Date: 5-6th June 2019
Travelled: 310 kilometres from Taunton, England to Valleymount, Ireland
Visited: Holyhead and Russborough House (seniors โฌ9 pp)
Stayed: Holyhead marina car-park N53.31746, W04.64232 , free no services
Budget: xx days @ โฌxx per day
Our transit through England continued. We have an appointment in Warrington to service the rear air-suspension on the Hymer. Nothing particular wrong, but as Warrington is only an hour or so out of our way to Holyhead better safe than sorry. I booked the Hymer in a couple of months ago, so we make tracks north on the M5/M6.
The M5/M6 is four lanes each way, most of the time. Lots of trucks and fast movers, every ones in a hurry, so not the most relaxing drive. Although Pam managed to nod off here and there. We find a stop in Stafford and call it a night, deciding on doing the last hour to Warrington in the morning.
After a quiet evening in Stafford we continue on to Warrington and the Hymerโs suspension is given the once over. After a pressure test we are given the all clear, no charge. We do a big shop at the nearby Morrisons and turn for Wales and the ferry terminal at Holyhead. Itโs a 90 minute drive on the A55 across northern Wales, we travelled through here in 2017 stopping at Llandudno and walking the Great Orme Head.
We find a hard stand overlooking the marina in Holyhead with a few other motorhomes. 
5am and dawn has broken in Holyhead. 
Another view of the marina.
We are booked on the 8.15 ferry, so itโs an early start. Arriving an hour early we have breakfast in the queue (short).
The GPS takes us along the Liffey and we pass several familiar spots. The potato famine sculptures. 
The Harp Bridge, Dublin. 
Our favourite, The Ferryman, in 2012 with stayed here for a few days with Dave and Jenny.
As we have already spent several days in Dublin some years ago, we opt out for now to get some touring under the belt. So we continue south-west into the Wicklow Mountains and our first stop, Russborough House. Considered Irelandโs finest Palladian (style) Palace (stately home), built for Joseph Leeson in 1751.
Map showing the location of Russborough House, in County Wicklow.
Designed in the German Palladian style , a central building flanked by curved porticos. 
Itโs 3.15 and the lady at the desk informs us the 3pm guided tour will leave in 5 minutes. 
Russborough is full of French clocks and chairs, but it has a wonderful family history that makes for an interesting tour.
Our guide is a fast talker with a thick accent. She has worked on the estate for 40 years. A hive of knowledge and a real character. 
The library come study. Our guide reminds us that Russborough is only a hunting lodge and the family kept a larger home in Dublin. 
Itโs worth a wander to take in the elaborate plaster work.
We donโt escape and drive out the gate until 5pm. Itโs been a long day, the data base has a wild-camping spot in nearby Valleymount.
Michael and Pam
