We spent our last 5 days in the Hillsborough area where my cousins, Gwen and Olga, live. Gwen found accommodations for us in our first AirB&B on a farm near her home. It was spacious and beautiful, a remodeled "Barn" opposite the farmhouse.
The B&B rooms are in the far end with bedroom and bath dormers and most of the downstairs is a huge kitchen with a table that would seat 12. We loved hosting 2 family teas with plenty of room for all 7 of us. The laundry is in one end of the shed- an old farm building I loved.
The views of the neighboring farms were a special delight in the early morning and at sunset. Walking the farm lanes filled me with joy!
The dovecote photo I shared in my Christmas blog is from the garage wall that adjoins the 'Barn".
We did manage to break away from this lovely farm to take a walk in Hillsborough, a fine little village where the Queen resides when in Ireland. Here we are at the Old Fort with Gwen's husband, Darrell.
We had a lovely lunch at the Parson's Nose Pub. Just too hard deciding what to eat. I love pub food!
We met Olga for some shopping at Marks and Spencer's and had a wonderful visit at her house. She even demonstrated how her fireplace heats a boiler that sends hot water to the radiators throughout the house. Olga and Neville visited my sister, Jane in Portland last summer and Neville's cousin in Bozeman, MT. We had great fun hearing about their trip that included 2 days in Yellowstone. We just wish we had been there when they were. C'est la vie!!
The Mourne Mountains meet the sea in Newcastle about 45 mins. from Hillsborough. A new Beachwalk makes it even more beautiful. Our day there was perfect! I even got a picture of Gwen and Darrell together!
Gwen and I also loved a weekend walk in the park with the leaves crunching beneath our feet. Our time in Ireland is always too short! I can't get enough of all the love we share with the family and the
beauty at every turn!
