Ireland day 0954. Thursday 09 May 2024- Exploring

Today’s summary	Had a two hour video catch up with a friend in the UK first thing, then went on a walk out to the West of Malahide to check out some of the parks and paths that I hadn’t explored previously. Ended up having a look at the uber-posh Abington estate. Salad for dinner; Val still in London
Today’s weather	Dry sunny and bright. Light south easterly wind. Appx 16c

Today’s overview location (The grey mark shows the location of my route)		Close-up location (The orange line shows where I walked) (Click button below to download GPX of today’s walk as recorded, or see interactive map at bottom with elevations corrected): Exploring West of Malahide

Commentary

(Summary blog only. Last full blog was Day 0368).

Last week, when we were coming back from the airport and sitting on the upper deck of the 102, I had spotted an interesting looking path leading into a park at the bottom of the Estuary Road – near the Centra shop. I hadn’t noticed it before, and made a mental note to check it out once time permitted.

I started the day with a 10am video call to a friend (my former boss, actually) back in the UK. I think we both surprised ourselves by chatting enthusiastically for a full two hours. Still, the world was well put to rights by the time we had finished, and I found it very therapeutic. I had had in mind that when we finished the call I would complete my coastal meander from Malahide and head north to Newbridge, neatly complementing my walk south to Howth yesterday. But I had forgotten about the tides, so when I got down to the lagoon, I could see the water level was practically lapping at the road so the path to Newbridge would be completely impassable.

But this circumstance did of course create the ideal opportunity to explore the Estuary Road park. So I headed out west, pausing to pick up some sandwiches at the Centra store, then headed into the park. It turned out to be simple, but big, spacious and quiet. I found a boulder to perch on while having lunch and suddenly noticed that I wasn’t cold. The sun was shining, there was no wind, and the air was actually quite mild. It made me realise just how much I have missed the sunshine and warmth this winter.

I had a good look at the park once I’d finished my sandwiches, then continued my western circuit, heading back onto the Swords Road via the Industrial Estate (which as industrial estates go, is actually quite nice) and the Mountgorry service station.

Rather than walking back to Malahide along the road, I cut into some of the estates to the south of the road. Some were nice, some less so. But I ended up in the Abington estate which was really something else. Full of massive houses set in parkland and adorned with fountains and leafy lanes. A bit like the smartest parts of Wentworth, in the UK, perhaps.

Anyway from there it was just a short hop back to the flat via the demesne, then a quick phone call to Val in london and chicken salad for dinner. Another good day, made extra special by the sunshine and warmth, and the unexpected sense of discovery.

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)


Warm and sunny on the estuary path. What a relief, at last!	The first new park I had to check out – which, according to Google, seems to be called rather unimaginatively “Malahide Road – off Estuary Road”. Which it is.

There’s a path at the end of Malahide Park which leads down to the Coast Road. This branch off it runs over a bridge into the Rugby Club. I didn’t have time to investigate it on this visit, but will try again in the near future	Crossing the M1 after emerging from the Swords business Park near Mountgorry

Entering the sumptuous Abington Estate. I’d heard of it but never had a look around before. It’s a different world – huge houses, fountains, neatly mown lawns. Probably nothing there for under €5m	Portable lighting system which has just appeared in the demesne. Most likely gearing up for the Cricket Internationals, which must be starting soon

Very attractively laid out streetscape in the Waterside estate. The houses alongside the central avenue aren’t in the same league as Abington, though