Last week I ticked one more thing off my list of 40 things to do before 40. It’s a good job quite frankly, as time is slipping away and I’m a little behind schedule. The lemon curd may have been mastered, but I’ve yet to get anywhere near a water bed, let alone Iceland.
Last week was all about the Dark Hedges in Northern Ireland, inspired by something I cut out of a newspaper a couple of years ago. I really like cutting things out of newspapers and magazines, partly because I like the idea of trying new things but also just because I find the scissor action very satisfying.*
The Dark Hedges is an avenue of beech trees, planted in the eighteenth century by the Stuart family in a bid to impress visitors as they drove up to their home. Bee and Belle may have been fairly nonplussed – ‘Is this it? Just some trees?’ – but it certainly impressed me.
We had beautiful weather, so after tracking down The Dark Hedges – (‘This hotel is called The Hedges so we must be close!) – we drove up to the coast to visit Giant’s Causeway and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.
So that’s Northern Ireland done. Bring on the water bed.
*Note to self: possibly just add ‘get out more’ to list?
my tongue! no!
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It’s a cute tongue!
ugh! did you walk over that bridge thing?!?! looks terrifying!!
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Yes we did – on the way back Belle and I even did it with no hands! It was a bit windy, and quite scary…
I absolutely love stuff like this – so ancient and beautiful! I also like it when you drive through a ‘tunnel’ of trees or hedges when they have grown overhead and joined up. It feels a little bit magical!
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I love it too Kathryn – it’s one of my Best Things :-)
How weird, we must have been in Northern Ireland at the same time! Love all these places
Wow what a gorgeous avenue. I can’t believe I’ve never been to Ireland – I really need to sort that out soon, it looks beautiful.
The trees look amazing but I’m with Polly, there is now way I could walk over that bridge!! x
Wow, it looks like something from a gothic horror book! It did make me laugh that your two were very much not impressed :-)
Even if the kiddos were not that impressed I think it’s pretty cool and would love to visit this place – I love the story behind it! How amazing is that roap bridge by the way and you had some amazing weather – I love Ireland and really want to go back and do more exploring
Laura x
I’ve never been to ireland despite the fact there is Irish in both Tom and I’s families. This place looks lovely (Although I do remember those years of saying to my parents ‘whats so good about this? its just trees’ ha! x