explorers, a man called Tom Crean. Crean passed away in
1938, but in his pub, the suitably named South Pole Inn,
his presence is very much still alive.
Tom Crean was a gentle giant and is often described
as an unsung hero who served with Ernest Shackleton
on numerous polar expeditions. He took part in three
of history’s most gruelling Antarctic expeditions,
whereby he received the Albert Medal for Bravery.
He retired in his home village of Annascaul, where he
bought the pub.
After a hearty breakfast in the South Pole Inn we
continued towards Dingle to visit another famous Irish
site: Saint Brendan’s Port, just outside of Dingle. Dingle
is as close to America from Europe as you can get.
You can also take a boat trip to the Skellig Islands
UNESCO World Heritage Site. These unusual pyramid-
like islands, perched 13km from the mainland, were
recently used to film scenes from the flickStar Wars: The
Force Awakens. You will see the islands in the distance as
you drive along the coastal Slea Head Route.
The County Clare section of the Wild Atlantic Way
offers a very different and unique coastal experience. It’s
packed with big-hitting attractions including the Cliffs ofMoher, Burren National Park, stunning beaches packed
with surfers, and an abundance of ancient sites that are
of national significance.
As you continue along the narrow, meandering coastal
road you will soon see the Cliffs of Moher appear over
the horizon. We spent two days in this very unusual
moonscape environment, which was just a short walk to
the village of Doolin.
Doolin boasts a number of excellent fish restaurants.
You can also experience village pub life, with one of
the local pubs showcasing traditional Irish music. This
musical experience will give you an insight into the
culture that has echoed within this town for centuries.
The word ‘Burren’ comes from the Irish word
‘Boíreann’, meaning a rocky place. The Burren, covering
an area of 160km^2 , is probably Ireland’s most uniqueWe loaded two Land Rover Defenders and
planned to take in as many remote tracks
as possible along this 2500km route
A stop for a pint of
Guinness in Tom
Crean’s old pub.
Coastal tracks in Donegal.County Kerry.http://www.4X4australia.com.au 133