We first visited the Ards Forest Park, in County Donegal, in the summer of 1985 during a trip around the northwestern corner of the island. We had fond memories of that first visit and the mental images of its rocky beaches had remained etched in our minds ever since. We did not have actual pictures of the scenery there but remembered the sea cliffs of round and jagged boulders and, more importantly, how we felt there. For years, we yearned to revisit “the rocks” as the place came to be known affectionately in our house.
We got our chance to visit the Ards Forest Park again in August 2019 during a memorable holiday to the west of Ireland. On that nine-day trip, we had the unique opportunity to spend three nights at the Ards Friary, where we enjoyed simple but comfortable room and board, at the edge of the park. The friars and the staff made all the guests feel special.
During our time in the area, we walked all the trails on the land of the Friary and the park, and we got to visit our cherished “rocks.” We had a feeling of coming home to an experience we had reminisced about so fondly for decades. We lingered at the shore for many hours listening to the wind and the lapping waves and watching the clouds scudding by.
While we may never have an opportunity to visit that place again, at least this time around, we brought back pictures and videos which will allow us to experience it again whenever we want. Here is what the Ards Forest Park looks and feels like.
(This is a revised version of a post originally published on John’s old blog.)