The Twelve Bens On A Misty Day In County Galway

photograph of clouds over Muckanaght Mountain in the Twelve Bens in Ireland.

from right - benfree mountain - muckanaght mountain - bencullagh mountain - twelve bens in ireland

Before departing Kylemore Abbey, Bob discovered that we were in need of some cash and videotapes for his camera.  Our route was chosen for us.  We had to drive along the coast towards Letterfrack and Clifden in search of a banking machine and some shops that might sell camera gear.  Supplies in hand, all that was left to do was get to Rossaveal and hop on the ferry to the Aran Islands  where we would spend the next couple of days.  En route, a serendipitous decision by Bob had us veering off into the lonesome countryside towards several of the Twelve Bens Mountains. Read more

The Victorian Walled Garden at Kylemore Abbey, Ireland

An image of the Walled Victorian Gardens at Kylemore Abbey in County Galway, Ireland. Photography by Frame To Frame - Bob and Jean.

The grandeur of Kylemore Abbey extends well beyond the opulence of the original Castle to the expansive Victorian Walled Garden that rises from the heretofore boggy moorland in County Galway, Ireland.  It is a magnificent example of what can be achieved when creative engineering is combined with tenacity and inspiration. Read more

Kylemore Abbey in Connemara, Ireland

An image of Kylemore Abbey on Pollacapall Lough in County Galway, Ireland. Photography by Frame To Frame - Bob and Jean.

An image of Kylemore Abbey in County Galway, Ireland. Photography by Frame To Frame - Bob and Jean.

A slow tour of the Connemara region in County Galway was our aim after leaving County Mayo.  Its mix of blanket bogs, lakes, mountains and moorlands is reputed to be awe-inspiring and unspoilt, a perfect example of natural beauty.  Bob and I were off the sheets early to an already wet morning, and rain was expected to settle in for the day.  Our route to Ros an Mhil (Rossaveal) was undecided, but we intended to catch a ferryboat at noon, that is until we rounded a corner and were brought up short by the jaw-dropping beauty of Kylemore Abbey. Read more

Our Hike In Ashford Castle’s Mystical Forest

photograph of the ancient oak forest at Ashford Castle near Cong, County Mayo, Ireland.

forest beside ashford castle

The estate property of    Ashford Castle    boasts a dense, healthy forest thanks to the efforts of previous owners Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness and his eldest son, Lord Ardilaun.  Sir Benjamin had thousands of trees planted during his occupancy of the castle after acquiring it in 1852, and in later years, when the estate passed to Arthur, he expanded the plantings to create extensive woodlands. Read more

Ashford Castle – One Of Ireland’s Most Romantic Hotels

ashford castle - ireland 2

An image of Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland.

It had been a long day prior to our arrival at Ashford Castle, having left Killarney that morning, explored the Cliffs of Moher, and subsequently hiked about The Burren and discovered the history of Poulnabrone Dolmen.  Ashford Castle is located in the picturesque village of Cong on the shores of Lough Corrib in County Mayo, and when we first spotted the magnificent sprawling edifice, we were in disbelief.  It would be our “hotel” for the next couple of days, and it was strikingly impressive. Read more

Dunguaire Castle In County Clare in Ireland

dunguaire castle - ireland - 3

dunguaire castle the burren - ireland 2

It was very late in the afternoon when Bob and I came by the famous landmark that is Dunguaire Castle, and the place was pretty much  deserted.  It was en route to Ashford Castle, our accommodation for the night, that we happened upon this ancient castle near Kinvara.  Dunguaire Castle sits on a rocky outcrop on the southeastern shore of Galway Bay in County Clare.  Its simple yet magnificent architecture features a 75-foot tower, and both the tower and the defensive wall have been meticulously restored to their original condition.

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X-Cross Skiing At Lake Louise

pipestone ski trail winter - banff national park 4

On our second day of X-country skiing at Banff National Park , Bob and I had decided on the Pipestone Trail system and were planning on tackling a trail of moderate difficulty for our second ski of the season.  The extreme conditions forced us to opt for one of the easy trails instead. Read more

The Poulnabrone Dolmen In Ireland

An image of the Poulnabrone Dolmen on the Burren in County Clare in Ireland. Photography by Frame To Frame - Bob and Jean.

An image of the Poulnabrone Dolmen on the Burren in County Clare in Ireland. Photography by Frame To Frame - Bob and Jean.

After our initial exploration of The Burren, Bob and I continued to the peak of the limestone plateau in order to locate   Poulnabrone Dolmen  .  There, 8 kilometres (5 miles) south of Ballyvaughan in County Clare, it rises majestically and sits conspicuously in the middle of a field.  Poulnabrone Dolmen, and many others, still stand today as stone sentinels at the gates of our civilization’s history, history that is laid bare on The Burren. Read more

Walking The Burren In County Clare, Ireland

limestone mountain at the burren in county clare - ireland

exposed limestone bedrock in the burren - burren national park - ireland

After leaving the Cliffs of Moher, Bob and I still had quite a distance to cover since we would be hanging our hats that night at Ashford Castle in the village of Cong.  One area we wanted to investigate on the way was The Burren, a uniquely fascinating bit of landscape near the village of Ballyvaughan.  The stark, mournful terrain of that region is the result of little soil cover and sweeping expanses of exposed Limestone Pavement. Read more

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