The Cliffs of Erris

On Tuesday, we went as a group on a 7 mile hike along the Sea Cliffs of Erris. It was by far the one of the biggest highlights of my trip thus far. The local lighthouse keeper's son was our guide, a twenty five year old named Simon who's studying in Galway to be a marine biologist. The views were incredible, but even more than that was the wind. Benwee Head, across which we were hiking, sustains gale-force winds for 340 days out of every year- on average, and the swells would be equal to a Category 1 hurricane for most of the year. It is one of the stormiest and roughest coastlines in the world, due to its location; every storm, hurricane, and gale coming up from the Gulf Stream sweeps across the Atlantic and clips the island of Ireland right in that corner, making it comparable in tempest to Cape Horn or the Cape of Good Hope. The day we were hiking along the cliffs, it was relatively sunny, but the wind was blowing at 75 knots and the waves were 35-40 feet swells against the rocks. It was incredible, I have never felt wind like that, and we all blew over several times each during the course of the hike. Regardless, it was some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever experienced!

An Bhinn Bhui (Benwee Head)

Broadhaven Bay

The Sea Cliffs of Erris 

The Stags of Broadhaven