Walking Club
Ballyhoura Bears Walks 22nd November 2009
By Robin Lee (Ballyhoura Bears PRO)
It is to the credit of the Club that it has never cancelled a scheduled walk, irrespective of weather forecasts or prevailing conditions at the start of or during a walk. Sometimes adjustments have to be made to plans to provide for weather or ground conditions, and these are usually done in the interest of safety. Given the weather conditions that led up to last weekend, however, and the forecasts that were being given for Sunday it would have come as no surprise if either or both of the planned walks was cancelled. Not so!
Mary Ryan was detailed to take charge of the “A” walk assembling at Loughlin’s Bridge and heading on to the Knockmealdowns for the day. Thirteen hardy bodies turned up at the start determined to defy the weather and the forecast. It came as a welcome surprise that the predicted rain seemed to be elsewhere than where we were; in fact that was the way it remained for the day! What a bonus. We couldn’t ignore the strength of the wind, however, as it gusted in unpredictable bouts all around us, so adjustments to the planned walk were at hand. Mary’s experience and knowledge of these mountains offered just as exciting and challenging a walk with the safety measures built in. Our first lift was on to Sugarloaf Hill (663 M) and from there we straddled the County boundary of Tipperary and Waterford until we reached Knockmealdown (794 M). Normally this is a pleasant spot to stop for a food break, and absorb the tremendous views all around, but Sunday was different. The wind forced us to postpone our food break until we reached the relative shelter that “the wall” provides at Knocknagnauv (655 M). Replenished, we hit due east for Knockmeal and thence almost due north to Crohan West (521 M). Although we were now on the lowest point that we were on all day, the wind was strongest here, possibly due to the absence of shelter from the north. Despite this we had a full view of the River Suir in full spate as it raced its way through Caher, Ardfinnan and Clonmel. It was time to head for home now and we did this via the Liam Lynch Memorial and the Coillte Tracks back to the start. A most gratifying day out and many thanks to Mary for getting us all home safe, sound and well exercised.
The “B” walk started from Garryarthur Forest under the stewardship of Bridget Hennessy. Who better to lead this walk than Bridget? Living just across the road from the start, she knows every nook and cranny of this territory, and this local knowledge was pressed into service on Sunday. Just when we were getting familiar with the chosen path she would turn into the woods, take a shortcut alongside a stream, unearth a small seldom used path, all of which kept the whole walk interesting from start to finish. We firstly ascended Kilcruaig – a nice little pipe opener for a start. Standing on top we were lucky to have a full view all around us. It was interesting to observe how little damage the recent exceptional rainfall had done to the immediate locality, but as you looked in the direction of Kildorrery, Glanworth and Fermoy it was evident that these areas had suffered worse. Onwards with us, through the divers routes referred to and on to Castle Gael underneath which, in its shelter, we had our food break. While the wind was strong throughout, we couldn’t have been luckier with the rain that was forecasted, just getting a sprinkling here and there until we reached the end of the walk just were we had started four hours earlier. Once again Bridget is to be congratulated on arranging this walk to accommodate the unexpected conditions that arrived behind the bad weather.
Next week the Club is back to three walks again. Susie Flavin- 085 1448015 - leads a moderate 5/6 hour “A” walk from Ardpatrick at 10.00 a m while Willie O’Rourke – 087 7934958 – will assemble the “B” walkers at Ballinaboola (roadside) at 11 a m for a 3 hour walk. The third walk is under the stewardship of our Chairman Denis Bates. He will conduct a skills walk (our second such walk) from Galtee Castle Car Park at 10.30 a m. Those intending to participate in this walk will need to contact Denis in advance at 086 8047570.
Finally there will be a walks fixtures list meeting at Ardpatrick Community Centre on Tuesday night, 1st December at 8.00 p m. Members are requested to attend with proposed walks for the next walks Calendar for the first quarter of 2010.
It is to the credit of the Club that it has never cancelled a scheduled walk, irrespective of weather forecasts or prevailing conditions at the start of or during a walk. Sometimes adjustments have to be made to plans to provide for weather or ground conditions, and these are usually done in the interest of safety. Given the weather conditions that led up to last weekend, however, and the forecasts that were being given for Sunday it would have come as no surprise if either or both of the planned walks was cancelled. Not so!
Mary Ryan was detailed to take charge of the “A” walk assembling at Loughlin’s Bridge and heading on to the Knockmealdowns for the day. Thirteen hardy bodies turned up at the start determined to defy the weather and the forecast. It came as a welcome surprise that the predicted rain seemed to be elsewhere than where we were; in fact that was the way it remained for the day! What a bonus. We couldn’t ignore the strength of the wind, however, as it gusted in unpredictable bouts all around us, so adjustments to the planned walk were at hand. Mary’s experience and knowledge of these mountains offered just as exciting and challenging a walk with the safety measures built in. Our first lift was on to Sugarloaf Hill (663 M) and from there we straddled the County boundary of Tipperary and Waterford until we reached Knockmealdown (794 M). Normally this is a pleasant spot to stop for a food break, and absorb the tremendous views all around, but Sunday was different. The wind forced us to postpone our food break until we reached the relative shelter that “the wall” provides at Knocknagnauv (655 M). Replenished, we hit due east for Knockmeal and thence almost due north to Crohan West (521 M). Although we were now on the lowest point that we were on all day, the wind was strongest here, possibly due to the absence of shelter from the north. Despite this we had a full view of the River Suir in full spate as it raced its way through Caher, Ardfinnan and Clonmel. It was time to head for home now and we did this via the Liam Lynch Memorial and the Coillte Tracks back to the start. A most gratifying day out and many thanks to Mary for getting us all home safe, sound and well exercised.
The “B” walk started from Garryarthur Forest under the stewardship of Bridget Hennessy. Who better to lead this walk than Bridget? Living just across the road from the start, she knows every nook and cranny of this territory, and this local knowledge was pressed into service on Sunday. Just when we were getting familiar with the chosen path she would turn into the woods, take a shortcut alongside a stream, unearth a small seldom used path, all of which kept the whole walk interesting from start to finish. We firstly ascended Kilcruaig – a nice little pipe opener for a start. Standing on top we were lucky to have a full view all around us. It was interesting to observe how little damage the recent exceptional rainfall had done to the immediate locality, but as you looked in the direction of Kildorrery, Glanworth and Fermoy it was evident that these areas had suffered worse. Onwards with us, through the divers routes referred to and on to Castle Gael underneath which, in its shelter, we had our food break. While the wind was strong throughout, we couldn’t have been luckier with the rain that was forecasted, just getting a sprinkling here and there until we reached the end of the walk just were we had started four hours earlier. Once again Bridget is to be congratulated on arranging this walk to accommodate the unexpected conditions that arrived behind the bad weather.
Next week the Club is back to three walks again. Susie Flavin- 085 1448015 - leads a moderate 5/6 hour “A” walk from Ardpatrick at 10.00 a m while Willie O’Rourke – 087 7934958 – will assemble the “B” walkers at Ballinaboola (roadside) at 11 a m for a 3 hour walk. The third walk is under the stewardship of our Chairman Denis Bates. He will conduct a skills walk (our second such walk) from Galtee Castle Car Park at 10.30 a m. Those intending to participate in this walk will need to contact Denis in advance at 086 8047570.
Finally there will be a walks fixtures list meeting at Ardpatrick Community Centre on Tuesday night, 1st December at 8.00 p m. Members are requested to attend with proposed walks for the next walks Calendar for the first quarter of 2010.
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