Ballyhoura Bears Walks 15th November 2009

By Robin Lee (Ballyhoura Bears PRO)
Lisvernane was the centre of our attraction last Sunday. The three Club walks started from there on what turned out to be a beautiful bright dry morning, and despite the forecast that we were liable to get heavy thunder showers, for some reason Lisvarrinane and its environs was not included in this assessment.

First off was the new concept of Nordic walking. Robin Lee led off the eight enthusiasts at 9.00 a m. For the early risers in the village this must have looked a curiosity. It didn’t take long for the aspirants to get to terms with the technique of this discipline and soon we were underway towards Ballinacourty. The group found their stride – that it what this style of walking is about – and strode energetically as far as Aherlow House Hotel. It was time to turn at this point as both of the leaders of the upcoming “A” and “B” walks were with us, and we needed to get back for the timely start of those two walks. And so we did, arriving back at the start by 10.45.

A large gathering was congregating for the start of both of these walks. Mike Moroney had planned the “A” walk while Joan Caulfield had done likewise for the “B” walk. As it happened their plans overlapped for the first section of both walks, and so it was that in excess of thirty walkers departed Lisvarrinane on time for the first target of the day – The Dolmen. What wonderful work has been done on the paths leading to Ivory’s Farm? This is Mountain Methal as it should be. The workers have transformed what were heavy mud-ridden paths to pleasant stone clad tracks, and despite all of the bad weather that we have been having recently, the tracks were dry and a pleasure to traverse. Full marks for a job of work well done. After a short while we joined the Ballyhoura Way for a distance that led us to Ivory’s and then headed out for The Dolmen. It is only when you are on this track on a day like we had on Sunday, that you can fully appreciate the splendour of all that is around you; The Glen of Aherlow and the Galty Mountains to the south, the vast lush plains of Tipperary stretching to the Slievefelim Mountains on the north, the outline of Slieve na mBan to the east and, of course, our own Ballyhouras to the west. Once we reached The Dolmen the group split into the “A” walk, which continued on over Slievenamuck towards Aherlow House Hotel, and the “B” walk which turned for home to complete The Dolmen loop and return back to Liavarrinane after a three hour walk. The route that took the “A” walk to the Carrigeenina Car Park was firm and dry, and it was possible to make good time on it. Arriving at the road, we stopped for our food break before continuing on through the Nature Park and on to the Hotel grounds. Temptation abounded here with the glorious smell of cooking that reached us, but all of this was avoided as we pressed onwards through Ballinacourty and home to Lisvarrinane just ahead of the heavy rain that was now on its way over the Galtys. Impeccable timing, and an appropriate end to a splendid walk.

Next weekend we are back to two walks again. Mary Ryan – (061) 381244 - will assemble an “A” group at Loughlin’s Bridge at 10.00 a m for a strenuous walk in the Knockmealdowns, while Bridget Hennessy – (087) 9229405 - leads the “B” walk at Garryarthur Forest at 11 a m.