has a pub, a seasonal café, and a community family festival every year. For all shopping needs, locals head to Dungloe which is also less than 7km away and boasts some rather big supermarkets such as Supervalue and Aldi. Whatever your adventure needs, this seems like the perfect village to settle down and experience everything on offer here. For more information on outdoor pursuits in the area head to http://www.magherycoastaladventures.ie/#myCarousel
I hope you enjoyed reading about these two glorious small rural villages I discovered this week! Ireland has such an abundance of them and I can’t wait to share more with you. If you have already visited or even live in one of the places mentioned, please share your thoughts!
