“Walking is a man’s best medicine.”
Hippocrates
I recently took a hike near my late mother’s childhood home.
Travelling through quiet country lanes
Past ancient peat bogs, with Errigal Mountain in the distance
Enjoying the view across Mullaghderg Lake towards the Atlantic Ocean
My mother took us back to her homeland every year but one, to enjoy six weeks of idyllic summer holidays.
We children enjoyed swimming in Mullaghderg Lake in ALL weathers!
If it was was sunny, we walked a few miles to Mullaghderg Beach via well beaten paths, laced with heather and mossy stepping stones, scrambling over rocks and fording streams, to experience a refreshing swim in the very cold waters of the mighty Atlantic.
After a few hours of swimming and playing on beautiful, white, soft sands, we enjoyed a simple picnic of sandwiches and juice, before heading homeward. We always slept well afterwards.
On less sunny days, we played for hours amongst trees and rocks, creating imaginary houses; we were never bored!
You can imagine how my heart broke on leaving Donegal each summer. It took me weeks to overcome my sense of loss. Happily, I was able to move here permanently in 1999.
On Saturday’s walk, a little goat came to greet us…
He scrambled down from his rocky perch to say “Hello”.
He then smiled for my camera.
All in all, it was a delightful ending to my walk down memory lane.
Beautiful heartfelt share and great photos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Bella. I don’t go back there very often. Perhaps once a year but it is still very unspoilt. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful for words, what a scenic beauty and what a beautiful world and great photos too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Kamal. I really appreciate you feedback.😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome dear friend you write so lovely. Have a great day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can just imagine how heartbreaking it was for you to come home each time after those 6 weeks of living in the beauty and imagination there! I love that you ended up back there as your home.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Naomi. I tried to come here sooner but it was not to be. I appreciate living here so very much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mother natures beautiful landscapes! Great place to have spent summers there. Thanks for sharing the photos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I go back once a year or so, just to reminisce.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It must have been a glorious place to spend childhood summers. The memories could make an interesting book….?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes Bernadette. I always feel close to my mum and my grandfather when I revisit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A beautiful place, and your photos do it justice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. It remains unspoiled …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely photos, thank you for sharing your peaceful solitary walk with all of us😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a pleasure. I have my photographic mojo back…
LikeLiked by 1 person
It looks absolutely lovely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Stevie. It is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How fortunate you are to have such a lovely place at the center of your heart to cherish. I haven’t been to Ireland for 40 years but you are tempting me to visit Donegal. My first and only visit was in Sligo, to rendezvous with a lovely young man I met in Paris. That area, too, was lovely, as well as Connemarra which he and I visited together. But Donegal knocks it out of the ballpark!
LikeLike
Beautiful scenery… I feel like talking a walk.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Unfortunately it is windy and wet here today! I miss being outside.
LikeLike
Beautiful! The goats made me smile!! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Nikki. He was such a cutie.😊
LikeLike
going back to where the heart remembers the most is bitter sweet. love how you captured the sunlight in just each corner of the photo. another lovely walk and I know why you were so sad to leave each year. this place just says stay with me. thank you for sharing the memories of your mother.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your lovely comments. Sadly many young people have to leave Donegal every year to find jobs. My mum and dad had to leave too. I hope for change…
LikeLiked by 1 person
its sad when that happens and the same here in some of the really rural, parts, young people leave for commerce and economy, and the old are left to keep the memories and history alive. But we come back don’t we to that place only our heart remembers. And I love the way you tell your story, it’s always gentle and lyrical. I will have to add this place to my list of places to go when I retire.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes history keeps repeating. If you ever come this way it would be lovely to meet. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
that would be really lovely – i enjoy many movies that show me parts of Ireland, I think it’s so green and wet and the hills and valleys are so romantic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it is very green and a bit too wet at times😊
LikeLike
I love everything I read and see about Ireland and hope to come for a visit one day, so I really enjoyed your post! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I hope you get to visit soon😊
LikeLike
your pictures help prove the reason of the title bestowed on Donegal-the path about made me cry! Thank you and congratulations to your homeland!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I have always felt my heart was here…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice pictures Brigid. Love the little goat. 😍🐐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Steph. He sure was cute.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love it Brigid!! This is the best description of a happy childhood– and I can imagine children running and l hiding and making up games among those trees! Lovely post. hugs hugs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Rhonda. We were so happy just playing outside and we used our imaginations a lot in the process.x
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a beautiful place to visit and from your descriptive words I could sense the energy and smell the perfume of the area. Magic times you had there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. I had such a lovely childhood and summers were so special. There is something magical about my mother’s old home😊
LikeLike
looks like a magical place. Now I want to go! Enjoyed the read!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. It is still very unspoiled so do come visit.😊
LikeLike
Lovely, and I have to ask the nosy question…what happened the one summer you didn’t go???
LikeLiked by 1 person
My twin sisters were born in 1958. So my mum took us to the Scottish seaside instead. She had 4 of us girls in 3 years and 2 months. I do not know how she managed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! It is amazing, looking back, isn’t it? I had four brothers and grew up in the same era…my mother didn’t have half the labor savers I enjoy. Just thinking about doing all the laundry and getting a supper on the table each night makes me feel exhausted…and no dryer or microwave…
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] A Walk Down Memory Lane […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] A Walk Down Memory Lane — Watching the Daisies üzerinden […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
A beautiful post-Brigid those images especially the trees with those glorious roots how lovely to play there…Thank you for sharing your memories 🙂 x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Carol. I have so many wonderful childhood memories of playing in the mighty outdoors in all weathers. We went swimming in Mullaghderg lake rain, hail or shine. x
LikeLiked by 1 person
It all sounds wonderful, Brigid 🙂 x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gorgeous…and those goats are the cherries ontop of the ice cream sundae!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Laura. The goats were such a joy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for taking us along. It’s been a long time since I walked in such gorgeous nature.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Jacquie. I need to get on my walking shoes too. The garden has been calling me a lot lately.
LikeLike
Thanks for yet another gorgeous tour Brigid! Your homeland is so beautiful, and I love having the chance to go along on your walks. That little goat is adorable – I used to tell my hubby when we retired and settled down somewhere I wanted a pet goat. We ended up settling in the city, so now, pictures of cute goats like that one will have to suffice. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Terri. I must get organised after Easter and create some new walking posts. Looking forward to some down time first.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, Bette! These pictures are amazing! How easy hiking would be for me if I had these views. Love the quotes too. Great post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Vashti. I feel very blessed to live in such a beautiful part of the world. Brigid.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Walking cures all ills, including depression and unhappiness. But even better, walking brings us joy better than from any other source. I also find walking as meditative as a prayer. Your photos are incredible!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I have to agree Pam. Walking is so therapeutic and free for everyone. Nature’s own tonic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Nature’s own tonic,” for sure! It’s free and has no side effects (like meds do) except to make the walker feel like heaven.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a wonderful story and beautiful pictures to go with it. Thank you for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Tee. I am glad you enjoyed it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a delightful walk Brigid! I loved those trees!
BLessings,
Jennifer
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Jennifer. I have so many happy memories of this area. It is only a short distance from my current home but every time I return it is like a pilgrimage.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What lovely terrain!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Donegal has been voted “The Coolest Place on the Planet.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely gorgeous!!💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Lisa. Happy Friday. x
LikeLike
you are blessed to live here –
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
de nada and really glad to connect via blogosphere this month
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] a recent post A Walk Down Memory Lane I shared with you the beauty surrounding my late mother’s childhood […]
LikeLiked by 1 person