Walking Club
May 10th Walk Report
Ah yes! The summer walking season is well and truly with us again – the Thursday evening walks have begun!
We started these walks a week earlier than usual this year - on the last Thursday of April. This walk, guided by Elizabeth Enright, aptly doubled up with the final preparations for the Ballyhoura International Walking Festival. It gave the participating organizers the opportunity to put the finishing touches to the “route marking” for the Festival, whilst giving the others a flavour of what might be in store for the Festival weekend. A worthwhile experiment that will, no doubt, be repeated.
Last Thursday evening Mike Moroney led a group of nineteen walkers on a night walk to Galteemore. Weather forecasts were disbelieved; warm walking gear was donned, and off with us along the Black Road on a surprisingly clement evening. It was still bright when we got to the end of the road, and the crossing of the turf banks and soft terrain to the base of the mountain was assisted by the bright night on offer. On our last lift to the top we discovered that two of our company had not been on the mountain before, so they led us to the cross at the top. An added bonus for them, and for us! Yes, it was quite cold. Yes, it was very windy, and the cloud was covering in. Every so often, however, this blew off to provide spectacular views of all of the towns and villages surrounding the mountain; scenes akin to descending to a safe aircraft landing through light cloud. We returned safely to our cars with the assistance of the bright moonlit night, having escaped almost all of the inclement weather that had been forecast. A lovely night walk, safely guided, which is likely to be repeated in a forthcoming walks calendar. Thank you Mike.
By sharp contrast the weather conditions on the “A” walk on Sunday couldn’t have been better. Denis Bates had designed a walk for us in the Burren National Park that was most gratifying.
Assembling at Corofin we drove to the starting point that was to take us to three rises on this terrain. We were in the heart of a unique landscape that has been moulded over hundreds of millions of years by the combination of glacial activity and the solution of limestone by water.
Everything was on offer to us. The flora of the Mountain Avens, the Hoary Rock Rose, the Bloody Cranesbill, the Purple Orchid (most probably, from simple research, of bulbous root – to settle an argument) and many more. The fauna of the Hare, the herd of Feral Goats, the Toads and the various waterfowl that exist here. It was as though all these unique attractions of this area arrived to greet us on this balmy summer’s day. How lucky we were!
Our first lift took us through the lower grassy slopes to the relatively low rise of Sliabh Rua boasting views on east Clare and South Galway in sharp relief. Having absorbed this panorama, Denis led us onwards through a route that he seemed to have worried out himself to the top of Knockanes (680M). This is the furthest point on the north of The Burren National Park and shows off the true splendour of this area with aplomb. We had our food stop here in the genial company of the local Ballyvaughan walking group, whose path, on their walk, we crossed at this point. Descending in the direction of Loch Dá Éan, we gained splendid views of the wildfowl of this locality, Traversing through Glenquin, we arrived at a megalithic tomb dating back as far as 2000 B C at the base of Mullach Mór. It was said by the authoritative Archaeologist of the area, T J Westropp, that this tomb nonchalantly provided shelter to a family living in a bothán that was erected close by! The third, and final rise to Mullach Mór was easy. This was the piece de resistance of the day! What a spectacular view it provided, extending, with the assistance of the fine day, to the south-east, to our own Ballyhouras and the Galtees. A memorable day out in a pleasing locale.
And while all of this was happening elsewhere, Pat Carmody led the “B” walk from Glengarra Wood at the south side of the Galtees with a compliment of seventeen walkers. The weather was perfect, and we had a spring in our step from the start. We advanced on to Knockeentong to be presented with the wonderful views that can only be achieved at this time of year in the favourable conditions prevailing. Descending to, and crossing the Black Road (which some of us had traversed on Thursday night) we climbed on to Greenane, again to be provided with stunning views of north Cork, the Knockmealdowns and the Comeraghs further out from us. Perhaps we took on a bit much for a “B” walk, but who could refuse the welcome that the day offered to us over this five hour jaunt.
Sunday next is one of the special days in our calendar – Cyril Morley’s walk in West Cork. This year we assemble at Courtmacsherry Hotel at 10.30 a m for a Costal Walk by the Seven Heads. Details from Cyril on (086) 1709677. For those of us that cannot make it to West Cork, Teresa Brosnan – (087) 9002534 – will guide the “B” walk from Mountrussell Lodge near Ardpatrick at 11 am.
We started these walks a week earlier than usual this year - on the last Thursday of April. This walk, guided by Elizabeth Enright, aptly doubled up with the final preparations for the Ballyhoura International Walking Festival. It gave the participating organizers the opportunity to put the finishing touches to the “route marking” for the Festival, whilst giving the others a flavour of what might be in store for the Festival weekend. A worthwhile experiment that will, no doubt, be repeated.
Last Thursday evening Mike Moroney led a group of nineteen walkers on a night walk to Galteemore. Weather forecasts were disbelieved; warm walking gear was donned, and off with us along the Black Road on a surprisingly clement evening. It was still bright when we got to the end of the road, and the crossing of the turf banks and soft terrain to the base of the mountain was assisted by the bright night on offer. On our last lift to the top we discovered that two of our company had not been on the mountain before, so they led us to the cross at the top. An added bonus for them, and for us! Yes, it was quite cold. Yes, it was very windy, and the cloud was covering in. Every so often, however, this blew off to provide spectacular views of all of the towns and villages surrounding the mountain; scenes akin to descending to a safe aircraft landing through light cloud. We returned safely to our cars with the assistance of the bright moonlit night, having escaped almost all of the inclement weather that had been forecast. A lovely night walk, safely guided, which is likely to be repeated in a forthcoming walks calendar. Thank you Mike.
By sharp contrast the weather conditions on the “A” walk on Sunday couldn’t have been better. Denis Bates had designed a walk for us in the Burren National Park that was most gratifying.
Assembling at Corofin we drove to the starting point that was to take us to three rises on this terrain. We were in the heart of a unique landscape that has been moulded over hundreds of millions of years by the combination of glacial activity and the solution of limestone by water.
Everything was on offer to us. The flora of the Mountain Avens, the Hoary Rock Rose, the Bloody Cranesbill, the Purple Orchid (most probably, from simple research, of bulbous root – to settle an argument) and many more. The fauna of the Hare, the herd of Feral Goats, the Toads and the various waterfowl that exist here. It was as though all these unique attractions of this area arrived to greet us on this balmy summer’s day. How lucky we were!
Our first lift took us through the lower grassy slopes to the relatively low rise of Sliabh Rua boasting views on east Clare and South Galway in sharp relief. Having absorbed this panorama, Denis led us onwards through a route that he seemed to have worried out himself to the top of Knockanes (680M). This is the furthest point on the north of The Burren National Park and shows off the true splendour of this area with aplomb. We had our food stop here in the genial company of the local Ballyvaughan walking group, whose path, on their walk, we crossed at this point. Descending in the direction of Loch Dá Éan, we gained splendid views of the wildfowl of this locality, Traversing through Glenquin, we arrived at a megalithic tomb dating back as far as 2000 B C at the base of Mullach Mór. It was said by the authoritative Archaeologist of the area, T J Westropp, that this tomb nonchalantly provided shelter to a family living in a bothán that was erected close by! The third, and final rise to Mullach Mór was easy. This was the piece de resistance of the day! What a spectacular view it provided, extending, with the assistance of the fine day, to the south-east, to our own Ballyhouras and the Galtees. A memorable day out in a pleasing locale.
And while all of this was happening elsewhere, Pat Carmody led the “B” walk from Glengarra Wood at the south side of the Galtees with a compliment of seventeen walkers. The weather was perfect, and we had a spring in our step from the start. We advanced on to Knockeentong to be presented with the wonderful views that can only be achieved at this time of year in the favourable conditions prevailing. Descending to, and crossing the Black Road (which some of us had traversed on Thursday night) we climbed on to Greenane, again to be provided with stunning views of north Cork, the Knockmealdowns and the Comeraghs further out from us. Perhaps we took on a bit much for a “B” walk, but who could refuse the welcome that the day offered to us over this five hour jaunt.
Sunday next is one of the special days in our calendar – Cyril Morley’s walk in West Cork. This year we assemble at Courtmacsherry Hotel at 10.30 a m for a Costal Walk by the Seven Heads. Details from Cyril on (086) 1709677. For those of us that cannot make it to West Cork, Teresa Brosnan – (087) 9002534 – will guide the “B” walk from Mountrussell Lodge near Ardpatrick at 11 am.
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