Author: Prabhith Prabhakaran

Waterford is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Munster and is part of the Southern Region.

From its vibrant city life to its rural charm and stunning coastline, County Waterford have something for everyone.

In this blog, I would like to cover a one-day trip that we did in July 2023, to County Waterford.

We started our journey from Saggart, Dublin Ireland around 8:30 AM and returned by around 8:30 PM.

We took the following route. Its approximately 6 hour’s drive and 450 Kms.

[Apart from the driving time, you would also need time for sightseeing, refreshments and so on. So, you should certainly consider around 12 hours for the entire journey].

Now let’s get into more details about the various stop overs:

1. Kilkenny Castle (Kilkenny, Ireland’s Medieval City):

This castle has been rebuilt, extended, and adapted to suit changing circumstances over a period of 800 years. Kilkenny Castle is open to visitors all year round.

If you wish to see the castle in detail, its better to book a tour (self-guided or guided) in advance. Tickets can be found in https://heritageireland.ie/visit/places-to-visit/kilkenny-castle/

The adult ticket price is around 12 Euros and student price is around 6 Euros.

Other features include 50 acres of rolling parkland with mature trees, a formal terraced rose garden, woodlands, and a man-made lake, which were added in the nineteenth century.

The toughest challenge you will face with this first destination is ‘Parking’.

There is parking exactly in front of the castle, but slots are limited.

In case if you find something even 400-500 meters away from the castle, grab that without a further second thought.

As this is old city, you should certainly spend some time walking around the streets to explore more.

(NOTE: We did not go inside the castle but saw it from outside and explored few streets within the city centre)

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 45 min

2. Mahon Falls:

If you follow the above route, you would ideally be passing through the various sections of Comeragh Drive and Nire valley drive.

The Comeragh Mountains stretch from the coast near Dungarvan as far as Clonmel and this is one route that has spectacular views.

During the Comeragh Drive, you must stop at the ‘MAGIC ROAD’. The magic road is located close to Mahon Falls. A small road, located off the beaten track, where if you stop the car and let the handbrake off, the vehicle will magically roll uphill.

NOTE: Not sure why, I could not figure out this magic road enroute Mahon Falls.

Also, we did not take the walking trail to reach near Mahon Falls.

Mahon Falls is an 80m waterfall situated in the Comeragh Mountains near Lemybrien, Co. Waterford.  The waterfall can be seen from far, but you might have to walk around 20+ minutes (from car park) if you really want to see it from near.

There is a very nice restaurant (Cooney’s Yard) enroute the Mahon Falls. On your way back from the falls, you can have lunch from this restaurant (please note that there are not many restaurants available in this route). We just had coffee and hot chocolate and the rate seems to be nominal. There is enough parking space aswell.

There are clean toilets available, so getting down here for a lunch would be a right time for a biological break aswell.

As the route is quite scenic, you might love to have short breaks for capturing some moments in your Camera. Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination and enroute photography: 1 hour.

As per this itinerary, you can spend around 45 Min for Lunch time.

3. Bunmahon Beach:

Bunmahon Beach is a stretch of sandy beach located on the southeast coast of Ireland in Bunmahon, County Waterford. This beach is slightly off the R675 (one of the most scenic coastal routes in Ireland)

It is backed by sand dunes and is popular with surfers and for canoeing and kayaking.

Swimming at Bunmahon Beach is only suitable for experienced swimmers. The high waves are dangerous. In fact, Bunmahon Beach can be one of the most dangerous beaches on this part of the coast.

The beach is manned by lifeguards during the summer months and has been awarded Blue Flag status. 

There is a caravan park, modern outdoor play park and basketball court located directly behind the beach.

The dedicated parking space is quite limited, but I have seen people parking on both sides of the different nearby roads.

COPPER COAST UNESCO Global geopark (one of the 3 Geoparks in Ireland) is few meters away from this beach. You can also explore the park if you wish to do so.

The area used to be mined for copper and this section of the coast being known as the “Copper Coast”.

NOTE: We have not gone to the Geopark.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 20 min

NOTE: We took lunch from home and had that near the parking area in Bunmahon Beach.

4. Kilmurrin Cove / Beach:

This is a nice viewpoint over this beach, with a decent parking lot facility.

For extra picturesque views walk a bit uphill on the farmland and enjoy the view from there! 

Kilmurrin Beach is an expansive stretch of golden sand that’s perfect for a day out with friends and family. The beach was the location for a stunning piece of sand art created by environmental artist Sean Corcoran, measuring 120ft in height and 200ft wide, higher than Dublin’s Liberty Hall. The artwork was created to encourage people around Ireland to ‘Keep Discovering’ as the country reopens once again.

Kilmurrin Beach is surrounded by two rocky headlands that shelter the soft, powdery sand, leaving the water still and clear, creating perfect swimming conditions.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 20 min

R675 Route is one of the most scenic coastal routes in Ireland.

5. Annestown Beach:

This place is not mentioned in the above map.

There are many beaches in the R675 route. The one that we visited after Kilmurrin was Annestown beach.

Annestown Strand is in Annestown, County Waterford and is an attractive bathing place. It is popular with surfers and swimmers alike.

There is a dedicated parking space available but there is a height clearance restriction to enter the car park.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 10 min

6. Newtown Cove / Beach:

Newtown is a small, sheltered cove with a stony beach, with easy access for swimmers by the slipway or ladder.

The water is very clean generally with good visibility. This place is popular during summertime. There is a lot of parking space available, and this place is nearby metal man statue.

The Metal Man statue stands on one of three pillars near Newtown Cove.

It was constructed as a maritime beacon after the tragic loss of over 350 lives after HMS Seahorse sank back in 1816.

Dressed in traditional British sailor clothing, the Metal Man is on private land with the entrance to the monument blocked due to dangerous cliffs. However, you can see the figure from various points along the coast. 

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 20 min

7. Station House, Kilmeadan  (WSV Railway):

The Waterford Suir Valley Railway starts from this station and ends at this station (journey time is approximately 50 minutes).

This is a heritage narrow gauge railway whihc runs along 10 kilometres of the abandoned Waterford Dungarvan line. We were told that this is Ireland’s longest narrow-gauge railway.

I had my son with me during the trip and hence this place was picked as one of the destinations in this trip. Kids would love this train journey.

There is enough car parking space available in front of this station. The car park and train’s starting point (Kilmeadan) are very near to each other (just a few metres).

There is also a toilet facility and a café shop (Whistlestop Cáfe) available within the station.

Try to book online in advance, if you plan to visit this place as sometimes the seats get filled faster.

I had done an online booking in the WSV website ( https://www.wsvrailway.ie/) a day prior and have opted for the 4PM trip (last trip of the day). By picking 4PM slot, you will get enough time to cover all the places mentioned above in the route map.

Enroute, the train stops at a station for a minute or so. On the left side, watch out for the cormorants resting on the ruins of Kilmeadan Castle and get a glimpse into Mount Congreve Gardens . Make a wish when you see the fairies in the Magic Wood.

NOTE:

1. There are different slots available like 11 AM, 12 Noon, 1 PM, 2 PM, 3PM and 4 PM (last slot)
2. There are 8 small compartments available. Enclosed compartments can hold 12 people and partially open compartments can hold 8 people.
3. You will get better views (River Suir) if you sit on the left-hand side. The right side has view only to the walking track (part of Waterford greenway)
4. If you plan to take photos/videos, I suggest booking a partially open compartment as its quite open (the enclosed ones have fully closed windows).
5. The carriages are wheelchair accessible.

8. Dunmore East / Dunmore Harbour:

Dunmore East is a popular tourist and fishing village in County Waterford, Ireland.

The harbour is one of the five designated National Fishery Harbours and has the second highest figure for fish landings after Killybegs.

Tourism in Dunmore East is supported by boating and sailing facilities, holiday homes, traditional pubs, a golf course, and several hotels.

This place can potentially be a good place for you to have your Dinner.

We tried some Fish and Chips from ‘Fish shop’.  The food was economical and good (taste wise and Quantity wise)

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination (including Dinner):  1 Hour

9. Waterford City Centre:

This place is not mentioned in the above map.

If you are following the above map, you will be passing through Waterford city centre enroute Dublin.

Waterford is the oldest and the fifth most populous city in the Republic of Ireland.

Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city is believed to have been established by the Viking Ragnall (the grandson of Ivar the Boneless) in 914 AD.

Incase if you didn’t have your dinner from Dunmore, this place would be another great option.

Parking can be a problem if you decide to park your car and explore the city by foot.

Waterford is renowned for its exciting festivals and events such as the West Waterford Festival of Food.

This concludes the destinations in this trip.  We returned to Saggart, Dublin which was approximately 150Kms and 1.5 hours.

I had to do the trip to Waterford in a day and hence had to purposefully avoid few other interesting places in Waterford.

If you have time, I will strongly recommend spending 2 days (&1 night) in County Waterford.  There are plenty of accommodation options available within the county.

Few other places that you could explore are:

Waterford crystal Factory, Medieval Museum, Bishops’ Palace

COPPER COAST UNESCO Global geopark

Dungarvan (Davitts Quay),

Tramore Beach

Lismore castle garden

Ardmore Beach

Ardmore farm & Mini Zoo

Goat Island, Ballynamona

Copper Coast Sea Kayaking

Hook Lighhouse

There are many walking trails within county Waterford:

Waterford Greenway

The Mahon Falls Walk

The Coumshingaun Loop Walk

The Ardmore Cliff Walk

The Ballysaggartmore Towers Walk

The Anne Valley Walk

The Dunmore East Cliff Walk

There are also different surfing schools within Waterford that offer lessons for novice surfers and first timers, so don’t worry if you’ve never tried surfing before. If you fancy trying your hand at a bit of surfing, this is an ideal place.     

Hope you enjoyed reading my blog. I would like you to try out this itinerary and let me know your comments!

The Dubai Frame is the largest photo frame (a golden frame) in the world. This was opened to public on 1^st January 2018.

Interesting Facts:

1)Dubai Frame measures 150 metres high and 95 metres wide.

2)Over 9,900 cubic metres of reinforced concrete, 2,000 tons of steel and 2,900 square metres of laminated glass were used in its construction.

3)More than 15,000 square metres of gold-coloured stainless steel covers Dubai Frame, which incorporates a ring design inspired by the Expo 2020 Dubai logo.

4)Dubai Frame’s rectangular design was inspired by the ‘golden ratio’ of 1.618, which many architects and artists believe forms an ideal structural balance.

5)The elevator to the Sky deck carries visitors 48 floors in 75 seconds.

The astonishing frame-shaped building (designed by Mexican Artist Fernando Donis) is near Zabeel Park Gate 4.

It is always better to book the tickets well in advance. You can look for tickets here :

https://www.dubaiframe.ae/en

There are 20+ time slots (each slot is 30 minutes) from 9 AM till 8:30 PM.

The ticket price for Adults is 50 AED (Above 12 years) and children is 20 AED(3—12 Years). Children below 3 years are free.

NOTE: . The staff told us that the ticket includes an entrance pass to the park, so we can stroll around if you want to.

As per the terms and conditions, the Booking Confirmation is valid only for the specific date and time mentioned in the ticket and shall automatically expire upon the lapse of this specific date and time.

We had booked the 8:30PM slot. From our personal experience it is not a good slot to book your tickets. You should try picking a slot just before sunset, so that you can see both day and night views.

There is a beautiful musical fountain near to the entrance. But you cannot really enjoy this fountain if you are picking up a late evening ticket of Dubai Frame.

Your journey starts with admiring the Frame from underneath.

With the admission ticket, visitors can experience “the past, present and future of Dubai.” (All inside the Dubai Frame)

The first experience to the frame is to a very small exhibit on Dubai’s past (no photos allowed) in the mezzanine floor. It consists of a mock-up of an old-style market street. 3D projections and special effects adds more originality.

The Second experience is the Sky deck level which represents Dubai at the present time. A glass elevator will take you to up to 48 floors in 75 seconds. The bridge or sky deck is made of both concrete and solid glass panels, allowing you to walk along the glass and see everything beneath the frame.

The Dubai Frame has been constructed in such a way that when you look through towards the South of the frame you can see the views of the modern metropolis & skyscrapers. When you look through towards the North of the frame you get to see the older Dubai, reminding those of simpler times and how far the city has come along from its humble beginnings as a fishing village that was popular for the pearl diving trade.

There are quotes from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum displayed on the wall and changes from Arabic to English continuously.

Dubai Frame is 150 metres high and Burg Khalifa is 828 Metres high. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money for tickets @ Burg Khalifa, Dubai frame can be an economical option. Of Couse  spectacular city views are also guaranteed.

At the other end of the hall, we entered another elevator to descend back to ground level.

The last part of the experience is given by taking you to a room (again in the mezzanine floor) where we saw a glimpse of the future Dubai. Again photos/videos are not allowed at that place.  

There are Souvenir and gift shops available at the exit.

We went there in Taxi.

Nearest Metro stop is Al Jafaliya station. Do note there is no direct access to the Dubai Frame from here, it’s approximately a 25-minute walk around the outside of the park to get in.

Points to note:

1. It is worth vesting just before sunset, so that you can experience both day and night views.
2. Keep in mind that the staff are strict with the timings as they need to accommodate the incoming visitors. They allow only 250 Guests at a maximum on the bridge of the frame.
3. For Photographers (especially at night), please adjust your camera as there will be huge reflection of the glasses.
4. There is a very detailed security check before entering the frame.
5. The whole place can easily be covered in 1 hour.
6. Luggage and large bags are not allowed inside the Dubai Frame. 
7. Pets are prohibited here.
8. Sky deck has a nice chocolate-cum-coffee bar where you can buy your coffee and snacks.

Summary:

It’s definitely worth the visit at least once just for the sky bridge experience and the unhindered views of the city from the bridge.

Victor’s way is an Indian Sculpture Park located in County Wicklow, near Dublin, Ireland. It is a 22-acre park surrounded by lush green forest and typical Irish countryside. The park also has some open green fields, ponds and several small lakes.

We followed the below route:

The entire route is quite scenic.

We had spent some time at the Cloghleagh Bridge and at the Lough Tay Viewing point (and Guinness Lake) before reaching Victor’s way.

Cloghleagh Bridge:

This lovely Single arch bridge (over Shankill River) is surrounded by woodland and is adjacent to a quaint church. It’s a beautiful quiet place surrounded by shady trees, with small waterfalls and large flat rocks. There is also a Walking Trail available here.

Lough Tay Viewing point (and Guinness Lake):

The lake is located along the Sally Gap drive and you’ll be treated to magnificent views of its inky black water. The Guinness Lake, as it’s known, is situated within a private estate, but it can be viewed from above from several viewing points along the Sally Gap.

Victor’s way:

You can either book online or pay as cash (10 Euros for Adults) for the tickets. I have not seen any ticket counter as such. There is a small slot where you deposit the money. When we visited, there was a person available near the car park to collect the cash. I don’t remember them giving us any printed tickets or so.

There is enough parking space available within the park.

The entry to the Victor’s Way is an unusual opening, with two ladies on either side. It is known as Victoria’s Gate and the opening represents the birth canal. The birth canal in other words is the one through which we came through into this world. It’s the first journey we ever make in life, and at this point our world becomes so much bigger.

The birth canal here represents being born again and entering into the park, with all the worries of the world left behind on the other side.

The park was known as Victoria’s Way until 2015, when it was closed by the owner who felt that too many day-trippers were coming into the park for fun activities (for parents & children). It was reopened in 2016 as Victor’s Way with new age restrictions as it was designed as a garden for over 28’s year old only.

Although the park won’t suit everyone’s taste, it’s one of the unique things to discover in Ireland. If you’re looking to escape from your busy daily life, then a trip to the peaceful Victor’s Way Park might just be what you need. In addition, it was created for those between the ages of 28 to 60 years old.

It is indeed a great place for a relaxing walk. You can easily spent a good hour or two, walking around the sculpture gardens and it’s best to follow the arrows to guide you through the different areas. There are lot of sculptures (lot of Indian/Hindu deities aswell) within the campus. Some statues appear stunningly beautiful in their black granite.

Seems that many of the sculptures here were directly carved in Mahabalipuram, India.

Please note that this place is not intended for Family Fun (like other parks). This is more of a meditation park.

There is a lot of walk around. So please plan accordingly if you have small kids or elderly people within your group.

Its always better to check their website for the opening season/timings. Please note that this is not open throughout the year. Also, I believe they don’t encourage pets.

Website: https://victorsway.eu/

The Irishman Victor Langheld designed and created the park. Victor also stays within the campus. So there are high chances that you might see him somewhere within in the park.

One of the most famous sculpture here is The Ferryman’s End.

The Ferryman’s End represents the icon of burnout, is set in algae covered waters.

     The ferryman ferries himself and others from ‘this shore’ to the ‘other shore’ (and where the grass is always greener). In other words, he/she ferries from here (meaning sameness) to there (meaning difference) and so from death to life. (Courtesy: https://victorsway.eu/sculptures/ferryman.htm)

(Note: One personal comment. Don’t underestimate the size of this sculpture after seeing the images in Internet. It is relatively small and is set in algae covered waters)

There is a craft shop onsite selling Indian made products. The interesting thing is that there is nobody available within the shop for selling the items. All items have the amount details mentioned in that. If you liked any item, just check the price, and deposit the money in a small box (Honesty Box) kept at the entrance.

We visited Howth in August 2021.

Howth is in the outer suburb of Dublin, Ireland. The district as a whole occupies the greater part of the peninsula of Howth Head, which forms the northern boundary of Dublin Bay, and includes the island of Ireland’s Eye.

Its stunning location surrounded on three sides by the Irish Sea makes it a favourite with tourists.

One of Dublin’s oldest working harbours, Howth has been a fishing village and port since at least the 14th century.

We took the Public transport (Luas) from Saggart to Connolly (Last stop of the red line)

Other Travel Options:

1. You can get the 31 number bus that will take you to the Howth Harbour. Or you can take the 31A number bus which goes through Howth Village to Howth Summit. Both buses leave from the same location, Eden Quay (just off O’Connell Street).
2. If you are coming from downtown Dublin, follow the R807 road along the coastline. This road will turn into R105 and this will lead you to downtown Howth. It is about 18km and might take about 30 minutes depending on traffic.

Connolly luas (Tram) and the dart (train) stations are quite near to each other.

The Dart station is in the first floor and you can take lift/escalator from the Luas Platform to reach there.

If you are interested, you can use Leap Travel Card. More detail about Leap Visitor card can be found here:

https://about.leapcard.ie/leap-visitor-card

If atall you don’t have leap cards, you can buy it from the shops within or nearby the Luas/Dart stations.

You can touch off your leap card in the machine provided at the entry. Don’t forget to do that at the exit aswell.

Connolly station:

There are around 7 platforms in Connolly (+ 2 Platform for Luas).

The train timing and Platforms are clearly marked in the boards. So you don’t have to panic and there are even sign boards clearly indicating the platform number.

The dart train from Connolly to Howth would take around 30 minutes. Trains are available at regular intervals.

If you are visiting Howth using you own car, there ae plenty of parking space available near to the dart station.

There are multiple trails available in Howth. It’s worth to note that many of these trails get busy over the Weekends / Public holidays.

In the beginning of the cliff paths, there are clear indications of the various paths like Green, Blue, Red, Purple and so on. But there are high chances that you miss the actual path (as colour codes are missing at many places, enroute)

All Trails website will give you a rough idea about the various options.

https://www.alltrails.com/ireland/county-dublin/howth

We had gone with the Cliff walk from the dart Station towards the Howth Summit (Howth head Cliff Walk-lower cliff walk). The distance is around 6 Kms (walking time of 1.5-2 Hours approx)

NOTE: If you have more time, you can try Black Linn Loop Walk that goes through Ben of Howth (highest peak of the peninsula). From the summit, you might get a full 360 degree view overlooking the entire peninsula, Howth Castle, Howth village and so on.

Another option is the Bog of Frogs Loop Walk, which follows the coastline for 12km.

If you are taking the Howth Summit route, the best way is to take Google search option to look for Howth summit (as the destination) . The good thing with that destination is that you can take a Return Bus either to Dublin city centre or back to the ‘Howth’ Dart station.

 The beginning of the cliff walk is relatively very steep.

But you have some parking space available at the end of the steep.

Enroute the way to  the cliff parking, you can also visit Balscadden Bay Beach.

NOTE: When you walk past the village towards Howth Head, walk up the hill until you reach a little gate, behind which there is a set of quite steep steps, that lead you down to this beach.

Please note that the path is quite narrow there is no fence available throughout the cliff walk. So please be careful if there are small children in your group.

The view throughout the cliff walk is excellent. There are tonnes of photography options throughout the walk.

Near to the Summit, you can also see a path going down to the Baily Lighthouse (the last lighthouse in Ireland to be automated). This cottage-style, 13-metre tall lighthouse sits out on the cliffs with a stunning view over the Irish Sea. Baily (built in 1917) is one of Ireland’s most photographed lighthouses on the eastern coastline.

In this trip, we did not go to the Lighthouse.

NOTE: If you really dont have the energy / time for a 6Km walk, you can drive till the Howth Summit and walk down the Baily lighthouse.

Just check out for sign bus board (near the summit) from where you can get the return bus (H3) back to Howth beach or the Dublin City Centre.

There is also enough Car parking space available near the summit.

Compared to the Main Howth City centre, the summit has relatively less number of restaurants/shops.

After the cliff walk, we took the bus back to the Howth beach (Bus H3, which goes to city center via Howth Beach), got down the bus at Howth beach stop and went to the Ferry / Bay area to take a boat service to Ireland’s Eye.

Currently uninhabited, Ireland’s Eye was once home to a monastery, established around 700 AD.

Ireland’s Eye can be visited every day during the summer months and on weekends / bank holidays only during the rest of the year.

There are different companies that are operating ferries here.

A 45 minutes TO and FRO trip to the Ireland’s eye will cost around 25 Euros/person.

We had taken the service of a company named ‘Howth Cliff Cruises’. (http://howthcliffcruises.ie/)

NOTE: I have read in many places that we can get down at the Ireland’s eye and walk around. You can visit the Martello Tower aswell. Landing on the island is at the discretion of the captain depending on weather conditions. Since we had take a evening ferry, such an option was not available for us.

This is a great boat trip, something that should not missed during your journey to Howth. You will see a lot of birds and probably seals, during this journey.

During the return journey in boat, you would also get a chance to see the Howth Harbour Lighthouse from different angles.

NOTE: There are options available to walk down the Howth Pier to see the Lighthouse at a closer distance.

After the boat trip, we returned back to the Howth Dart station and further to the Dublin city centre.

Howth is a very safe destination. Coast guard security is also present at important points.

If you are looking for some food options, there are multiple options available.

We had tried ‘The Bloody Stream’ and the service/food quality/menu items were really good.

Also there are a few Indian restaurants like ‘Okra Green’ in Howth. Due to a tight schedule with a limited time, Personally I did not try any items from Okra.

You need to spend around 6-7 hours to complete the itinerary/places , that I mentioned here.

NOTES:

1.Please note that there are many other places to see like Howth Castle, St. Mary’s Abbey, Howth Market, Howth Village, National Transport Museum, Hurdy Gurdy Vintage Radio Museum and so on.

2.There are some limited accomodation options available like ‘King Sitric’.

We covered the following places in a 1-day trip on 8^th Dec 2021.

Vayalada Viewpoint

Thonikadavu Viewpoint

Kakkayam Dam & Boating

Urakkuzhi Waterfalls

This was a road trip from Kakkodi, Calicut.

Route Map

NOTE: We couldn’t cover the Vayalada Mini Water Falls and Kariyathumpara during this trip.

1) Vayalada Viewpoint (Mullanpara):

Vayalada Viewpoint is around 17 kms (45 min by car) from Balussery, Calicut.

There are also few KSRTC bus services from Balussery to Vayalada.  If you are reaching this place via public transport, you can hire a jeep From the Vayalada junction/school, and they might charge around 500 rupees (for a 1.5Kms trip). You can also cover this distance by walk after getting down at Vayalada.

Irrespective of any vehicle (hired jeep or own vehicle), you cannot go till the hilltop in the same. You will have to park the vehicle down the hill and will have to do trekking of around 1Km. The trekking path is not that smooth.

NOTE: Even if you hire a Jeep, this 1km trekking/walking cannot be avoided.

A good point to park your car is near ‘Baby Thattukada’. Seems this small hotel is famous for homely food. I have read a lot of positive reviews about this hotel but we personally get a chance to try their food. There are also a few snack shops available enroute the viewing point.

There is no parking charges or ticket charges when you visit Vayalada view point. We did not find any public toilets in this place.

Since Vayalada is 2000 Feet above sea level, it has all the charm of a hill station, and you can get a panoramic view of the Peruvannamuzhi Dam, Koorachundu and Perambra towns from the highest point. There are different viewpoints like Mount Vayalada viewpoint, Islands View Mullanpara and Kottakunnu viewpoint.

Lot of people visit here during the sunrise/sunset.

When we visited, there were lot of Fog and hence couldn’t get a great view from the hilltop.

Avoid mid afternoon time, as it might be quite hot at the hilltop. There are a few resorts/homestays here (like Vayalada viewpoint Resort).

The place is full of empty plastic bottles, covers and cans. This is one thing that disappointed me a lot. We Keralites/Indians always fail to keep our nature clean. We have the habit of throwing the garbage wherever we like.

To a certain extend, I will have to blame the state Tourism department aswell. There is no proper pathway or hoardings/signboard to reach this place. They should also add a few garbage bins at this place. Atleast after seeing that, people might start putting the litter in the bins.

We had skipped the Vayalada Mini Falls.

2) Thonikadavu Viewpoint:

After Vayalada, our next destination was Thonikadavu Viewpoint.

NOTE: We had to skip Kariyathumpara, as it was closed due to some reason.

Enroute, there are many picturesque locations.

Known as the ‘Ooty of Malabar’, Thonikadavu is an offbeat location near Kariyathumpara and on the way to Kakkayam dam in Kozhikode district.

The towering watchtower, placid river and greenery provide a refreshing sight to visitors. It is a wonderful picnic spot for tourists. If you are a photographer, you will definitely love this place.

Seems Tourism Department has many plans for this place and the towering watchtower (inaugurated in Feb 2021) is a best example for that. Unfortunately, no much shops were opened during the time we visited. Public toilets were available.

The actual project had different plans like setting up of boat services, viewpoints, six rain shelters, amphitheatre, and children’s park, besides the watchtower. When we visited this place in December 2021, we did not see any boat service there. There is an entry fee to get inside the Thonikadavu Viewpoint. If I remember correctly, it was Rs. 40/adult.

3) Kakkayam Dam & Boating:

After Thonikadavu Viewpoint, our next destination was Kakkayam Dam & Boating.

Enroute, there are many picturesque locations. Please drive carefully as the roads in this part are quite narrow.

The main attractions near this tourist place are Kakkayam valley (Dam and Boating) and Urakkuzhi Waterfalls.

Kakkayam is a stunning dam site in Kozhikode that is famous for its trekking trails and boating options and seems Kakkayam has an abundant wildlife population aswell. This is a perfect place to have a quiet secluded picnic with your friends and family.

I have not seen much public transport options in this part of the region. So, either you will have to depend on your own vehicle or hire a jeep or autorickshaw.

This reservoir comes as part of the Kuttiyadi Hydro Electric Project & is located at a height of about 2450 ft above sea level.

There are 2 different ticket counters enroute, one by the Forest department (checkpost) and the other one is the actual entry ticket. If I remember correctly, it was Rs. 40/adult (at checkpost) and Rs. 20 /adult (entry ticket).

Kakkayam valley is famous for Film shooting. Many Film songs and albums were shot here, and it is now a favorite place for the album makers.

There are enough parking place available. Few (1 or 2) hotels and few public toilets available here.

There are speed boat services available here at a charge of Rs. 1000 (maximum 6 people including kids; this number includes boat driver aswell). The boating time was around 15 minutes, if I remember correctly.

These boat rides give us an exclusive view of the dam area, along with a bunch of small waterfalls (2 waterfalls; one is Ambalappara waterfalls) and you get to see a lot of dense forest during that trip. The 2 waterfalls are hidden inside the forest and are hardly accessible by roads.

The good thing is that the boat driver will take you very close to the falls, so there are lot of good photography options.

Would recommend this boat ride as it is completely worth.  Keep your cameras ready for some stunning photos and videos.

4) Urakkuzhi Waterfalls:

The Urakkuzhi Waterfalls is near to the dam. You can either walk both sides (main entrance to the falls and return) or you can hire a forest department jeep for Rs.250 (up and down). Actual dam is in this route. Distance will be around a 1.2kms or so one side. There is well paved road till the falls except the last few meters which is quite difficult to walk.

Urakkuzhi Waterfalls is considered as one of the most dangerous waterfalls in Kerala. The Forest department staff told us that if anybody accidently fall from there, no search operation will be carried out to recover the body.

Note:  This is supposedly the place where police disposed comrade Rajan’s body (no evidence or proof though) during the nationwide Emergency in India in 1976. The legal battle that his father Prof Eachara Warrier fought against the state government was the first Habeus corpus suit filed in Kerala.

It is worth to note that you can see only the top part of the waterfalls.  What we can see from the viewpoint is just some water disappearing into a steep.  You cannot view this tall waterfall in its full glory from its front or bottom. The falling water will not be visible from below aswell, because the water is passing through the rocks (we can’t reach to the falling area easily right now because the trekking to that spot is not available).  So, keep your expectations limited.

The best time to visit here is monsoon. The rocks around were curved due to the force of waterfall and the rocks are in the shape of “Ural” (Malayalam word) that’s why it’s called Uralkkuzhi Waterfalls.

The waterfall is guarded well by fencing and watchers will be there for guidance.

Here you can also see a stone which is looking like a man’s face. There was one hanging bridge, but it got completely damaged during 2018 flood and it not been reconstructed yet.

One very important point to note is the large presence of leeches (a tiny blood sucking parasitic or predatory worm, closely related to earthworms) near to the Urakkuzhi Waterfalls. Until the time when blood starts coming, you will never realise that a Leech has bit you. It is highly recommended to carry a small box of Salt (or a lemon) with you. If you find that a leech has bit you, don’t get panic. Just drop some salt on the body of the leech and it will fall down. Don’t try to remove the leech directly by any means, as it might turn out to be more dangerous. So, keep an extra eye on Leech bites while you are walking.

Summary: This is definitely a day trip that people in Calicut or neighbouring places can try. Its worth the money, scenery, and the experience. A family of 4 (2 adults + 2 kids) might have to spend less than Rs. 1500 which includes entry tickets (Thonikadavu/Kakkayam) / jeep and speed boat safari in Kakkayam. Food and petrol charges would be additional.

We stayed in this hotel for 4 nights in November 2021.

This is a 4 star hotel (around 19 floors) conveniently located, 10-15 minutes’ drive from Dubai International Airport and Downtown.

More Details:

Check in Time: 3 PM

Check out Time: 12 PM

Minimum Check in Age: 21 Years

Address: InterContinental Hotels, Dubai Festival City

Dubai Festival City, PO Box 45777, Dubai, UAE

T: +971 (0)4 701 1111    F: +971 (0)4 701 2223

E: reservation.dfc@ihg.com

For meetings and events: 

E: imeet@ihg.com

Key notes:

Mainly there are 4 dining options available here –> Sirocco, Zeste, Joes Backyard, Z Garden.

Guests can also benefit from free internet access in all areas.

Holiday Inn & Suites Dubai Festival City offers free parking.

All 496 rooms boast comforts, such as 24-hour room service, in addition to perks, such as air conditioning and dressing gowns.

Pets are not allowed at Dubai Festival City.

This hotel has 6 meeting rooms over 2 floors (325 is the maximum capacity in the largest room).

The breakfast buffet has so many selections.

Each member of the staff was helpful, courteous, and attentive.

The bar at 19th floor is excellent.

Concierge team was very helpful in arranging the taxis.

What’s nearby

• Zabeel Park 6.2 km
• BurJuman Mall 6.6 km
• Emirates Towers 7.6 km
• Dubai Museum 7.6 km
• Grand Mosque 7.7 km
• Gold Souq 8.1 km
• Dubai Mall 8.3 km
• Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo 8.5 km
• The Dubai Fountain 8.7 km
• Burj Khalifa 8.9 km
• Jumerah Mosque 9.4 km
• Al Mamzar Park 11.1 km
• Ikea 500metres

Service & facilities

• Hotel-owned car park
• Marked disabled parking space
• Outdoor swimming pool (8AM-8PM) / Indoor pool
• Fitness centre (8AM-10PM)
• Concierge Services

Room facilities

• WLAN with Internet access in rooms
• Wheelchair-friendly rooms in accordance with DIN 18024, 18025
• Satellite TV
• Desk
• Room safe
• Mini-bar
• Fridge
• Coffee machine/tea-maker
• Ironing machine for pants
• Iron + ironing board
• Temperature controls
• Hairdryer
• Bathrobes
• Emergency Cord/Button in Bedroom

In-house services

• Air conditioning in public areas
• ATM
• Classic concierge service
• Business center (24 hours)          
• Printer
• Copying
• Scanner
• Sightseeing tours
• Laundry service
• Store/mini supermarket

Kids Stay and Eat Free!

Kids aged 12 and under stay for free when sharing their parents’ room. Up to 2 kids ages 12 and under eat free per adult ordering from the main menu in any Holiday Inn on-site restaurant. Up to 4 kids per dining party.

Entry to Festival City Mall

There is a direct access from this hotel to Festival City Mall, offering over 500 stores.

The mall has everything you need supermarket, bank, dinning and shops like IKEA, Carrefour, Lulu Hypermarket, MAX and so on.

Slight Concern:

There are not enough staff at the reception area for such a big hotel, which makes check in or check out a bit delayed.

We stayed at ‘The Ritz-Carlton’ Resort Abu Dhabi for a night in November 2021.

Set against the backdrop of the Grand Mosque, this resort is spread across 57 acres and is located around 20 Kms (around 20 Minutes) from Abu Dhabi International Airport.

The hotel’s position is on the right side of the canal and most of the rooms on the pool/canal side have a good view of the same.

Guest Room Features & Amenities

• Separate shower and Bathtub
• Separate WC 
• High-speed wired and wireless Internet access 
• 42-inch LCD TV with local and international channels 
• Safety Locker
• 24-hour in-room dining 
• Laundry services
• Spacious wardrobe 
• Balcony with a good view of the pool/private beach

Property Features & Amenities

• Five Star Property
• 447 rooms and suites and 85 private villas.
• Private beach
• 1,600-square-meter outdoor pool (one of the city’s largest outdoor pools)
• 24-hour fitness centre
• Dedicated prayer rooms for ladies and gentlemen
• 24-hour currency exchange and ATM
• 8 Restaurants (Note: We didn’t have any food from the restaurants in this resort , so cannot comment much on the food quality/rates)
• Very near to Grand Mosque
• 15 minutes to City Centre
• This resort is 16 kms from Al Wahda Mall and 16.3 km from Abu Dhabi Mall.

Hotel Policies:

• Check In Time: 3 PM
• Check Out Time: 12 Noon
• Pets are not allowed
• Valid passport/Emirates ID required at check-in for each guest

Different Room Types:

• Junior Suite
• Executive Suite
• Club Executive Suite
• Garden Suite
• Garden House
• The Ritz – Carlton Suite
• Royal Suite

More details in official website : https://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/uae/abu-dhabi/

Address: Al Maqta, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Pros:

Large room with balcony

Excellent / Friendly Staff

A short walk from the main building is Venetian Village, which offers additional waterfront dining outlets.

Housekeeping and check-in staff were very supportive.

Staff at the pool was hard working and very attentive. 

Being a very large property, it’s very interesting to explore around.

If you are looking for Taxis, Concierge team will arrange the same.

Check-in Process was very smooth (even during late night)

Good sound insulation in the rooms

Cons:

Bathroom fittings were slightly outdated

The Pool Noise levels were slightly on higher side

There are no much restaurants/shops nearby.

Summary:

The Ritz-Carlton is a large, well-designed hotel surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens and with an enormous pool sitting in the centre. Definitely Recommended.

We had travelled to Toledo, Madrid (Spain) in April 2019.

Toledo is one of the oldest and most unique cities in Spain. This city has made an important contribution to Spain’s history and heritage.

Toledo is a cute Medieval Spanish city. Before Madrid became the capital of Spain in 1561, the Spanish kings and queens ruled from Toledo. It is surrounded on three sides by water(Tagus River) and the fourth side by walls. Due to its position, it was very easy to defend and hence was the capital of Spain for a long time.

Coaches travelling from Madrid to Toledo (approx. 70 Kms) depart from the Plaza Elíptica transport hub (level -1).

We had bought the ticket from the point of sale in the Eliptica terminal Ground Floor. The travel duration was 1.5 hours (Check for Direct Bus availability). The price of the ticket was around 6 Euros/adult (1 way).

You can also book the return trip from the same ticket counter. You can book the coach in the ALSA website –> https://www.alsa.com/en/web/bus/coach/madrid-toledo

There are trains also running from Madrid (Puerto de Atocha station) to Toledo, which takes only 33 minutes in a high speed train. I think there are trains running every hour. The price is around 12 Euros/adult (one side)

More Details Here –> http://www.renfe.com/

The bus station in Toledo is on the bottom of the city. Once you reach the bus stand, you must come outside the station and walk in the right direction. At the extreme end, you will find an escalator. This is infact a series of elevators which will take you till the top of the hills. This is very convenient for the travellers.

Toledo is known as “the city of three cultures” (Christians, Arabs and Jews lived there together for many years) and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was declared so in 1986 for its extensive monumental and cultural heritage. It boasts 2,000 years of history, and is filled with small hidden squares, winding side streets and historic buildings and monuments at every turn.

Toledo is famous for traditional metal work and the production of blade weapon. That’s still a big industry today and they supply many film sets, including Lord of the Rings with stage weaponry and sell replicas as souvenirs. Toledo is famous for making the best swords in Europe.

You can easily cover the entire place in a single day. However, if you still want to stay and relax in Toledo, hotels are available.

In the interest of time, we decided to take an ‘Hop on Hop off’ bus. The price of the ticket was around 15 Euros/adult. The duration is around 50 minutes and the frequency is around 30 min.

Best time to visit:

Toledo is centrally positioned in a plateau on the Iberian Peninsula and it sits about 500 meters above sea level. It enjoys a continental climate which is mostly dry and sunny throughout the year. With the crazy network of old streets aside, the city is compact enough to be explored on foot. 

Some places of interest:

1) Cathedral

One of Toledo’s standout historical landmarks is The Primate Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo (or simply, Toledo Cathedral)

2) Alcazar

3) Synagogue

4) Museums

5) Walls

6) Plaza Zocodover

7) Jewish Quarter

8) Cristo de la Luz Mosque

9) Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes

10) San Martin’s Bridge

The only challenge is that people are less likely to be able to speak English.

Note: Apart from Toledo, Segovia is another popular day trip from Madrid

Ezharakund waterfalls in Kudiyanmala, Kannur is a tourist destination maintained by the Kannur District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC).

This is one of the most picturesque waterfalls of Kannur district, situated on the Paithalmala valley close to the Kerala-Karnataka border, located at about 50 Km Northeast of Kannur via Sreekandapuram and Kudiyanmala.

Address: Kudiyanmala Pottenplave Rd, Pottenplave, Vellad, Kerala 670582

Roads in this part of Kannur are really good (mostly tarred roads). At some places, it’s a bit narrow.

The name Ezharakund  literally translates to seven and a half pits in malayalam (local language widely spoken in Kerala, India).

This waterfalls comprises of multiple levels of rocky natural pools of varying sizes and depths that contain crystal clear water for most period of the year.

We covered this destination as a part of a day trip from Koyilandy. During this one day trip we covered Parassinikadavu Temple, Palakayyam thattu and Ezharakund waterfalls.

We parked our taxi (parking charge for Innova was around Rs.50) near to the base station.  

Please remember there is an entry fee of Rs.100/person.

You are not allowed to take your vehicle directly to the falls (at the top) from the base station.

From the base station we hired a local jeep to reach the top of the waterfalls.

You can request for a jeep at the reception of the base station and they will arrange one for you.  The jeeps are not readily available at the base station. It will take some time for the jeeps to arrive at the base station. There are seats available near the base station and you can also capture some photographs while waiting for the jeep.

The jeep charges was around Rs. 300 (one side) and you can pay the money (cash only) to the jeep driver after reaching the top of the falls.

Our recommendation is to take a jeep one side (preferably onward journey to the falls) and you can return from the falls to the basestation by walk.

However we have seen people who walk both up and down the falls and please remember that it would really test your fitness levels.

The jeep journey is really nice and you would love that trip, for sure.

While going in jeep, you will find few houses on both sides of the road.

The jeep will take you to the topmost part of the falls. After getting down, you need to show your tickets to the staff at the gate. From that gate, it is hardly few meters to the falls.

There is also a small observatory tower, from where you can capture some good photographs of the falls.

The falls make a unique scene. It is like few kettles stacked one after the other. As the water over flows the first, it fills in the second kettle and so on. The area is still a hidden treasure although the state government is working to develop it.

We had visited this place in December and during that time,  we could see people swimming / bathing in the water.

There are two pools which is safe to swim. These are watched over by life guards and life jackets are also available. There are also changing rooms near the falls.

After exploring the falls, you can walk back (at your own time convenience) to the base station.

Its almost 1.2 km walk from the falls to the base station and would easily take around 1 hour to reach down. Children can also easily walk.

Tourism department has constructed a pedestrian pathway  from the base station till the falls.  

The pathways are properly marked and safety rails are fixed in many places in order to prevent people from entering the stream. These metal rails are very  helpful to hold, while walking.

On certain points throughout the walkway, there are guards on duty. We were told that there are around 20 guards in and around this place at any point of time.

In many sections of the trail, benches are placed to rest and enjoy the views. Overall, this is a very family friendly place, catered for  any age group.

Please note that this place is relatively busy on Saturday/Sunday and on Public Holidays. There is a small shop serving snacks and tea are present near to the base station. There are a few home stays and resorts near by.

Best time to visit: 

Due to the abundance of shades along the walking trail, you can visit here anytime of the day and will have a good experience.

People say that Monsoon time mainly june – August is the best time to visit this falls.

However, it might not be a good idea to visit during heavy rainy days  as the stream and the waterfall can overflow to the trails

Opening time is 9AM – 6 PM

How to reach
Ezharakund Waterfalls is located from Kannur around 50 km via Chirakkal – Kololam Rd. The nearest railway station is Kannur, about 39 km and Kannur International Airport, about 59 km.

Popular destinations near by:

1. Parassinikadavu Sree Muthappan Temple
2. Palakkayam Thattu
3. Paithalmala

Summary : Ezharakund falls in Kannur is a real gift of nature . Though not that popular yet, we definitely recommend you to visit this place to experience the beautiful waterfalls and the walking trail. You would never be disappointed, that is a GUARANTEE..

Dunluce Castle is a medieval Irish Castle located on a clifftop along the Causeway Coast in County Antrim and is quite near to the Giant’s Causeway UNESCO site. It is about 1 hour drive from Belfast.

Address: 87 Dunluce Road, Bushmills, Co. Antrim, BT57 8UY, Ireland

The scenery in this part of County Antrim is simply spectacular, and Dunluce may be ONE of the most photographed castles on the island of Ireland.

We happened to visit Dunluce castle as a part of the day drip from Dublin to Northern Ireland. The Tour was organised by Wild Rover Tours, which is a Dublin-based family business who arrange tours throughout Ireland.
The normal itinerary for this tour includes Giants causeway, Belfast City and Carrick A Rede Rope Bridge. Carrick A Rede Rope Bridge was closed for maintenance and wildrover group arranged Dunluce castle as an alternative. Entry tickets to Dunluce castle was also included in the package.
We highly recommend this day trip with Wild Rover Tours. They tried everything possible to make this trip a memorable one. The guide and the pilot were very friendly and supportive.

Details : https://wildrovertours.com/activity/giants-causeway-belfast-city-carrick-a-rede-rope-bridge/

Ideally, there are multiple ways to reach this place:

• Train:

You can get trains (Derry Direction) from Belfast Lanyon or Great Victoria Street Train station. You will reach a station (around 1.45 hours) named Coleraine. From there you can hire a taxi (around 15 min)

• Bus:

You can get bus 218a from Great Victoria Bus station to Coleraine Bus Stand. From there you can hire a taxi (around 15 min)

• Car:

This might be the most preferred means of travel as the route is very scenic. (around 1.25 Hours)

Take the M2 motorway / A26 Combination from Belfast.

The route towards Dunluce Castle from Belfast city is quite scenic.

Please note that there are very less parking (means really less 😊) options available near Dunluce castle.

The castle stands mostly in ruins today, but the walls and remains of some of the buildings can still be seen. This castle was mainly built out of local basalt stone, known for its strength and durability.

There is a path beside the castle which takes you down towards the sea. As the title says there are 109 steps which was fine going down a little challenging on the way back.

Dunluce Castle has been a location for many movies like Game of Thrones.

Its also said that the castle was once owned by Winston Churchill.

This castle is a great place to enjoy the history of Ireland and to take in the beautiful scenery of the land.

There is a huge history behind this place. So its worth spending some time in google (Key word 😊 : MacQuillan family ) , if you are really interested to know that.

Points worth to note:

• Opening hours:
  • February to November : Daily 9.30am to 5pm.
  • December/January : Daily 9.30am to 4pm.
  • Last admission 30 minutes before closing.
  • Adult 18+ Years – £6 per ticket
  • Child 5-17 Years – £4 per ticket
  • Child Under 5 – Free

• It is excellent for visitors of all ages.
• Restrooms are available.
• There is a little gift shop available.

The closest town is Bushmills, home to the world-famous Old Bushmills Distillery.

The tour company had guided us for lunch to a restaurant named ‘The Giants Barn’, which was just 8 minutes drive from the Dunluce Castle.  

This restaurant is also located in a very scenic location.

Some places nearby:

• Bushmills Distillery (around 10 minutes’ drive)

This is the oldest whiskey distillery in the world.

• Few of the Antrim coast attractions like Giants Causeway, Carrick-a-rede, Ballintoy Harbour and so on

• Portrush Beach

SUMMARY : Dunluce castle is a great tourist destination and you should never miss this place if you are preparing a Northern Ireland or County Antrim itinerary.