The pleasant sounds and sights of surf meeting turf await those venturing to this cozy pocket of…read morepeace outside Roundstone. It had been 18 years since our last ramble and happily we can report nothing has changed. "Progress" has not imposed. All natural, all the time. The setting this time inspired me to sand-pen a message to my grand-nephew back in the States. All those driving around the west of Ireland, specifically the Roundstone-Clifden loop should take some time to soak in the serenity. Note: Unspoiled means just that...no concession or trashy souvenir stands. A genuine bring your own and leave just your footprints when finished.

It was a fine summer day and we'd driven from Bangor Erris through the most stunning scenery…read moreimaginable on some of the worst narrow roads imaginable. We crossed the Michael Davitt bridge onto Achill island and drove past a mobile Ulster bank van. We had Keel as our destination as we negotiated the narrow roads and meandering sheep who were everywhere and who see tourists as an inconvenience. The entire experience was a tad spooky as despite being a fine day in early summer the entire island was shrouded in mist the whole time we were there and we were there about three hours. We chose Keel as my wife used to holiday here as a child. Her family arrived with a tent to a caravan park and pitched up 15 yards from the wild Atlantic. Travelling west from here the next land is the USA. We got to Keel and the caravan park and we walked along the beach with the mighty blue/green Atlantic Ocean roaring at us as my wife relived fond memories of a stark, haunting very beautiful wilderness. Hard to believe that this stark, rugged island has been continuously inhabited from 4,000 years BC. Wow now that's impressive.