This day, this moment in Ireland is arguably my very favorite. It was one of those days where everything, the weather, the area, my mood, and the company collided into perfection. No matter what your level of mobility, you can enjoy everything that the Gleniff Horseshoe has to offer.
We drove the 14 km loop and pulled over whenever the beauty would overwhelm us, which was often. The day was overcast and misty, which gave us the gift of the horseshoe all to ourselves. It let us feel as if we had discovered this magical place for the very first time. The wind whistled through the air, the gates, the cave at the top of Ben Bulben. I cannot even describe it in words. We did not want to leave.
I will let the photographs speak the rest.
All photographs taken by Ed Lyons, Gleniff Horseshoe, County Leitrim, Ireland.
If you are going, we came out of Drumcliff on the N15 and followed the signs to the Horseshoe. If you have limited mobility, I suggest driving to various pull off spots, and getting out to walk or roll along the paved road. The road has gentle hills in various places and is flat in others. I recommend Davis’ Restaurant/Yeats Tavern in Drumcliffe for a wonderful meal and good accessibility.
Vote below for your favorite of the following cool and thought-provoking quotes.
I agree with all of them actually, but I will refrain from commenting for now on my favorite. Please leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts. Or maybe you have a quote to share. I would love to hear from you. Have a great day, whether you are traveling, thinking of traveling, or enjoying your own piece of green grass. Love, Lisa
I hesitate to write about this amazing area of Ireland, because words really cannot describe the beauty and the feeling of this place.
To access this area, take the R230 out of Ardara and head towards Glencolmcille. The road is quite bendy, and makes for quite an adventure just in the driving. Make sure to get out and take lots of pictures along the road when you see a pull-over.
I will let the photographs we took do the rest of the talking.
R230 coming out of ArdaraBeautiful farms along the wayGlengesh Pass….breathtakingFriendly sheep everywhere. I took this from the car window.
Forgive my terrible camera work, but you will hear the sheep and get a feel for the beauty of the area. Just add the crisp, clean air, and the feel of the wind on your face.
Travel Level Rating (TLR): 😎😎😎😎
Accessibility (path, road) ✔
Scenic Value ✔
Authentic (not too touristy) ✔
Surrounding Facilities (restaurant, pubs, visitor center, accommodations, restrooms) This requires your diligence in this area. Make sure to do a lot of research based on your mobility needs. Email, call, or text establishment before travel to get up to date information to see if this is a doable area for you. Everyone’s mobility needs are so different.
Adventure ✔
Please contact me for more information on this area.
Majesty. A million different greens, blues, greys, whites. Awe. Ocean hitting the rocks below the towering cliffs. The sound of sea birds’ calls. The refreshing Irish wind waking you up, fully.
All of these things and more are very accessible. The Slieve League Cliffs in County Donegal, Ireland has a drive-up road that takes you right to a paved pathway that lines the edges of the cliffs. Relatively flat incline, making it easy to walk or roll. Just bypass the parking area at the base of the cliffs and take the paved access road that goes up the mountain.
Also, did I mention that it is free? And that the cliffs tower at almost 2000 feet, almost three times higher than the Cliffs of Moher? Ok, I’m ready to go back! 🙂
Travel Level Rating: 😎😎😎😎😎
Accessibility (path, road) ✔
Scenic Value ✔
Authentic (not too touristy) ✔
Surrounding Facilities (Restaurants, Pubs, Visitor Centre, Restrooms) ✔
Adventure ✔
Enjoying the beauty of Slieve League. A view of the access pathway at the top. Rising to almost 2000 feet, the sheer beauty brought stillness and joy to my soul.Beautiful dark blue waters at the baseWonderful cafe for tea, coffee, or lunch, before or after the cliffs.
Please reach out to me if you have any questions about this area. I would love to help you if I can! Love, Lisa
If I could live anywhere in the world besides Virginia, it would be Ireland. The beauty, magic, history, friendliness, and accommodation of this island are unmatched. My family and I have been there three times, during various stages of my mobility journey.
The last trip we had was in the Summer of 2015. I was awaiting major surgery for a ruptured tendon and an ankle fusion revision in January. So, my mobility was painful and extremely limited. I was very hesitant to go on this trip, but my husband and I knew that I needed it for peace of mind, for hope, for a change.
So, off we went. By wheelchair, cane, hobbling, driving. And the miracle happened. It was fun. It was awesome. I could do so much more than I thought I could, and I could see so many more sites than I imagined.
First moments back in Ireland, the feel of the wind, the smell of the Irish air, happy tears in my eyes. I forgot about the pain, and just breathed. Our trusty rental car in the background. On the Antrim coastline.Seconds later, no walking required, we were rewarded with this magnificent view of Dunluce Castle, and more of the Antrim coastline.
Some keys for a successful Ireland trip if you have mobility challenges:
-If you or your travel partner can drive, rent a car…a higher-seating car, if possible, for comfort. Make sure it is large enough for your wheelchair if you are traveling with one. Driving is an adventure in Ireland; just take it easy until you get the hang of it. By driving, we could hand-tailor our itinerary to include many pull over overlooks and accessible destinations. Sometimes I would get out of the car and take a few ginger steps, find a beautiful spot to sit and soak it all in. If my ankle was very bad, I would just roll down the window, and the beauty was still there. The smells, the wind, the sheep, the green.
-If you have a handicapped placard, bring it with you. You can use it to find the closest available parking. If you have a travel partner, have them drop you off as close as possible to the site, and then they can park. Sometimes, I would find a bench with an amazing view while my husband would take the camera and scout out remote photographs for me. Very peaceful.
-Driving along the coastal areas will provide countless amazing hours and scenic opportunities. The beauty will take your breath away. The local people, pubs, and small towns will welcome you. You will not want to leave.
-We stayed at various B&B’s, rental cottages, and hotels if necessary. I did many hours of research and booking before leaving home to make sure they were all accessible. I would reach out to the proprietor/owner if necessary to clarify and confirm, so there were no unwelcome surprises when we arrived. Please reach out to me for details if you are planning a trip. I can let you know where we stayed and give you my impressions on the accommodation.
-I used a combination of wheelchair and cane for the trip. I would wheel it on the longer distances, and then use the cane for the tiny walks, or standing times. Towns in Ireland have sidewalks, but the wheelchair ramps are hit or miss. But things are improving in that regard. Just scout it out visually from the car before stopping.
This friendly, talkative sheep and I had a lengthy conversation from my car window. She was a gracious welcomer to Glencolmcille, County Donegal.
-If you cannot rent a car, or don’t feel comfortable with driving, consider an accessible tour. They will have accessible vans, and knowledgeable tour guides that will know the perfect spots for an accessible and beautiful vacation.
-Take all the photographs you can, and then take some more. When you get home, they will provide countless hours of joy.
In the coming days, I will share detailed descriptions of some of the more accessible destinations in Ireland I have found. Subscribe to Travel Level so that you don’t miss any of the fun.
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