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Glencolmcille

Glencolmcille is a straggle of villages on the northwest coast of County Donegal, with a population of 217 in 2016. The main settlement is also called Cashel, indicating its cluster of prehistoric and early Christian ritual sites. The lane then meanders through Malin More to end at Malin Beg. Also described on this page are other sights and amenities on the road out to this peninsula, such as Killybegs and Teelin.

Glencolmcille means "the valley of St Colmcille", better known outside Ireland as St Columba (521-597). He was born and grew up around Donegal, studied on the east coast, then after a dispute fled to Scotland where he founded the monastery at Iona and many others. He later returned to establish churches in Ireland - there's no firm evidence he was here, but he got around by sea and this particular legend is credible.

Get in
For intercity routes see Donegal Town. Local Link Bus 293 runs five times daily from Donegal Town via Mountcharles, Killybegs, Kilcar and Carrick to and Malinmore, 75 min.

McGeehan Coach 991 runs once M-Sa afternoon plus in college term on Sunday from Letterkenny to Fintown, Glenties, Ardara, Killybegs, Kilcar, Carrick and Glencolmcille (2 hours 10 min). The morning bus turns back at Killybegs and the service beyond is only drop-off with no return run, so to go back to Letterkenny take the 293 to Killybegs then the 991.

By road from Donegal Town follow N56 west then R263 through Killybegs and twisting and turning over the hills, if the sheep can be bothered to shift their fat ovine backsides off the road. From Derry or Letterkenny you could go via Donegal Town or go cross-country on R250 to Ardara, then the scenic R230 via Ghleann Gheis.

Get around
You need wheels to explore this scattered area.

See

 * St Columba's Church (C of I) was built in 1828. There's a 10 m stone set into the west wall of the graveyard which was probably part of a court tomb (like Cloghanmore, below) then was used for monastic buildings. There's also scraps of an 8th century souterrain. The east side of the graveyard is Catholic, with an intricately carved pillar, now broken. 100 m west of the church is a 1.85 m stone pillar inscribed with a cross.
 * Farranmacbride 400 m north of the church is another ruined court tomb - it was used as a livestock pen - and has a decorated perforated standing stone 2 m tall. Through the perforation, heaven may be glimpsed by the pure and devout; needless to say there have been no recent credible sightings.
 * is a megalithic court tomb: these were mostly constructed around 3500 BC but re-used for much later burials. It's aligned east-west so the mid-winter sun peaks over the mountains to shine into its chambers. Reach it up the lane L1025 that branches inland from Malinmore.
 * is the small village where the road ends at Silver Strand / An Trá Bhán. Steps lead down to the scenic horseshoe of a cove (no boat ramp); the sea-stack at its west end is popular for rock-climbing. The Uaig is the next inlet west, small and rocky with a fishing pier. Temple Cavan is the scrappy ruin of a medieval church to St Kevin, looking like a derelict cow shed.
 * or Reachlainn Uí Bhirn is the small island seen 2 km off Malin Beg, uninhabited since the lighthouse was automated. It's a popular area for sea-angling, and you're permitted to land, but these waters are hazardous. In June 2017 some anglers were lucky to be rescued when their Rib ran out of fuel near the island. A month later they did the same again, only this time their bodies were found by the lifeboat.
 * or Reachlainn Uí Bhirn is the small island seen 2 km off Malin Beg, uninhabited since the lighthouse was automated. It's a popular area for sea-angling, and you're permitted to land, but these waters are hazardous. In June 2017 some anglers were lucky to be rescued when their Rib ran out of fuel near the island. A month later they did the same again, only this time their bodies were found by the lifeboat.
 * or Teileann is a small fishing village. It has accommodation and you come this way for Slieve League.
 * or Sliabh Liag is a mountain of 596 m / 1955 ft, with its south face etched into great sea-cliffs. The usual viewing point is Bunglass: branch off R263 into Teelin. Sept-June you can drive up the narrow lane to the free car park, hoping you don't meet a campervan coming the other way, then it's an easy paved walk of 1 km. July-Aug the lane is closed to visitor cars, you have to park in Teelin and take a shuttle bus (€6). Tourist guides will bend your ear about how much higher these are than the Cliffs of Moher, but they're sloping not sheer. South across the bay is Sligo's Ben Bulben. Trails lead to the summit of Slieve League: One Man's Pass and Pilgrim's Path will get your attention as they teeter along the sharp ridge with the wind blasting up off the cliff face.
 * is the village near the turn-off from N56 onto R263, so it might be your first or last stop on the way to Glencolmcille. It has the best harbour on this rugged coast and is an active fishing port. Outside St Mary's Church is the elaborate 16th century grave slab of Niall Mór Mac Suibhne or MacSweeney, depicting a chain-mailed warrior and grappling wrestlers. The carpet weaving factory closed in 2003; it was turned into a heritage centre but that too has closed. There's a sprinkling of B&Bs, see Sleep, so you could base here and day-trip further west.

Do

 * “And whereas the superstitions of Popery are greatly increased and upheld, by the pretended sanctity of places, especially of a Place called St. Patrick’s Purgatory in the County of Donegal and of Wells to which Pilgrimages are made, by vast numbers at certain seasons . . . Be it further enacted that all such meetings and assemblies shall be deemed and adjudged Riots and unlawful Assemblies.”
 * - Proclamation of Queen Anne in 1703

 * Turas or the Pattern Walk is a religious procession on 9 June, the date of St Colm Cille's death. It's a 5 km walk to 15 holy sites, which traditionally was done barefoot starting at midnight.
 * Away to Me demonstrate sheepdog working at Malin Beg, plus lamb rearing in season. Adult €12.
 * Atlantic Coastal Cruises sail from Killybegs to the cliffs of Slieve League.
 * Golf: see Glenties for Big P Golf Club at Ardara.
 * The Wild Atlantic Way is a coastal itinerary from the north tip of County Donegal to Kinsale in County Cork, 2500 km in all. The local section leaves N56 at Ardara and hugs the coast to Assaranca Waterfall, then winds over the hills by Owenree to pick up R230 into Glencolmcille. Leave on R263 to Killybegs and rejoin N56 into Donegal Town.

Buy

 * Glencolmcille has Byrne's Food Store and filling station (daily 09:00-21:00). The Post Office is next door.
 * Malinbeg has a small food store.
 * Carrick has Doherty's XL (M-Sa 08:00-21:00, Su 09:00-21:00).

Eat

 * Glencolmcille has An Chistin (W-M 12:00-20:00) and Benny's Chipper (Th-Tu 17:00-21:00).
 * Malinbeg: the only eating place is Silver Strand Cafe, open daily 11:30-17:00.
 * Teelin has Póg mo Lón (F-Su 09:00-20:00, M 10:00-17:00) and The Rusty Mackerel (daily 12:00-23:30).
 * Carrick has Wild Atlantic Tae and Chinese and fish & chips takeaways.

Drink

 * Glencolmcille bars are John Eoinín's (F-Su 16:00-23:00) and Roarty's which has rooms.
 * Sliabh Liag Distillers make gin in Carrick near Teelin; no tours. Their whiskey distillery is under construction near Ardara.
 * Evelyn's Central Bar is in Carrick.

Sleep

 * Ionad Siul is a fairly basic guesthouse in the main village.
 * Millstone B&B is on R230 east end of the village.
 * Ionad Siul is a fairly basic guesthouse in the main village.
 * Millstone B&B is on R230 east end of the village.
 * Malinbeg Hostel at the entrance to Malinbeg didn't open in 2021.
 * Silver Strand B&B at the end of the Malinbeg road didn't open in 2021.
 * Teelin has accommodation in three neighbourhoods. Carrick is on R230 at the turn-off and has Slieve League Inn, An Sean Ostan and Lios Na Siog B&B.
 * Teelin village has Teelin Bay House and Slieve League B&B.
 * Derrylahan is east side of the harbour, with a hostel / campsite.

 * Killybegs has Tara Hotel, Seawinds B&B, Bay View Hotel and The Ritz.

Connect
As of Aug 2021, there is a patchy mobile signal from Three and Vodafone, but nothing from Eir. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next
Either follow the coast east via Killybegs to Donegal Town, or go over the hills northeast to Ardara and Glenties.

title: Glencolmcille


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Glen Cove

Glen Cove is one of two cities in Nassau County on Long Island, in New York. It is surrounded by the Long Island Sound to the north and Oyster Bay to the east, south, and west.

This article also covers the nearby portions of zoster Bay — the neighborhoods of Lattingtown, Locust Valley, Matinecock, Glen Head, Sea Cliff, Glenwood Landing, Greenvale and Old Brookville.

Understand

Glen Cove is a multicultural city with a population of 26,936 as of 2009. It is a small city that provides a variety of amenities. The Matinecock Indians – a Native American tribe – founded it. Glen Cove was originally named "Moscheto." English migrants from New England used Glen Cove as a port before 1668.

A man named Joseph Carpenter, from Warwick, Rhode Island purchased about 2,000 acres of the land northwest of the Town of Oyster Bay on May 24, 1668. Later that year Mr. Carpenter admitted four co-partners into the project - three brothers, Nathaniel, Daniel, and Robert Coles, and Nicholas Simkins. These men were all residents of Oyster Bay. The five men named the settlement later spelled "Musketa Cove", which In the Matinecock language means "place of rushes."

By train
The Long Island Rail Road's Oyster Bay Branch has regular service from Penn Station, though you will likely have to change trains at Jamaica. The branch has stops at Glen Head, Sea Cliff, Glen Street, Glen Cove, and Locust Valley.

By car
Glen Cove can be accessed from the Long Island Expressway or the Northern State Parkway. From the west, take Glen Cove Road north (LIE exit 39; NSP exit 31); from the east, take NY-107/Cedar Swamp Road north (LIE exit 41, NSP exit 35). The two roads will converge just before reaching Glen Cove.

Get around
There are some LIRR trains and NICE buses.

Eat
Glen Cove offers a variety of different restaurants.

Stay safe
Glen Cove is a very safe city – as are all of the surrounding communities covered in this article (Lattingtown, Locust Valley, Matinecock, Glen Head, Sea Cliff, Glenwood Landing, Greenvale, Old Brookville, and Brookville). Additionally, Glen Cove and all of the other communities included in this article are all patrolled heavily by the police, and if any issue arises, they will be happy to help you in any way needed.

Like in the rest of the United States, in the event of an emergency, dial 911.

Go next

 * North Hempstead
 * Oyster Bay

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Glen Cove


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Glendale

There is more than one place called Glendale:

Australia

 * Glendale (New South Wales) - A city in New South Wales.

Canada

 * Glendale (Alberta) - A town in the province of Alberta.

United Kingdom

 * Glendale (Skye) - A town on the Isle of Skye.
 * Glendale (Northumberland) - A town in England.

United States of America

 * Glendale (Arizona) - A town in the state of Arizona.
 * Glendale (California) - A town in the state of California near Los Angeles.
 * Glendale (Colorado) - A town in the state of Colorado.
 * Glendale (Kentucky) - A town in the state of Kentucky.
 * Glendale (Nevada) - A town in the state of Nevada.
 * Glendale (Missouri) - A town in the state of Missouri.
 * Glendale (Ohio) - A town in the state of Ohio.
 * Glendale (Oregon) - A town in the state of Oregon.
 * Glendale (Rhode Island) - A town in the state of Rhode Island.
 * Glendale (Utah) - A town in the state of Utah.
 * Glendale (Wisconsin) - A town in the state of Wisconsin.

Zimbabwe

 * Glendale (Zimbabwe) - A town in Zimbabwe.

title: Glendale


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Glendale (Arizona)

Glendale is one of the largest suburbs in the metropolitan Phoenix area, and is rapidly growing as a media/entertainment center in the Valley of the Sun. It was home to over 250,000 people in 2019.

By plane
As a suburb of Phoenix, Glendale does not have its own major airport. Airplane owners may find it convenient to fly into (in the western portion of the city), but most people may find it prudent to fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the major airport for both the Phoenix area and the state of Arizona.

By road
Glendale has the benefit of numerous freeways that travel through the Phoenix metro area.
 * The southern portion of the city is easily accessible from Interstate 10, exiting between 43rd Avenue and the Loop 101 and traveling north on the arterial streets.
 * The eastern portion is accessible from Interstate 17, exiting between Camelback Road and the Loop 101.
 * Northern Glendale is accessible from the Loop 101, which is the only freeway in the Regional Freeway System to cross through the city. The Loop 101 travels north from Interstate 10 and turns east at the northern boundary of Glendale, where it intersects Interstate 17.  Northern Glendale can be accessed by exiting the Loop 101 between 51st Avenue and Bell Road.
 * West Glendale, home to Gila River Arena (NHL) and State Farm Stadium (NFL), is accessible by exiting Loop 101 between Northern Avenue and Camelback Road. The arena and stadium are easily accessible from exiting at Glendale Avenue and heading east.

By bus
Valley Metro Light Rail from Washington/Central Ave in Phoenix to Glendale/19th, then Valley Metro Bus 70 to Glendale. $4 for a 1-day pass (Nov 2020).

Buy
Glendale calls itself "Arizona's Antique Capital".

The Arrowhead Towne Center mall is found in the northwest part of the city.

Stay safe
The types of crime most common in the Phoenix area usually do not affect visitors or tourist locations. However, some sections of Glendale, especially the southern tier of the city bordering the Maryvale area of Phoenix, are somewhat dicey and should be avoided at night.

title: Glendale (Arizona)


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Glendale (California)

Glendale is a suburban city of 205,000 people (2019) in the southeastern corner of the San Fernando Valley of Southern California between Burbank and Downtown Los Angeles. Glendale has one of the largest communities of Armenian descent in the United States.

By car
Glendale is located along Interstate 5 between Downtown Los Angeles and neighboring Burbank. CA-134 passes east-west through Glendale, between Burbank and Pasadena directly to the east. CA-2 offers a fast connection to the neighborhoods of Northwest L.A., particularly Silver Lake and Echo Park.

By train
Bob Hope Airport, located in neighboring Burbank, is the closest airport to Glendale. Metrolink trains connect Glendale to Bob Hope Airport and Los Angeles Union Station in Downtown L.A. Additionally, Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner train makes a stop in Glendale.

By bus
Metro runs service into Glendale. The 780 rapid bus runs to Hollywood and Pasadena. The 501 runs an express service to North Hollywood and Memorial Park station.

Get around
Glendale's Beeline bus service connects with the Los Angeles Metro line. You can purchase a 31-day pass for $36 or a ten-ride pass for $9.

Eat
Being home to a large number of recent immigrants of Armenian, Middle Eastern, and Korean backgrounds, Glendale has some of the finest authentic restaurants.

Filipino

 * Original Barrio Fiesta of Manila. Authentic Filipino Cuisine.

Korean
Paris Bakery a fusion between Korean-French style pastries. They are really beautiful pastries and cheap too. One of the top bakeries in Glendale.

Go next
Burbank, home to Warner Bros. and Disney, is right next to Glendale.

title: Glendale (California)


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Glendalough

Glendalough is a medieval monastery complex in County Wicklow in Ireland, 40 km south of Dublin. It's set in a deep scenic valley which is within the Wicklow Mountains National Park and has been protected from development. Most visitor facilities are therefore in nearby Laragh.

Understand
Glendalough is a U-shaped glaciated valley, with steep sides and a flat lake bed. A single lake backed up behind glacial debris, but the Poulanass River cascading down the south slope brought silt which divided this into two "ribbon lakes", the large Upper Lake and the small Lower Lake. And thus arose the place name Gleann Dá Locha, "valley of two lakes".

During the 6th century, St Kevin came here as a hermit. Next to nothing is reliably known of his life — the hagiographies were written much later — but he's thought to stem from one of the ruling families of Leinster. In Glendalough he acquired a following and founded a monastery, which grew into a township of religious and secular buildings. Sites around the Upper Lake may have been part of the 6th-century hermitage, while their contemporaries around the Lower Lake became built over during the 10th to 12th centuries. Most of what you see (such as the iconic Round Tower) is from this later era, when a notable abbot was St Laurence O'Toole (1128-1180). Glendalough was attacked by the Vikings on at least four occasions; in 1214 it came under the ecclesiastical thumb of Dublin. It was utterly wrecked by English forces in 1398 but continued as a local church and place of pilgrimage.

The main "monastic city" is by the Lower Lake, reached from Laragh on R756, which continues over the mountains to Hollywood and County Kildare. A dead-end lane branches off to Upper Lake, which has better scenery. Glendalough has the Visitor Centre and one hotel but few other amenities, as development is rightly restricted. For eating places and accommodation there's more choice in Laragh 3 km down the valley.

As a scenic and historically important area close to Dublin, Glendalough is very much on the tourist circuit, and is mobbed on summer weekends. It might then be difficult to picture it as a place of solitude and hermitage, but visitors then are following a 300 year-old tradition. St Kevin reputedly died on 3 June 618, so that is his "pattern" (patron-saint) day, which was marked in riotous fashion in the 18th and 19th century. For a quieter experience come on the pattern day of St Laurence, 14 Nov, with the cold rain slashing down on crags and forests that in his day harboured wolves.

By road
From Dublin the most direct route is to follow M11 / N11 past Bray, then at Kilmacanogue follow R755 through Roundwood and Annamoe. It's well signposted and all the traffic is heading the same way. Good luck finding a parking space if you come on a summer weekend.

There are lots of scenic alternatives, such as the "Scalp" road and Powerscourt, or by the old military road. These are congested on fine weekends.

By bus
If you don't have your own wheels, best bet is a bus excursion. These depart daily from Dublin, and one reliable operator is the national company Bus Éireann.

St Kevin's Bus has plied between Dublin and Glendalough for a century, but not for 1400 years, and there's no historical evidence that yer man ever rode this or any other bus. It runs twice a day from St Stephen's Green in Dublin, taking 90 min via Cabinteely, Bray (for DART trains), Kilmacanogue, Roundwood and Annamoe. The morning run allows a day-trip with four hours to explore Glendalough, or you can take it as a point-to-point bus. Adult single €14, return €23.

Local Link Bus 183 runs 4 or 5 times a day from Wicklow Town via Ashford, Rathnew, Roundwood, Annamoe and Laragh. From Glendalough it crosses the hills to Blessington, Naas and Sallins railway station.

Get around
Walk or cycle. Local accommodation may offer lifts to and from the monastic complex.

See
The monastic sites are accessible free, 24 hours. You pay for parking, the car parks are closed overnight.

Lower Lake

 * Trinity Church is the shell of a simple 11th- or 12th-century church 200 m east of the Visitor Centre. It's outside the main complex, and most visitors run out of time seeing the main sites and don't bother coming here.
 * The Gateway just west of the centre is a double doorway, was built as a two-storey gatehouse. The cross inscribed on the west wall between the doorways marks the boundary of the sanctuary; if you made it over the line, you were home safe, in theory. Alas many attackers decided otherwise. The graveyard just beyond is still in use.
 * The Round Tower by the Gateway is one of the finest examples in Ireland: it's 1000 years old yet in excellent condition, just over 30 m high. It used to have six wooden floors connected by ladders. The four stories above the entrance are beautifully lit by a tiny window, while the top story has four windows. The conical roof was redone in 1876 using the same stone. Like other such towers it was a bell tower, and not defensive: the reason the entrance is 3.5 m above ground level was simply to avoid weakening the base.
 * St Peter and St Pauls' Cathedral was built in several phases, with the nave dating to the 10th century and the chancel, sacristry and north door to the 12th or 13th. It replaced an earlier church: the west door is recycled stone from this. Note the piscina, the basin for washing holy vessels. In 1214 the diocese was absorbed by Dublin so St Peter and St Paul's ceased to be a cathedral, and Glendalough lost much of its importance. It could still be a cosy sinecure, eg for Viscount Loftus, the Elizabethan noble whose family practised nepotism on a grand scale.
 * St Kevin's Cross is a few metres south of the cathedral. This huge 12th-century High Cross is carved from a single piece of granite. Unusually, the centre is not pierced.
 * The Priests' House southwest side of the cathedral was reconstructed from original stone, using a 1779 drawing of the previous Romanesque building. Its earlier function is unknown, perhaps it housed relics of St Kevin. The present name is because priests were interred here in the 18th and 19th centuries, in the "penal laws" era when there were no RC churches to bury them.
 * The Priests' House southwest side of the cathedral was reconstructed from original stone, using a 1779 drawing of the previous Romanesque building. Its earlier function is unknown, perhaps it housed relics of St Kevin. The present name is because priests were interred here in the 18th and 19th centuries, in the "penal laws" era when there were no RC churches to bury them.
 * 100 m south is a bijou affair, from 11th century but heavily reconstructed. It's often called "St Kevin's Kitchen" because the little round tower belfry looks like a cookhouse chimney. Actually it looks even more like an old steam laundry, but the latter nickname never caught on.
 * St Ciarán's next to St Kevin's is just a few scraps of masonry. It's probably named for the fellow who founded Clonmacnoise.
 * St Mary's 150 m west is another little gem of a church from 10th century. It probably stood outside the monastic compound and was used by nuns.
 * The Deer Stone 50 m south of St Kevin's is a bullaun, a stone with a basin hollowed in its top, naturally or by being used as a grindstone. Rain water collected in the basin and was supposed to have curative powers, so bullaun stones were places of pilgrimage. There was ancient metal-working in Glendalough and the Deer Stone may have been used to grind ores.
 * is a ruin 1 km down the valley from Glendalough. It was built in Romanesque style circa 1150, later than the main complex. It was Augustinian, though it may have first been affiliated to the Arrouaisian Order, briefly in vogue in the 1130s. The interior is intricately carved: look for the lion, serpent, and two birds holding a human head between their beaks. In medieval times other buildings were added to the church; it partly collapsed in the 19th-century and was clumsily rebuilt, with the original stones incorrectly placed.

Upper Lake

 * This is one km west of the Lower Lake; it has fewer buildings but is the more scenic. There's a large car park, run separately from the Visitor Centre car park so your ticket isn't transferable. If you've successfully elbowed your car into a parking space down there, best leave it and walk to and from the Upper Lake.

 * The Caher near the car park at the east end of Upper Lake is a stone-walled enclosure, 20 m in diameter, of unknown date. A cahir is a prehistoric fortress but this may just be a sheep fold.
 * Reefert Church is the first building along the lake south shore, in a grove. Righ Fearta means "royal burial place", for the O'Toole dynasty, but it's a simple church from 1100 with modern additions. There are two fine crosses nearby, then the scraps of another church.
 * Poulanass waterfall is viewed from 100 m south. This is the river that divided the lake into two.
 * St Kevin's Cell is the foundation stones of a beehive hut, on a rocky spur overlooking the lake.
 * can be reached by a scramble down the hillside but it's perhaps enough to view it from the opposite shore. It's a cave in the rockface 8 m above the lake and 2 m deep, partly natural and partly man-made. It's reputed to have been a place of solitude and prayer for St Kevin and later St Laurence O’Toole, and may have been a Bronze Age tomb. It's barely a metre high, so about all you could do in there is sleep or decompose.
 * Temple-na-Skellig is 40 m west of the "Bed", a 12th-century ruined church on the site of St Kevin's first settlement. It's on a little shelf above the lake, with a hazardous scramble down the rock face to reach it. So realistically it can only be accessed by boat, but there are no regular trips.
 * The southside path continues along the ridge, eventually looping round the head of the lake to the mining village.

 * were worked from 1825 to 1925 then from 1948 to 1957. They yielded galena, an ore of lead, and also some silver and zinc. Tunnels drilled right through the mountain to link with mines in Glendasan to the north. The area is littered with old machinery and the remains of miners' cottages. It's reached by a hike along the Upper Lake north shore, which eventually circles round onto the ridge above south shore.

Elsewhere

 * Laragh (An Láithreach, "the ruins") is the service village below Glendalough with limited sights of its own, but spare a glance for St Kevin's Roman Catholic church and St John's Church of Ireland church. 200 m south of the village, Jackson's Falls are scenic and a test of kayakers' nerve.
 * is a scenic valley south then west from Laragh. There's accommodation in the glen village. Easy hikes from here are Dwyer's or Cullen Rock, Fraughan Rock Glen and Carriglinneen. Stiffer hikes are Mullacor, Cloghernagh, Corrigasleggaun and Lugnaquilla, and beware that parts of the upper glen are closed as army training ranges. The road climbs over into Glen Imaal then descends towards Baltinglass.

Do

 * Walking: signposted trails go round the lakes and main sights. Long distance trails are the Wicklow Way, 132 km from south Dublin to County Carlow, and St Kevin’s Way 26-30 km from Hollywood west of the mountains.
 * Wicklow Walking Festival is in October, with guided walks starting from Brockagh Centre midway between Laragh and Glendalough.
 * Cycling is permitted on any hard-surface road including the forest tracks, and the green, purple and orange walking routes around the lakes. Off-road or mountain biking is not permitted.
 * Rock climbing is on the granite crags above the north-western head of the valley, from single pitch to 4-pitch routes. No bolting is allowed.
 * Angling is permitted on both lakes from 15 Mar to 30 Sep using artificial lures only. The commonest catch is brown trout. Those under 20.5 cm (8 in) must be returned unharmed - and they probably will be, as they have little to feed on in the lakes.
 * Not permitted: no swimming in the lakes, off-road vehicles, or hunting or shooting.
 * Scenic drives: the Wicklow Gap road ascends from here, see County Wicklow.
 * Tonelagee at 817 metres (2680 ft) can be climbed from the west, straight up the shoulder from R756, but the more scenic usual route is from Glenmacnass waterfall car park on R115 above Laragh. Its name Tóin le Gaoith means "backside to the wind", so it's best not to dwell on its status as a Marilyn.
 * Mullaghcleevaun at 849 m (2785 ft) is climbed from the southeast, from Oasis car park on R115 north of Laragh, 11 km, 3 hr. Skirt Carrigshouk and ascend to Mullaghcleevaun East Top, where the way becomes indistinct and boggy, then on west to the summit. You can also continue along the ridge from East Top to Duff Hill (720 m), Gravale (718 m) and Carrigvore (682 m) then descend into Sally Gap.
 * Detach, unwind and be still at Glendalough Sanctuary, 200 m east of the visitor centre car park. It's a residential space for group retreat or individual pilgrimage and contemplation. Tis.

Buy

 * There are no ATMs or banks in Glendalough or Laragh. The Bank of Ireland in Rathdrum has an external ATM. North along R755, there's an ATM within the Centra in Churchmount village, but it's only accessible in shop hours (daily 7AM-8:30PM) and may charge for withdrawals.
 * Glendalough Woollen Mills is a knitwear outlet south edge of Laragh, open daily 10AM-5PM.

Eat

 * Glendalough Hotel (and see Sleep) has infamously slow, chaotic service. Problem is, it's the only eating place right next to the sights, and gets mobbed. Come at a quiet time or look elsewhere or bring your own.
 * Laragh 3 km down the valley has more choice. Lynham's Hotel (see Sleep) and Wicklow Heather (below) offer the best eating, or try Glendalough Green cafe.

Drink

 * There isn't a free-standing pub, so head for one of the hotel bars.
 * Glendalough Distillery produces whiskey, gin and poitín, but it's based on an industrial estate in Newtown, see Wicklow Town.

Sleep

 * Laragh, 3 km east before you turn up the valley to Glendalough, has the most accommodation. This includes Lynham's Hotel (below), Sliabh Amharc, Old School House, Glendalough Glamping (below), Bramble Rock and Deerstone Hideaway.
 * No camping permitted within the valley.
 * No camping permitted within the valley.
 * No camping permitted within the valley.
 * No camping permitted within the valley.
 * No camping permitted within the valley.

Connect
As of June 2024, Laragh has 5G from all Irish carriers. Glendalough and the approach roads have 4G from Eir and Vodafone, and 5G from Three.

Go next

 * Enniskerry has the gardens of Powerscourt Estate and an impressive waterfall.
 * Wicklow Town has two impressive botanic gardens, less mobbed than Powerscourt.
 * Blessington across the mountains via Wicklow Gap has Russborough House, with a huge art collection.

title: Glendalough


text:
Glendive

Glendive, is a small town in eastern Montana, with a population 4,900 in 2019, which formed around the Yellowstone River. A part of the Lewis and Clark Trail and the Montana Dinosaur Trail, it is the smallest market in the US to have its own television station.

By car
Interstate 94 passes through Glendive. Billings is 222 miles west, and the North Dakota border is 35 miles east. State Highway 16 continues north to Sidney and U.S. Route 2.

Get around
There are no taxi or bus services in Glendive.

Go next
Watch paddlefishing at Intake Fishing access starting May 15th.

title: Glendive


text:
Glenelg

Glenelg is a small village on the coast of Wester Ross in the Scottish Highlands, which historically was one of the main crossings to and from Skye. The cattle swam across on their way to market, while the humans took a ferry. Paradoxically the ferry was boosted when the road bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh opened in 1995, as this had high tolls, prompting community protests, refusals to pay, and work-around routes. The bridge became toll-free in 2004 and now takes the bulk of the traffic but the Glenelg ferry still sails in summer.

Glenelg and the coast to Arnidale had a population of 291 in 2011. The village has helpfully put up a sign on its outskirts confirming that you've reached the Glenelg that's on Earth, not the one on Mars.

Get in
The only road in is the narrow lane branching off A87 at Shiel Bridge at the head of Loch Duich. It climbs over the hills to Glenelg then continues south for 10 miles along the shores of Loch Hourn to dead-end at Arnisdale and Corran. Macrae Kintail Bus 712 runs once in the morning M-F from Corran via Glenelg (around 8AM), Dornie and Kyle of Lochalsh (9:30AM) to Plockton. It immediately turns round for the return, passing Kyle at 11:40 and Glenelg at 12:50PM. Inter-city buses between Glasgow / Inverness and Skye stop at Shiel Bridge but from there it's a seven-mile walk to Glenelg.

By train: the nearest railway station Kyle of Lochalsh is ten miles north as the crow flies, but over 30 miles by road winding around Loch Duich. Kyle has four trains a day from Inverness; buses to Portree and Uig on Skye meet these trains. With bike on train, consider cycling from Kyle over the Skye Bridge then doubling back to Kylerhea for the ferry to Glenelg.

Get around
The barracks, brochs and ferry jetty are easily reached on foot; there's no onward transport from Kylerhea on the Skye side.

See

 * Kirkton is the tiny main settlement. The parish church is from the 18th century.
 * is a broch a further mile up the glen by a steep path. This is a "semi-broch", D-shaped rather than circular, some 17 x 12 m in area. It's not to be confused with Caisteal Grugaig broch by Loch Duich, see Dornie.
 * is a broch a further mile up the glen by a steep path. This is a "semi-broch", D-shaped rather than circular, some 17 x 12 m in area. It's not to be confused with Caisteal Grugaig broch by Loch Duich, see Dornie.
 * is a broch a further mile up the glen by a steep path. This is a "semi-broch", D-shaped rather than circular, some 17 x 12 m in area. It's not to be confused with Caisteal Grugaig broch by Loch Duich, see Dornie.
 * is a broch a further mile up the glen by a steep path. This is a "semi-broch", D-shaped rather than circular, some 17 x 12 m in area. It's not to be confused with Caisteal Grugaig broch by Loch Duich, see Dornie.

Do

 * Wildlife: watch for ospreys anywhere along the waterside. They're often seen near the ferry pier.

Eat

 * "The inn was furnished with not a single article that we could either eat or drink."
 * - Boswell and Johnson had a miserable stay in Glenelg on their 1773 “Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland”.

 * Ruth's Cafe in the village community centre is open M-Th 10AM-3PM, F 5-7:30PM.
 * Shore Station by the ferry pier has a coffee shop open daily 10AM-5PM.

Drink
Glenelg Inn is the only pub.

On the road towards Glenelg, Dr Johnson glad-handed a group of soldiers with money for drink. They got utterly wasted.

Sleep

 * Self-catering places are Larach Sithe and Lamont Chalets on the approach lane, and The Green House south edge of the village.
 * Self-catering places are Larach Sithe and Lamont Chalets on the approach lane, and The Green House south edge of the village.
 * Self-catering places are Larach Sithe and Lamont Chalets on the approach lane, and The Green House south edge of the village.

Connect
As of April 2024, Glenelg has 4G from EE, but nothing from O2, Three or Vodafone. There are many dead spots on the approach road, and no signal on the road across Skye from the opposite ferry pier. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Dornie has the scenic Eilean Donan Castle.
 * Kyle of Lochalsh is where you cross the bridge to Skye.
 * The lane on the other side of the ferry crossing leads to Broadford on Skye, where you have to double back to reach Armadale.
 * Plockton harbour is popular with yacht and dingy sailors.
 * Glenelg on Mars was named as a palindrome, as Curiosity was planned to return there. However since landing in 2012 it has kept going and going, and is now exploring areas 30 km away.

title: Glenelg


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Glen Ellen

Glen Ellen is a community of 800 people (2010) in the Sonoma Valley wine region in Sonoma County. It was the home of the writer Jack London. Glen Ellen is home to the state park that bears Jack London's name, and to world class restaurants and wineries. Glen Ellen is a romantic, sleepy little town that is a great place to get way from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Get in
Glen Ellen is 60 miles north of San Francisco and is relatively near to the San Francisco International Airport, Oakland Airport, and Sacramento Airport. There is also an airport in nearby Santa Rosa:
 * Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport 2290 Airport Boulevard. +1 707-565–7240. Direct flights daily to and from Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

Get around
Glen Ellen is a very small town with only one stop light. Walking is a fantastic was to see the "downtown", but to get to the wineries (see below), driving is necessary.

Please do not drink and drive. It only takes a few wine tastings to be over the legal limit. Be safe and have a designated driver. Or hire a limo for the day.

See

Eat
In downtown Glen Ellen:

In Jack London Village (14301 Arnold Dr.)

Sleep
As expected for a small town, there are only a handful of hotels in the town. If you're looking for a camping site, then consider Sugarloaf Ridge State Park in Kenwood, about 7 miles north.

Connect

 * US Post Office 13720 Arnold Rd. +1 707-996-9233

Go next
Tired of wine, fine food and natural beauty? Head towards San Francisco for wine, fine food and architectural beauty. Take Arnold Drive to HWY 37 to HWY 101 South. Drive over the beautiful and historic Golden Gate Bridge. Or enjoy outdoor sports in Tahoe, tack HWY 12 to I80, stop at Donner Peak and remember the hardship that pioneers endured to come to California.

title: Glen Ellen


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Glen Ellyn

Glen Ellyn is a village in the Chicagoland area. This village has an interesting history filled with its ups and downs. However, today Glen Ellyn remains an affluent Chicago suburb with an abundance of historic sites and an exceptional dining scene.

Get in
Roosevelt Road is a major artery that runs through town. O'Hare International Airport is nearby. Metra commuter trains provide a connection from Chicago en route to Elburn.

Get around
The PACE bus system provides transportation to neighboring towns such as Lombard and Wheaton. However, the village is compact enough that on foot is the best way to go.

Buy
The Central Business District of Glen Ellyn has many specialty stores to suit all types of people. In addition, there is a strong retail and commercial presence on Roosevelt Rd.

Eat
It is Glen Ellyn's restaurant scene that is the true star of downtown. The Central Business District features numerous award-winning restaurants.

Drink
Nightlife in Glen Ellyn is mostly concentrated south of the railroad tracks, downtown, on Main Street. Here, most of the restaurants, namely, Shannon's and Santa Fe feature a full-service bar.

Sleep
Lodging in Glen Ellyn is limited, with one notable exception.

Go next
A 40-minute train ride is all that separates Glen Ellyn from a truly cultural experience found in The Windy City. Chicago is truly a world-class city and should not be missed.

If you enjoy a more small town atmosphere, visit Galena, Illinois. Galena is an old mining town local to the mighty Mississippi River, that features a charming downtown shopping district with many quaint shops and charming eateries. It is about a 2 hour drive away.

title: Glen Ellyn


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Glenfinnan

Glenfinnan is a village in the Western Highlands of Scotland, between Fort William and Mallaig. Standing at the head of Loch Shiel, it's famous as the place where "Bonnie Prince Charlie" launched his 1745 Jacobite rebellion. The railway to Mallaig here sweeps over the valley on the spectacular Glenfinnan Viaduct, used as a location in several films and TV series. The viaduct also features on the Bank of Scotland (2007 & 2017 series) £10 note. In 2011 the village population was 139.

By train

 * Glenfinnan is on the West Highland Line, with ScotRail trains from Glasgow Queen Street via Arrochar & Tarbet (for Loch Lomond), Crianlarich (where a portion detaches for Oban) and Fort William; they continue to Arisaig and Mallaig (for ferries to Skye). There are six M-Sa and three on Sunday.
 * is off the main road at the western edge of the village: it's been prettified into a museum, see below. A sleeping car has been converted into a bunkhouse, and a dining car offers light refreshments. There are no ticket kiosks or machines, buy on board if your journey starts here. There is level access to Platform 1, and a level-crossing to Platform 2 (for Fort William).
 * is off the main road at the western edge of the village: it's been prettified into a museum, see below. A sleeping car has been converted into a bunkhouse, and a dining car offers light refreshments. There are no ticket kiosks or machines, buy on board if your journey starts here. There is level access to Platform 1, and a level-crossing to Platform 2 (for Fort William).

A walking trail leads from the station to the Glenfinnan Viaduct, half a mile east. You only get a brief view of the viaduct from the train (although it's going slowly at this point), but sit on the left of the westbound train for the best views of the viaduct, the Glenfinnan Monument and down the loch. In 2024 the viaduct is under repair - Scotrail trains are running normally but the scaffolding and hoarding spoil your photograph.

By road
Glenfinnan stands on the "Road to the Isles" A830. Fort William (junction with A82) is 17 miles east, Mallaig is 25 miles west.

By bus
Shiel Buses 500, 502, 505 and 534 run from Fort William three times M-F and once on Saturday, taking 30 min, and continuing to Lochailort, Arisaig, Morar and Mallaig. The bus stop in Glenfinnan is by the turnoff for the station.

Get around
Glenfinnan is a small village and it is possible to walk everywhere. There is a track that runs from the top of the village to the bottom, named the back track. It has a foot bridge in the middle and is therefore only accessible by foot. There is now a pavement on the main road from the very top of the village at Tor An Eas, to the bottom, at the National Trust for Scotland.

Car parks: National Trust for Scotland (for a daily fee of £3) at the visitor centre the car park at the bottom of the glen (turn right instead of left into the village at the crossroads), and both hotels also have their own car parks. On busy days, there is a shortage of car parking in the village.

The train station is at the top of the village, with the main bus stop's at the station road entrance (beside the red phone box) or at the crossroads at the bottom of the village. Make sure you hail the buses to stop.

See

 * Station Museum is open Apr-Oct: M-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 10AM-5PM. Adult £1, child free, donation for parking.
 * St Mary & St Finnan Church is Roman Catholic. It's Gothic, built by Pugin 1870-72. In 2023 it's closed for restoration.
 * : In 1745 "'Bonnie Prince Charlie" crossed from France to reclaim the throne for his father "James the Eighth", who'd failed himself in 1715. Charles landed in Eriskay in the Western Isles then came to the mainland, almost empty-handed as his supply ship was blasted by the Royal Navy. He'd been admonished to bring a force of at least 6000 or not come, but he won over the local clans with "now or never" rhetoric until some 1000 men were assembled. On 19 Aug he launched his uprising here by raising his "royal" banner, that of the Catholic Stuart dynasty, deposed by the Protestant Hanoverians. His force grew, marched on and occupied Edinburgh unopposed. He routed a counter-attack at Prestonpans, then set off into England again unopposed and with hopes high. Everything was going so well, how could they fail? But some 15 miles west towards Arisaig is "The Prince's Cairn", where in Sept 1746 Charles fled into exile with his cause lost forever, his supporters slain in battle or put to death, and the Highlands suffering harsh military reprisals.
 * Loch Shiel is a 17-mile-long fjord, a valley carved out by glaciers that used to be an inlet of the sea, but dammed by glacial rubble to become a fresh-water lake. There are boat trips on the loch and walks on the forestry trails beside it; look for otters and eagles. The wooded islets contain remnants of Scotland's primeval forest. None of the surrounding hills count as "Munroes" but several are "Corbetts".
 * Loch Shiel is a 17-mile-long fjord, a valley carved out by glaciers that used to be an inlet of the sea, but dammed by glacial rubble to become a fresh-water lake. There are boat trips on the loch and walks on the forestry trails beside it; look for otters and eagles. The wooded islets contain remnants of Scotland's primeval forest. None of the surrounding hills count as "Munroes" but several are "Corbetts".

Do

 * Walks include
 * The Village: from the red phone box on the main road, start towards the top of the village, but take the first right down a bumpy track. This is the "backtrack". Follow the path down and across the foot bridge. When you reach the tarmac road, turn right and follow the road to the pier. At the pier, take the shore path to the left, and you will end up at the Glenfinnan House Hotel. Walk across the front of the lawn, and you will find yourself upon the road again. Straight across the road, there is a footpath leading up to the church. You will have to cross someone's drive to carry on here. At the church there is a fantastic view of the loch. At the church car park, and the main road, you can either take a right down to the bottom of the village and the glen, or take a left to take you back to the top of the village. The main road in the village is single track and has some beautiful little beaches if you just step off the road.
 * The Loch: from the Monument take the path left around the loch to come onto its east shore. An old bridge takes you over the River Callop where there's a choice of routes. You could go east, inland, on the trail besides that river up towards Callop village and glen. Or stay on the lochside heading south, using the Forestry dirt road that goes all the way to Polloch. Further trails ascend above Polloch towards Strontian on Loch Sunart: this would be a serious expedition with an overnight bivvy.
 * The Glen: park at the foot of the glen. There's a tarmac road up the glen but only the residents up there may drive it. The road leads under the viaduct, and parallels the river up as far as the bothy, 4 miles, before giving out into hill trails. Various swimming spots and views along the way.
 * Swim: Loch Shiel at the foot of the village is rocky and shallow to begin with, then widens with a sandy bottom. Strong swimmers can get to the island and back. Obvious but please remember: it's fresh water so you don't float as well as in the sea. And it's not as warm as it looks, especially in early summer when the water temperature takes a month or two to follow the air temperature, so it's still March in there. The River Finnan, up the glen, is quieter and has pools to splosh in.
 * Golf: the nearest course is Traigh GC in Arisaig.
 * Glenfinnan Highland Gathering is held on the August weekend closest to the 19th, the anniversary of raising the Jacobite standard. Games involve athletics, wrestling, piping and dancing, caber-tossing, and much swirling of kilts. The event is held on Jacobite Monument Field, prominent on the left as you enter the village coming from Fort William. The event is 11:30AM-5PM, with a hill race in the afternoon, and in the evening the Games Dance.

Buy

Glenfinnan has no big shops. Stock up on essentials in Fort William, for instance at Aldi or Farmfoods on the main road north side of town. The museum has a small gift shop.

Eat

 * Glenfinnan House Hotel and The Prince's House (see below) have good restaurants open to non-residents.

Drink
Both hotel bars are open to non-residents, with a wide selection of alcohol, bar meals and soft drinks.

Connect
As of July 2023, Glenfinnan has 4G from all UK carriers, but the signal is patchy along A830 from Fort William, and it dies out west towards Arisaig. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Fort William 17 miles east is the nearest town of any size. It's at the foot of Ben Nevis, for climbing, skiing and mountain biking.
 * Good beaches in the vicinity are Glenuig (17 miles, go west to Lochailort then left towards Acharacle), Camusdarach (21 miles, take straggly old road after Arisaig) and Silver Sands (Morar, approaching Mallaig).
 * Skye is reached by ferry from Mallaig to Armadale, otherwise take the toll-free bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh.
 * The Small Isles of Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna have year-round ferries from Mallaig, and summer boat-trips from Arisaig.
 * Ardnamurchan, the most westerly part of the mainland of Great Britain, is in many ways more remote than the islands. Drive west to Lochailort, follow the road south along the coast to Kilchoan and continue west until the road runs out.

title: Glenfinnan


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Glengarriff

Glengarriff (Gleann Garbh, "rough glen") is a village at the base of the Beara Peninsula of County Cork in southwest Ireland. It's in an inlet of Bantry Bay, and became a tourist resort in the late 19th century. In those days tourists arrived by paddle steamer, and there was no road across the hills to Kerry until a tunnel was hand-hewn through. The resident population in 2016 was 138.

Get in
Bus Éireann 236 runs from Cork bus station via Bandon, Enniskeane, Dunmanway, Drimoleague and Bantry, taking 2 hr 20 min to Glengarriff. There are four M-F, three Sa and two on Sunday; two buses per day continue to Castletownbere. The service as far as Bantry is every 90 min or so, so at a pinch you could take the bus there then a taxi for the last 17 km.

In July and Aug, Bus 282 runs a triangle across the hills from Kenmare in County Kerry. It runs in the morning from Kenmare to Glengarriff (45 min) and Castletownbere, then via Ardgroom, Laragh and Dawros back to Kenmare; then the reverse triangle in the afternoon. Kenmare also has buses to Killarney; but the 282 doesn't run Sep-Jun.

By road follow N71, which runs from Bantry to Glengarriff then to Kenmare in County Kerry. R572 winds along the coast to Castletownbere.

With your own boat, Glengarriff harbour has safe anchorage.

Get around
The gardens and forest reserve can be reached on foot. It would be a very long hike to Barley Lake, but a firm trail for a mountain bike.

Harbour Queen Ferries sail from Glengarriff Harbour to Garinish Island gardens. They sail Apr-Oct daily, every 30 min from 9:45AM to 3:45PM, with the last return from the island at 5:30PM. The crossing takes 10-15 min, the boats sometimes meander round islets where seals are hauled out. No booking; the fare, adult return €10, does not include admission to the gardens. Dogs and wheelchairs can be carried.

Blue Pool Ferry and Lady Ellen Ferry have similar schedules and fares.

You need a car to explore the Beara peninsula on both the Cork and Kerry sides. Local taxi firms are Billy Downey +353 87 297 1837 and Donal Harrington +353 27 63 564 / 86 105 0828.

See

 * is the inlet where the Glengarriff River flows into the bay, and the adjacent wooded parkland south side of the village. Like the Danube, it's only blue by reflected light, and the water is usually dark brown from moorland run-off into the river if it's been raining, which is often. Some boats to Garinish Island sail from here, others from the harbour.
 * Church of the Sacred Heart (Roman Catholic) is at the west end of the village.
 * has semi-tropical plants similar to Ilnacullin. It's open daily all year 9:15AM-7PM, adult / child €5, dogs permitted.
 * is 1000 acres of sessile oak and birch forest. The glen was first systematically planted in the 18th century; in the 20th it was planted with conifers for logging, but since the 1970s was restored with oak. The main entrance is 2 km from the village on N71 towards Kenmare, but there are multiple access points. There are way-marked trails but no vending or toilets, and barbecues are not permitted. The forest is free to access 24 hours.
 * is a sculpture garden on N71 higher up the valley. It's open June-Aug daily 10AM-18:00, adult €7.50, child €6. Assistance dogs only. The trails are steep and unsuitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
 * is a corrie lake west of the forest. A steep winding lane leads to the corrie rim: you don't need 4WD in dry conditions, but don't bring a bulky vehicle. Otherwise hike.
 * , 180 m long, takes N71 under the crest of the hills into County Kerry, framing the view as you emerge. It's only 3.65 m high so large vehicles can't pass through. See Kenmare for sights on the Kerry side.
 * Beara Peninsula: see Castletownbere for sights further west all the way to Dursey Island.
 * Sheep's Head is the peninsula south across the bay. See Bantry for sights there.
 * Sheep's Head is the peninsula south across the bay. See Bantry for sights there.

Do

 * Outdoors Ireland is a centre for land-based activities such as rock-climbing, and sea-kayaking and canoeing. They're next to Eccles Hotel and open daily 6AM-9PM.
 * Glengarriff Golf Club is on N71 1.5 km east of the village. It's a nine hole course, two circuits makes 4514 yards, par 66, visitors fee €20. The actress Maureen O'Hara (1920-2015) came to live in this area and promoted the club, establishing an annual tournament.
 * Beara Way (Slí Bhéara) is a 206-km walking circuit from Glengarriff to Castletownbere, Dursey Island, Kenmare and back to Glengarriff.
 * West Cork Sailing Centre is at Adrigole to the west, see Castletownbere.
 * The Wild Atlantic Way is a driving route from Cork to Donegal. The local section is obvious, following the coast road from Bantry to Castletownbere and Dursey Island then north side of the peninsula to Kenmare.
 * Don't squish a slug unless you're sure it's not the rare, protected Kerry slug, found only in this area and around Finisterre in Iberia. See County Kerry for details, the yellow spots identify them.
 * Jim Dowling Uilleann Pipe and Trad Festival is in June.

Buy

 * Quill's Woollen Market in village centre has a wide selection of knitware (e.g., Aran sweaters) and gifts. Its open M-Sa 9AM-7PM, Su 10AM-7PM.
 * Spar (O'Shea's) on Main Street stocks essentials and groceries.

Eat

 * Black Cat opposite Casey's on Main St does fish & chips, pizza and so on.
 * Lahori Kebab next to Casey's also does pizza and fish & chips as well as kebabs. Cash only, and open M-Th 4-11:30PM, F-Su 3PM-midnight.
 * Lahori Kebab next to Casey's also does pizza and fish & chips as well as kebabs. Cash only, and open M-Th 4-11:30PM, F-Su 3PM-midnight.

Sleep

 * O'Shea's is a basic but clean campsite right next to the Glengarriff Park.
 * Humming Bird aka Blue Pool Hostel was closed in 2020. Murphy's Hostel has closed permanently.
 * Humming Bird aka Blue Pool Hostel was closed in 2020. Murphy's Hostel has closed permanently.

Connect
As of March 2023, Glengarriff has 4G from Three and Vodafone, but no signal from Eir. Coverage is patchy along the approach roads. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Castletownbere is in the west of the peninsula, an area dotted with prehistoric stones and small islands.
 * Bantry to the east is the obvious base for the Beara peninsula south. Come this way also for Gougane Barra monastic site up in the hills.
 * Kenmare in County Kerry, north across the ridge, brings you to Killarney and the Ring of Kerry.

title: Glengarriff


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Glen Innes

Glen Innes is a town (population 6,155 in 2016) in the New England region of New South Wales in Australia.

Understand
The indigenous Ngarabal people are the original inhabitants of the district, they called the site of the town 'Gindaaydjin' which means 'plenty of big round stones on the clear plains'. The first farm in the district was established in 1838, and two stockmen (livestock workers) known as 'The Beardies' (because of their long beards) worked on this farm and helped other settlers establish their farms, which led to the district being known as 'The Land of The Beardies' to this day. Glen Innes was gazetted as a town and the first lots of land in the town were sold in 1852. Tin was discovered at nearby Emmaville and the railway arrived in 1884 (now closed). Wool, sheep, and beef cattle are the main agricultural industries, and sapphires are found in the creeks.

Glen Innes is the main centre of the Glen Innes Severn Shire Local Government Area.

By car
Glen Innes is on the junction of the New England Highway (A15) and the Gwydir Highway (B76).

It is 98 km north of Armidale via the New England Highway travelling through Guyra, and 91.5 km south of Tenterfield via the New England Highway travelling through Deepwater (the turn-off to Emmaville).

Glen Innes is 161 km west of Grafton via the Gwydir Highway (B76), and 67 km east of Inverell via the Gwydir Highway (B76).

Armidale to Tenterfield
A NSW Trainlink coach service runs between Tenterfield and Armidale to catch the long-distance trains to Sydney. Coaches stop at the Glen Innes Visitors Information Centre.

Southbound coaches depart Tenterfield M-Su 5:40AM, depart Glen Innes 7AM, and arrive at Armidale Railway Station 8:20AM. Northbound coaches depart Armidale Railway Station M-Su 5:50PM, depart Glen Innes 7:18PM, and arrive at Tenterfield 8:28PM.

A map and timetable can be downloaded here. Bookings are essential.

Grafton to Moree
A NSW Trainlink coach service runs between Grafton and Moree. Coaches stop at the Glen Innes Visitors Information Centre.

The eastbound service (Route 142) departs Moree M W F 10:55AM, arrives at Inverell 12:55PM and departs 1:40PM, arrives at Glen Innes 2:36PM, and arrives at Grafton 4:40PM. The westbound service (Route 141) departs Grafton Tu Th Sa 10:20AM, arrives at Glen Innes 12:25PM, arrives at Inverell 1:15PM and departs 2:15PM, and arrives at Moree 4:10PM. Note the alternating direction of travel on alternating days, and no services on a Sunday.

A map and timetable can be downloaded here.

Bookings are essential - Coach drivers do not take payment or offer reservations.

Brisbane-Glen Innes
There are no longer any direct coach services between Brisbane and Glen Innes.

By plane
The nearest airports with regular scheduled services are at Inverell and Armidale.

Get around
Private transport is the most convenient way to get around Glen Innes, and essential to explore the surrounding district. There is no local bus service in the town.

There is a car rental agency in Glen Innes.

In and near town

North-west

 * Town Hall and other heritage buildings in the town centre
 * Churches

Do

Public toilets

Go next

 * Deepwater - north of Glen Innes: 41 km via New England Highway (A15) northbound (28 min)
 * Tenterfield - north of Glen Innes: 92 km via New England Highway (A15) northbound, through Deepwater (1 hr 2 min)
 * Stanthorpe (Queensland) - north of Glen Innes: 148 km via New England Highway (A15) northbound, through Deepwater, through Tenterfield, pass the Bruxner Highway turn-off on the left, cross the state border through Wallangarra, through Glen Aplin, at the large roundabout turn right onto Wallangarra Road, continue into Stanthorpe (1 hr 55 min)
 * Grafton - east of Glen Innes: 160 km via Gwydir Highway (B76) eastbound (1 hr 53 min)
 * Guyra - south of Glen Innes: 61 km via New England Highway (A15) southbound (43 min)
 * Armidale - south of Glen Innes: 98 km via New England Highway (A15) southbound, through Guyra, at the roundabout on the outskirts of Armidale turn right/south onto Glen Innes Road (1 hr 9 min)
 * Tamworth - south-west of Glen Innes: 208 km via New England Highway (A15) southbound, through Guyra, through Armidale, through Uralla, through Bendemeer, continue ahead to Tamworth (2 hr 25 min)
 * Inverell - west of Glen Innes: 68 km via Gwydir Highway (B76) westbound (46 min)
 * Moree - west of Glen Innes: 208 km via Gwydir Highway (B76) westbound, through Inverell, through Delungra (2 hr 22 min)
 * Emmaville - north-west of Glen Innes: 66.5 km via New England Highway (A15) northbound, before Deepwater turn left/west onto Wellington Vale Road, continue ahead into Emmaville (45 min)

title: Glen Innes


text:
Glen Mills

Glen Mills is an unincorporated community in Concord township and Middletown township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, in the United States of America.

Understand
Glen Mills is in Delaware County about 17 miles (27 km) from Philadelphia. Glen Mills is known for its gardens and its golf course. Major offices including Deloitte with a approximately 100 people operating from there.

History
The area around Glen Mills was part of the original land grant given to William Penn in 1681. George Cheyney was the first settler here, for which the nearby town of Cheyney is named. Later, this land was sold and divided. The name Glen Mills is taken from two paper mills built by the Willcox family, one in 1835 and the second in 1846. From 1864 to 1878, these mills supplied the United States government with a special, patented paper for the printing of government bonds and notes.

The Glen Mills are no longer, but the grist mill built by Nathaniel Newlin in 1704 still stands, and is a popular destination for picnickers and history buffs alike. A blacksmith shop was built on the former property in 1975.

A "wild west" themed restaurant/roadside attraction known as "The Longhorn Ranch" operated in Glen Mills during the 1960s. In the 1980s, that same site was the location of Pulsations nightclub. The site is now a retirement community.

A Glen Mills resident, pilot Michael R. Horrocks, died in the September 11, 2001 attacks. He was the first officer on Flight 175, the second plane to hit the World Trade Center.

Get in
Glen Mills is 17 miles from Philadelphia and is easily accessible by cab from the Philadelphia International Airport or by train. Septa Regional Rail offers a stop minutes from Glen Mills at the Wawa station.

Get around
Glen Mills is widely known for its beautiful bike routes and many competitive bicyclists can be seen daily. However, since Glen Mills is somewhat a rural area, driving a car is the best and easiest way to get around.

Do

 * The rich colonial history and nature in the area can easily spark the interest of any traveler. Glen Mills has a number of parks and is best known for its vibrant and untouched nature.  Local children and families are often seen spending time outdoors.  Glen Mills also is nearby Ridley Creek State Park, here there are hiking trails and places picnic.
 * Golf, a very popular sport in the area can be enjoyed at the award winning Golf Course at Glen Mills, which was designed by Bobby Weed and is connected to the Glen Mills Schools (GMS). GMS claims to be the oldest residential facility for troubled youth in the United States and the golf facility is used to train students in golf operations and turf management. The Golf Course at Glen Mills is a spectacular 6,636 yd., par 71 course.  The Golf Course at Glen Mills was nationally ranked in the Top 10, and No. 1 in Pennsylvania  by Golf Digest as a new, upscale daily fee golf course in 2001.  Also at the course, is a grill room that offers breakfast and lunch, a club house, and a pro shop.
 * Farmer's Markets: An ear of corn or fresh tomato could improve your health, the community and the environment. Pete's Produce is a local favorite and a summer hot spot.
 * There are many seasonal and holiday related events hosted by the township of Glen Mills. During the fall season there is a pumpkin patch event.  On the 4th of July there is a large community oriented parade.  Much of the events that take place at Glen Mills include the involvement of the local community.
 * - located in Glen Mills

Buy
There are many shopping districts and strip malls in and around Glen Mills. Since Glen Mills is an upper middle class area, there are constantly new places to shop appearing.

Eat
There are many places to eat in Glen Mills, it all depends on what you're craving as the variety is very wide.

Drink

 * Many of the restaurants of Glen Mills are also bars and provide wonderful drinking atmospheres. Most notably is Duffer's.
 * Just a few minutes from Glen Mills is the town of West Chester, which is widely known for being a college town and therefore has several bars and a thriving night life.
 * Just a few minutes from Glen Mills is the town of West Chester, which is widely known for being a college town and therefore has several bars and a thriving night life.

Sleep

 * Since Glen Mills is a part of the greater Philadelphia area, there are many hotels and places to stay that are just a short drive away from Glen Mills. However, to immerse yourself entirely into the beauty of Glen Mills, there are local bed and breakfast accommodations available.

Go next

 * It is easy to find a way out of Glen Mills, simply use a train or rent a car.

title: Glen Mills


text:
Glenn County

Glenn County is in the Sacramento Valley region of California.

Understand
Glenn County was formed in 1891 from parts of Colusa County. The county was named after prominent citizen Hugh J. Glenn, who was the state's largest wheat farmer at the time. Today the county remains an agricultural area, with a population of just 29,000 operating nearly 1200 farms that produce rice, almonds, milk products, prunes and livestock.

Get in
The primary north-south route through the county is Interstate 5, which travels from Sacramento northwards towards Redding, Oregon and Washington.

Go next

 * - Glenn County's northern neighbor, Tehama County has a quintessentially "western" feel, with most county residents employed in ranching, timber or farming, and most tourists drawn to the region for fishing, boating, hiking, and other outdoor activities. The county's largest town, Red Bluff, has a population of only about 15,000 inhabitants, but hosts the Red Bluff Round-Up, one of the west's largest annual rodeos, each spring.  While there are numerous streams and rivers, the Sacramento River is the largest, intersecting the county and offering excellent fishing for rainbow trout, king salmon, chinook salmon, steelhead, smallmouth bass, sturgeon, and striped bass.
 * - Named for the Marysville Buttes that are actually found in neighboring Sutter County, Glenn County's eastern neighbor is a rural destination featuring rolling hills, rivers, and large agricultural areas. The town of Chico is a college town that is home to many excellent restaurants, massive Bidwell Park, and the National Yo-Yo Museum.  The town of Oroville boasts a downtown area that dates back to the Gold Rush, and is now home to America's tallest dam (tours available), behind which sits a reservoir that is enjoyed by boaters and hikers.  Further afield, 410 ft tall Feather Falls rewards hikers willing to traverse the 8 mi loop trail.
 * - Located south of Glenn County, visitors to rural Colusa County will find an abundance of rice fields and almond trees, but a limited number of amenities and attractions. Sights that may be of interest include four national wildlife refuges, as well as the Colusa County Courthouse in the town of Colusa, which was erected in 1861 and is the oldest remaining courthouse in the Sacramento Valley.
 * - Rural Lake County lies southwest of Glenn County and is named after Clear Lake, a body of water that is believed to be 2.5 million years old and thus the oldest lake in North America. The lake is sometimes called the "Bass Capital of the West", and its 100 miles of shoreline offer ample opportunity for fishing, boating, swimming and birdwatching. The county is also home to the Clear Lake Volcanic Field, a region that includes lava domes, cinder cones, the 4,305 foot tall volcano Mount Konocti, and the world's largest geothermal field with more than twenty geothermal power plants.
 * - Lying halfway between San Francisco and the Oregon border, Glenn County's western neighbor boasts redwood forests, wineries, breweries, and remote, untouched coastline. In addition to its natural features, the county is home to the largest Buddhist Temple in the Western Hemisphere, the 400+ acre City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in Ukiah.  The  Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, located near Fort Bragg, is a 47 acre public garden with oceanside views.  While hikers and backpackers will find no shortage of options, those looking for less strenuous ways to enjoy the scenery can ride the Skunk Train, a railroad that has been in operation since 1885 and takes riders 40 miles through old growth forests and across historic trestles between Fort Bragg and Willits.

title: Glenn County


text:
Glenorchy

Glenorchy is a little town in at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu, near Queenstown in New Zealand.

Understand

 * Glenorchy Information Centre & Store, Mull St (at Glenorchy Hotel), +64 3 409-2049, info@glenorchyinfocentre.co.nz. Track, weather and activity information and maps. Track transport bookings. Mountain bike and fishing rod hire, fishing supplies, groceries.

Get in

 * Regular shuttle service from the Info Centre in Queenstown is available.

Get around

 * There is no public transport, however the town can easily be traversed by foot. The locals are friendly enough to hitch a ride with as well.

See

 * The sun rise over the lake and mountains.

Do

 * Tandem skydive with Skydive Paradise, 12,000ft or 15,000ft, photos & videos available.
 * Horse Riding. Dart Stables and High Country Horses offer guided tours along the Rees and Dart rivers.
 * Ski. Head out to the privately owned Invincible Snowfields via helicopter and enjoy the small groups as you stay in an alpine hut. +64 3 442 9933.
 * Ski. Head out to the privately owned Invincible Snowfields via helicopter and enjoy the small groups as you stay in an alpine hut. +64 3 442 9933.
 * Ski. Head out to the privately owned Invincible Snowfields via helicopter and enjoy the small groups as you stay in an alpine hut. +64 3 442 9933.

Tramping
Glenorchy is the jumping off point for a number of tracks. Purchase hut tickets from the Department of Conservation (DOC) office in town. On the Great Walks prices range from $10-45, and the other tracks' huts range from $5-35. Camping is only allowed in designated areas and often campers are not permitted to use the hut facilities. Be sure to register with the DOC before leaving on any tramp as this will be your best method of someone noticing that you haven't returned and starting a search.

 * Routeburn Track. One of the DOC's Great Walks. 32 km through Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks. Not a circuit track, so take this into consideration. However hiking from the Glenorchy end of the track you could link it with the Caples or Greenstone tracks to keep a base out of Glenorchy. The Routeburn takes an average of 3 days, 2 nights to complete. Peak season is late October to late April and bookings are required. During peak season the huts are supplied with gas cookers, cold running water and some heating. During the off peak season, especially during winter, the track may be impassable.
 * Greenstone-Caples Track. A DOC Major Track. Actually two separate tracks, but often taken together as a circuit. As a circuit the track is a moderate four to five day hike. Either of these tracks could be linked with the Routeburn as well or simply walked in one direction.
 * Rees-Dart Track. A DOC Major Track. A moderately demanding circuit track taking four to five days of six to eight hours of walking. The fifth day is added if an extra day trip to the Dart Glacier is taken. Mt Earnslaw (Pikirakatahi) and Slip Stream (Te Koroka) are Töpuni (sacred) sites of the Ngāi Tāhu Maori tribe. This track can also be linked to the Cascade Saddle track, but is suggested only for very experienced trampers.

Eat

 * Glenorchy Hotel. Fully licensed restaurant with a stone fireplace and terrace deck. New Zealand cuisine and NZ wines, takeaway menu. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Groups welcome. Sky TV and News channels.
 * Kinloch Lodge. Overlooking Lake Wakatipu, Kinloch lodge has a cosy Heritage restaurant and deck ideal for a meal during the day, or as a special treat in the evening.  Specialty local foods, platters, hearty specials and an unbeaten ambiance.

Drink

 * Glenorchy Hotel. Enjoy a beer and a game of pool with the locals. Happy Hour. wireless Internet, Bottle Shop, free car parking. info@glenorchynz.com
 * Kinloch Lodge. Excellent New Zealand wine list.  Enjoy this overlooking Lake Wakatipu watching the changing colours of the mountains as the sun sets.

Sleep

 * Blanket Bay, +64 3 442-0115. An alpine mountain lodge with world class features.
 * Breitenbergers Guest House, +64 3 441-2126, +64 27 650 3322, +64 21 142 122. Five km north of Glenorchy.
 * Little Paradise Lodge, +64 3 442-6196.
 * Mount Earnslaw Motel, +64 3 442-6993. Seven studio units with full kitchens.
 * Little Paradise Lodge, +64 3 442-6196.
 * Mount Earnslaw Motel, +64 3 442-6993. Seven studio units with full kitchens.

title: Glenorchy


text:
Glenrio

Glenrio is a ghost town that is partially in the Texas Panhandle and partially in New Mexico.

Understand
It was built a 1903 railroad town on the Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (the tracks were removed in the 1980s), Glenrio served travellers on the Ozark Trail and later Route 66. The highway was realigned onto a freeway bypassing the town in the 1970s. The last businesses closed in 1976.

The now-abandoned post office stands in New Mexico, the rail station was in Texas.

Get in
Glenrio is on a former alignment of US Route 66 which has been bypassed by what is now Interstate 40. The old road still exists slightly to the south of the newer freeway, but turns to gravel upon entering New Mexico. From Interstate 40 in Texas, look for "I-40 Business" or "Exit 0" to leave I-40 for US 66.

Get around
The village, listed as the Glenrio Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007, is abandoned. It is possible to tour on foot but no guides or services are provided.

Buy, eat, drink and sleep
As Glenrio is abandoned as a ghost town, there are no services in the town itself although a highway rest stop (the Glenrio Welcome Center) is provided on westbound I-40 when entering New Mexico. Head west to San Jon or Tucumcari, New Mexico or east to Adrian and Amarillo, Texas.

Go next

 * Route 66
 * Amarillo, Texas
 * Tucumcari, New Mexico

title: Glenrio


text:
Glen Rose

Glen Rose is in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. It is the county seat of Somervell County.

Get in
Glen Rose is located on US-67.

Get around
Glen Rose is best accessed via car.

See

Do

 * - located in Glen Rose

Go next
Fort Worth and Dallas are just over an hour away from Glen Rose.

title: Glen Rose


text:
Glenrowan

Glenrowan is a town on the Hume Highway in Victoria. It is famous for being the location of the last stand of Australian folk hero and bushranger Ned Kelly and thus, is often colloquially called "Ned Kelly town".

Understand
Ned Kelly was an outlaw. A bushranger, who robbed and stole. After two years on the run, he was finally captured in Glenrowan. The police has anticipated his arrival, and laid siege to Ned and his gang at the Glenrowan Inn. He emerged wearing homemade iron armour including a now iconic helmet, and while severely wounded, he was the sole survivor and was captured alive and later executed at Melbourne Gaol.

Posthumously, Ned Kelly has been elevated into an unlikely folk hero and cultural icon, portrayed by some as an Australian Robin Hood standing up against the corrupt and tyrannical police of the time.

Get in
If you are travelling the Hume, the Glenrowan is just a short diversion from the Highway, just 7km south of Wangaratta service station.

No train service stops at Glenrowan, although the line and trains pass through the town. Coaches connect with the station at nearby Wangaratta, from where you can get train services to Albury and Sydney, or to Melbourne.

Get around
Walking. It's so small, that it takes more effort to take your car than walk. Even in hot 40° days.

See

Do
There's nothing to do in Glenrowan, only see.

Eat
There are choice of cafes, restaurants and bakeries.

Drink
There are no pubs in Glenrowan. You need to go to Wangaratta to have your portion of beer.

Sleep
There aren't anywhere where you can stay in Glenrowan. However, on the flipside, accommodation is plentiful in Wangaratta and it's only 7.7km away.

Connect
Telstra, Optus and Vodafone all work here.

Go next

 * Wangaratta is your next obvious spot, and also Victorian premier Dan Andrews' hometown.

title: Glenrowan


text:
Glenties

Glenties (Na Gleannta) is a town in the west of County Donegal, which as its name suggests is at the confluence of two scenic glens. In 2016 its population was 805. Also described here are Ardara (Ard an Rátha, population 732) and the beach resort area around Portnoo and Naran.

Get in
 Donegal Airport has flights from Dublin and Glasgow. You've more choice flying into Derry, Belfast or even Dublin, and hiring a car, which you'll need in these parts.

McGeehan Coach 991 runs twice M-Sa and once in college term on Sunday from Letterkenny to Fintown, (50 min),  and Killybegs. The afternoon bus continues to Kilcar, Carrick and Glencolmcille. It doesn't use Letterkenny bus station but starts just outside from the fish & chips shop by the roundabout.

Bus Éireann 492 runs 2 or 3 times a day from Donegal Town via Killybegs, Ardara and Glenties (1 hour), and continues to Lettermacaward and Dungloe.

The main bus stop in Glenties is on Main St outside Costcutter, and in Ardara at the bend in the road by the Nesbitt Arms.

By road from Letterkenny follow R250 via Fintown. From Donegal Town follow N56 through Killybegs, or in good weather take the scenic shortcut R262 from Mountcharles.

Get around
You need a car, or be a keen cyclist. Don Byrne in Ardara hires bikes, open Tu-Sa 10:00-18:00.

See

 * St Connell's Church (RC) on Mill Rd is a striking building of 1974. The roof slants almost to the ground, is it meant to be a pyramid, tent, dolmen, skateboard ramp or mountain? It won an architecture award, which is not necessarily good news for its users. The C of I church a block west of Main St is a sober affair of 1825.
 * is a small village with a collection of prehistoric megaliths. The three best are Portal Tomb Dg 68 west side of R261, Court Tomb Dg 69 to its north, and the large Portal Tomb Dg 70 on the moor east of the road.
 * is a stone ringfort, age unknown, on an islet in Lough Doon. In 2021 the fort has been closed for conservation work but you can admire it from the shore.
 * can be reached along the lane through Magheragallon. The old signal station is just rubble, but a little way east are the remains of a medieval settlement, with a well-preserved corn-drying kiln.
 * is 12 km from Ardara. It's a long sandy beach and the cliffs are riddled with sea caves: some you can reach on foot from the beach, others you need a kayak. 500 m before the beach car park is Assaranca waterfall. The lane continues up into the hills and after 2 km is Owenree River waterfalls. All these falls are cascades rather than sheer. The lane eventually joins R230 to Glencolmcille.
 * is 12 km from Ardara. It's a long sandy beach and the cliffs are riddled with sea caves: some you can reach on foot from the beach, others you need a kayak. 500 m before the beach car park is Assaranca waterfall. The lane continues up into the hills and after 2 km is Owenree River waterfalls. All these falls are cascades rather than sheer. The lane eventually joins R230 to Glencolmcille.

Do

 * Golf: Narin and Portnoo Links are in Naran F94 F433 on the coast 10 km northwest of Glenties.
 * Fishing on the Owenea River needs a license, which several shops can supply. Sea angling is also available.
 * Canoeing: Gweebarra Canoe Club meet year round on the Gweebarra Estuary, 9 km away.
 * Surf at Dooey Beach, a quiet break with consistent surf.
 * Gaelic games: Naomh Conaill GAA play football at Church Rd, Glenties.
 * Sheskinamore Nature Reserve is a scenic wildlife sanctuary 20 km away, on the Rosbeg Peninsula. It borders two beaches with great views of Donegal Bay.
 * Walks: GAP Trail follows a former bogcutter's railway 2 km outside Glenties, a pleasant short walk.
 * Bluestack Way is more challenging, crossing the Bluestack Mountains from Donegal Town and Lough Eske. From Glenties it continues along River Owenea to Ardara.
 * Slí na Finne is a loop around Fintown Lake and Ballinamore, heading into the Bluestack Mountains and The Croaghs.
 * Back lanes lead from Doochary on the Gweebarra Estuary to Fintown.
 * Bluestack Ramblers often organise walks that visitors can join.
 * Ardara Walking Festival is in March around St Patrick's Day, dates for 2022 are tba.

 * Fiddlers' Weekend is in Glenties at the start of October. The next is probably 31 Sept - 3 Oct 2022, tba.
 * Macgill School is an international series of lectures, based in Glenties but increasingly online. The next is 27-29 Oct 2021.

Buy

 * Glenties has Costcutter, open daily. The Bank of Ireland has an ATM.
 * Ardara has Centra, open daily. Triona sells tweed and knitware on Ardara Main St, open M-Sa 10:30-17:00, Su 12:00-17:00.

Eat

 * Glenties has The Thatch Bar, K2 Spices, Ali's Char Bar and Pal's Pizza.
 * Ardara has Taj, Mickalene's, Great Wall and Charlie's West End Cafe.
 * Portnoo has Michelangelo's within the golf club, and Boyle's Cafe.

Drink

 * Glenties bars include O Faolain, Sonny's, Roddy's and Leo McLoone's.
 * Ardara has The Beehive (below), Corner House, Teague's, Nancy's and Doherty's.
 * Portnoo has Annora, with Barretts 1 km south.
 * Portnoo has Annora, with Barretts 1 km south.

Sleep

 * Ardara B&Bs also include Drumbarron House.
 * Ardara B&Bs also include Drumbarron House.
 * Ardara B&Bs also include Drumbarron House.
 * Ardara B&Bs also include Drumbarron House.
 * Ardara B&Bs also include Drumbarron House.
 * Ardara B&Bs also include Drumbarron House.
 * Ardara B&Bs also include Drumbarron House.

Connect
As of Aug 2021, Glenties and Ardara have 4G from all Irish carriers, though the signal is patchy away from the towns. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Glencolmcille west on the peninsula has prehistoric and early Christian sites.
 * Donegal Town is the main base for exploring the south of the county.
 * Dungloe is on the rugged "Rosses" coast.

title: Glenties


text:
Glenveagh National Park

Glenveagh National Park is in the Derryveagh Mountains in County Donegal. It was established in 1984 as the third of the six National Parks of the Republic of Ireland.

History
The Great Glen Fault cracked across Highland Scotland and Donegal when continents collided and scraped past each other 400 million years ago. Those continents later separated, forming the Atlantic, and the fault line continues in Newfoundland and the Gulf of St Lawrence. The lateral slippage is about 100 km and, although its great disruptions have ended, minor earth tremors still occur. The Donegal section is called the Leannan Fault, slicing through the granite Derryveagh Mountains. This was a line of weakness for glaciers to grind and carve away at, creating the U-shaped Glenveagh. The last Ice Age (the "Devensian") about 25,000 years ago covered all of Ireland and most of Great Britain in a single ice sheet. Donegal was its last redoubt, ice-clad until 14,000 years ago, and inhospitable tundra for another 3000 years. The area then warmed rapidly and became cloaked in a forest of conifer then deciduous trees, especially oak which in Irish is doire. Early settlers found a poor soil for farming but they had many uses for oak, chopping and sawing away to build houses in Doire, anglicised as "Derry".

Modern agriculture and industry developed across Ireland from the 17th century but had little effect on Donegal. People drifted away from the land even in the good years, then came the Great Famine from 1847. Those that could fled, those that couldn't perished. The landowners mostly survived but were bankrupted. Opportunity! - all across Ireland and Scotland there were estates going cheap, which could be made profitable through sheep farming, forestry, hunting and tourism. One such opportunist was "Black Jack" John George Adair (1823-1885) from Laois. Already rich from North American land speculation, from 1857 he bought several small "distressed" estates which he combined to form Glenveagh. Now it only remained to clear away the unwanted peasant population and build a grand mock-castle to rival Balmoral. He was soon in conflict with his tenants, who murdered his steward. Right! - so if that's their game! Black Jack earned his soubriquet over two bleak days in April 1861, when 85 tenants and their 159 children were evicted and their homes destroyed. Many of them were later assisted by charity to emigrate to Australia, but others languished in the workhouse. It's not clear how many died. Glenveagh Castle was built from 1870 to 1873 in baronial style, a cod-medieval four-storey rectangular keep. Adair meanwhile continued his interests in America, where he married a wealthy widow Cornelia Wadsworth Ritchie, and he established the JA Ranch in the Texas panhandle. He was a blundering huntsman, once blasting his own horse instead of a buffalo, but he was a role model for hundreds of wannabe Prince Alberts and fish-shooting Dundrearies of that era. He died in 1885 and is buried at Rathdaire near Portlaoise, but his wife continued to develop the estate for hunting. Cornelia was remembered as a kind and generous person; she died in 1921 during the "Troubles". The castle then nearly joined the many mansions torched by nationalists, but a bunch of anti-Treaty IRA occupants were chased out by Irish government forces, who used the place as a garrison for three years.

The next owner from 1929 was Arthur Kingsley Porter, of Harvard, an Indiana Jones-like dashing archaeologist. In 1933 he disappeared from Inishbofin, the little island off the nearby north coast. Given his reputation this was bigged-up as a mystery, but "it was a dark and stormy night" and he obviously drowned. The last private owner, from 1937, was Henry Plummer McIlhenny of Philadelphia, whose family were from Donegal; he's best known for his fabulous art collection. He sold much of the estate to the Irish government in 1975 to enable the creation of a National Park. In 1981 he made a gift of the castle itself and its gardens, and the park has been added to since by further purchases.

Landscape
The core of the park is the glen of Lough Beagh or Veagh, draining southwest to northeast. The lake is 6.5 km long by 0.8 km wide and at low altitude, 45 m. The U-shaped valley rises steeply on both sides and is flanked to the south by the similar valley of Loughs Gartan and Akibbon, beyond the park boundary. The Derryveagh mountains here rise to 300 m and continue southwest, with the highest peak Errigal (751 m) also beyond the park. So nowhere is very high, but it's enough at this latitude to make a difference to the climate and scenery. The attraction of the park, to the likes of Adair and to modern visitors, is not its extremes but its contrasts, with the castle and its genteel gardens set abruptly against the crags. The park consists of nearly 170 sq km (65 sq miles) of mountains, lakes, glens, woods and heath. Several areas beyond it enjoy similar protection, such as Lough Barra Bog.

Flora and fauna
The park is home to a large herd of red deer, which spend summer on the high ground then move down in cold or stormy weather. They chomp the young growth, so some parts of the wood are fenced off to protect trees, ferns and moss.

Always keep a lookout for eagles, though sightings are not common. The most frequently encountered bird on the uplands is the Meadow Pipit, with Stonechats, Grouse, Ravens and occasional Peregrines and Merlins. Woodland birds include Siskins, Treecreepers, Wood Warblers and Crossbills. The peat bogs to the west support Curlew and Dunlin and migratory geese.

Climate
It's never extreme, but it can be wet and cold even at the height of summer, and mist and fog can descend very quickly.

Get in
The park is 24 km northwest of Letterkenny. Follow N56 north to Termon then R255 west, signed for Dunlewey and the park, to come onto R251.

Local Link Bus 271 runs from Letterkenny to Churchill and the (40 min), and continues to Dunlewey, Crolly, Loughanure, Dungloe and Burtonport to meet the Arranmore ferry. There are three buses M-Th and five F Sa.

Fees and permits
There is no charge to enter the park, or for car-parking, or for the gardens; see above for bus.

The castle is visited by guided tour, closed in 2021. Admission is adult €7, conc €5.

You can also pay €7 for a guided tour of the garden or a guided walk.

Get around
Cars are not allowed beyond the Visitor Centre and car park (which has an EV charge point). From there to the castle is 3.5 km so a 40 min walk would do it.

A shuttle bus runs to the Castle, buy tickets from the Visitor Centre, adult €3 return. In 2021 this is running with greatly reduced capacity.

A walkers' bus runs past the castle to the head of the glen, leaving the Centre at 10:00 Sa Su year-round. It's €3 single.

See

 * The Gardens are next to the castle, open all year dawn to dusk, admission free. The Pleasure Garden and the Walled Garden were laid out in the 1880s and successive owners further embellished the estate. There are now over 11 hectares of informal gardens of different themes. Come in May / June for rhododendrons or in August for best colour in the Walled Garden. Autumn colours are dramatic once the nights grow cold.
 * The viewpoint is reached by a path starting 200 m before the castle, zigzagging up the hill then along the ridge.
 * The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is the park's signature beast. They were hunted to extinction in Ireland by 1912, but reintroduced into the park in 2001. It took until 2007 for the first native-born eagle to hatch and take flight. As of 2021 none are confirmed as nesting in the park, but they are being seen elsewhere in Ireland, ranging over great distances, maybe 30 birds in total. A minimum viable population is reckoned to be 60 eagles so they remain "red-listed" but it looks as though they're becoming established. Both sexes are dark brown but paler than other raptors, especially on the nape, and they are silent. They are distinctly large and hungry birds, as the rabbits know to their cost.
 * The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is the park's signature beast. They were hunted to extinction in Ireland by 1912, but reintroduced into the park in 2001. It took until 2007 for the first native-born eagle to hatch and take flight. As of 2021 none are confirmed as nesting in the park, but they are being seen elsewhere in Ireland, ranging over great distances, maybe 30 birds in total. A minimum viable population is reckoned to be 60 eagles so they remain "red-listed" but it looks as though they're becoming established. Both sexes are dark brown but paler than other raptors, especially on the nape, and they are silent. They are distinctly large and hungry birds, as the rabbits know to their cost.

Do

 * The park suggests some half-a-dozen walking trails, which are way-marked.
 * There are no watersports on the lough, head for Dunlewey in Gweedore.
 * Fishing on the lough is by boat, no bank fishing allowed. The season is 15 July to 30 Sept and you need to buy a permit. There are brown and sea-trout and the occasional salmon.

Eat

 * Synge & Bryne tearooms at the park entrance are open daily April-Oct 09:30-17:00 then Sa Su Nov-March. In late 2021 they only do take-away.
 * Spill the Beans is a mobile coffee shop in the layby 500 m south of the entrance. It's open April-Oct F-Su 10:00-17:00.
 * Glenveagh restaurant and tearooms at the castle are open April-Sept daily 10:00-17:00. In 2021 the restaurant is closed but the tearooms are open for takeaway.

Sleep
There is no camping allowed within the park.

Connect
As of Sept 2021, there is only a patchy mobile signal in this area. Vodafone covers the highway R251 and up the valley to the castle, Three only covers the highway, and you'll be lucky to get any signal from Eir.

Go next

 * R251 west from the park entrance takes you to Dunlewey, Gweedore and the west coast.
 * R256 northwest off R251 heads for the north coast around Falcarragh.
 * Southeast on R251 sets you on the road to Letterkenny.

title: Glenveagh National Park


text:
Glenview

Glenview is a town of some 45,000 people in suburban Cook County, Illinois, part of the Chicagoland area. Once home to the Glenview Naval Air Station, the 1,121-acre facility was turned over to the local government and was redeveloped as The Glen, one of Glenview's prime residential and commercial areas.

By car
The Edens Expressway (I-94) passes along the east side of Glenview. The nearest major cities served by this expressway are Chicago to the south and Milwaukee to the north.

Train operators

 * Train operators with service to Glenview include:
 * PACE
 * Metra (Milwaukee District/North line)
 * Train routes stopping in Glenview:
 * Hiawatha has 6 to 7 daily round trips between Milwaukee Downtown Intermodal Station and Chicago with stops along the way at Milwaukee Airport-Trains station, Sturtevant (7 miles west of Racine), and Glenview. Taking this train offers the quickest travel time from Chicago, power outlets at your seat, a quiet car, and snack & beverage service.
 * Empire Builder operating daily between Seattle/Portland and Chicago including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Fargo, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. The trains split into separate branches between Seattle and Spokane, and between Portland and Spokane, while operating as trains consisting of train cars from both branches between Spokane and Chicago. The only stop in Milwaukee is at Milwaukee Downtown Intermodal Station.

Do

 * The Sybaris
 * In addition to its extensive Park District, the Village's east and west sides are bordered by the Cook County Forest Preserves. The western Preserves contain the Des Plaines River and a gravel bike path.  The eastern Preserves contain the North Branch Chicago River, North Branch Bike Trail (paved) and horse riding trails and stables.

Buy
Glenview's Downtown district is located on Glenview Road, between Harlem and Waukegan roads, and is home to many shops and restaurants. The Glen Town Center is an outdoor mall containing a movie theater, shops, and restaurants, located on Patriot blvd. between West Lake and Chestnut. The Glenview Chamber of Commerce has a listing of the businesses located in Glenview.

Drink
Grandpa's Place, Meier's Tavern, Ten Ninety Brewing Co., Macushla Brewing Co.

title: Glenview


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Glenwood Springs

Glenwood Springs is located in the western half of Colorado, United States of America, right where the south central, Front Range, and northwestern regions meet. It is in Garfield County roughly halfway between Vail and Aspen. Resting at about the same elevation as Denver, Glenwood Springs is famous for its hot springs pool.

Understand
Glenwood Springs is located at the confluence of the Colorado River and the Roaring Fork River, in the Roaring Fork Valley. The two rivers shape the town. They provide world-class fly-fishing, whitewater rafting, and now kayaking.

Originally named Defiance, in the late 1800s, the name was changed by settlers from an Iowa town called Glenwood. Many of the nearby towns (Aspen and Leadville) had their booms while Glenwood Springs was yet in its infancy. Glenwood Springs was difficult to reach due to the canyons to the east and west; it was also located on Ute land. The town grew in part thanks to its location on the railroad and the Colorado River.

The local area is surrounded by public lands, especially the White River National Forest, which attracts hunters and campers from great distance. The Grand Mesa is to the west and the Flattops Wilderness area dominate to the North. The Flattops is a very large area offering unlimited high-country exploring. The Four Mile recreation area (to the South-west)offers easier day mountain access favored by locals. Glenwood Springs is a truly great place to access all the Rocky Mountains have to offer.

In terms of culture (and ski-appeal) it is hard to overestimate the role of Aspen. Glenwood Springians may not want to actually live in Aspen, but they do appreciate being able to commute to a cultural mecca.

Up the valley are Carbondale, Basalt, Snowmass and Aspen. To the west are New Castle, Silt and Rifle.

By plane
There is city airport in Glenwood Springs, but it only accommodates small private planes. The Garfield County Airport, between Silt and Rifle is about 40 minutes away. It accommodates larger planes, but does not offer commercial flights.

The closest cities with airports that accommodate commercial flights are:
 * Eagle-Vail (35 minutes... recommended) - this airport is located between Gypsum and Eagle. It offers free parking and is easy to get to from the highway (I-70). In the winter, there are direct flights to some hubs, such as Minneapolis and Dallas.
 * Aspen (45 minutes, tough in traffic and common weather issues) paid parking and not much of it.
 * Grand Junction (80 minutes by car)- this is convenient for travelers heading south and west.

By car
Driving from:
 * Grand Junction. An hour and a half drive east on I-70.
 * Vail. Just over an hour's drive west.
 * Aspen. An hour's drive north.

By train
Amtrak serves Glenwood Springs with the California Zephyr, which runs daily between Emeryville (in the San Francisco Bay Area) and Chicago. The journey from Denver takes about five and a half hours. The scenic route is timed to pass through Glenwood Canyon during daylight hours both eastbound and westbound, and passes through parts of Colorado inaccessible by road. is located on 7th Street.

By bus

 * Bustang links Glenwood Springs with Denver, Frisco, Vail, and Eagle. Bus stops are located at the (Glen Ave/Hwy 82 at 27th St) and the  (Wulfsohn Rd at Midland Ave, west of the Glenwood Meadows shopping center).

Get around
Ride Glenwood Springs is a free bus service that circulates throughout the town every 30 minutes. RFTA Valley buses also traverse most of the town at separate 30 minute intervals. Its fare is based on the number of zones travelled, with free travel within each zone.

VelociRFTA is America's first rural bus rapid transit system. Buses labeled BRT GLENWOOD travel down valley and BRT ASPEN travel up valley.

Buy
Glenwood has a nice shopping area downtown with lots of cute little boutique shops. There is a new mall with a Target, Lowes, Vitamin Cottage, Petco, Pier 1. Make sure you stroll down Cooper Avenue too, which has some nice consignment shops and natural foods store.

Eat
For those seeking fast-food, McDonald's, Wendy's, Taco Bell, etc. can all be found in town. For a change, try the Charcoal Burger on the road between West Glenwood and downtown.

Go next

 * Colorado's Wine Country - Colorado is home to over 70 wineries and its own indigenous vineyards. Wine lovers can enjoy several scenic day trips from Glenwood Springs to many of the small towns that grow their own grapes. These lovely little communities include Montrose, Palisade, Paonia, and Hotchkiss, as well as the city of Grand Junction. Palisade is about 90 minutes away by car.

title: Glenwood Springs