Castle Bridge.

 

Continuing a day in Buncrana, we took the short walk through Swan Park, named not for the bird, but for local man Harry Swan.  The small, narrow park runs for a short way through the woodland along the Crana river, beginning at Castle Bridge, and ending at Wilson’s Bridge.  We entered the park at the Castle Bridge end, which was built to cross the Crana to Buncrana Castle.

 

The River Crana winding through the wooded park.

 

 

O’Doherty’s Keep, the last remains of a 14th century castle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of several fairy houses hidden in the woods!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More fairy property.

 

At the butterfly garden.  There were several of these “Free Wee Library” locations in the park and around the seafront in Buncrana.

 

 

 

In most of the park we were accompanied on our walk by the smell of wild garlic.

 

Wilson’s Bridge, and the end of the park.

 

 

We turned at the Bridge and retraced our steps to the beginning, where there was another trail leading to the shore.  It continued along the coast, and we followed it as far as Ned’s Point, the site of an old fort from the Napoleonic Wars, and an RNLI station.  Along the way, despite the threatening skies, we had great views across Lough Swilly to the Fanad Peninsula, and inland along the lough to Inch Island.

 

Following the coastal path under dark skies.

 

Looking along Lough Swilly to Inch Island.

 

Not sure what this little nook was for or when it dates from.

 

Ned’s Point Fort, built in 1812 by the British to guard against invasion by Napoleon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another view towards Inch Island.

 

The small cove at Ned’s Point.

 

Looking north along the Inishowen coast.

 

 

 

 

 

The RNLI lifeboats are launched here.

 

The walk can be continued, but that was as far as we went of this visit.  Heading back towards Buncrana, I stopped occasionally to photograph the plant life beside the trail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The park and coastal walk combined provide nice surroundings for an easy stroll with plenty to see.