Day 11
We left beautiful, quaint Kenmare in route to Gougane Barra. First stop was in Tourist, County Kerry, to visit at the Uragh Stone Circle that was out in the middle of no where really. The land was owned by a local sheep farmer, who had a box on a fence where you could put a few coins to help maintain the site. We hiked up to the site and it was very calm and mystical feeling. There was a slight mist this morning, but we really weren't bothered. Nick told us what is known about Stone Circle's and then walked us up a hill so we could get a view of the valley. Even on a misty morning, Ireland is beautiful & enchanting. I brought up the rear of the group and stopped at the stone circle for a short meditation, before catching up with our group.
We hit the road towards the Beara Peninsula to Gougane Beara. The Beara Peninsula is the forgotten Peninsula as Nick told us. The roads are narrow so tour buses do not go here. The landscape is unspoiled and tranquil, very picturesque. We stopped frequently to take pictures. About half way through the morning we stopped in Lauragh at a small cafe/post office (Pedals & Boots Cafe), for refreshments and bathrooms.
After another short ride Nick stopped the van and we all got out, seemingly in the middle of no where. We were about to experience the Healy Pass. Nick said the best way to see the beauty of the pass & valley was to walk up the road, a hill that curved and we could not see what was on the other side. Nick then got in the van and said he would meet us on the other side. We all started our little trek up the road and came around the curve to see a magnificent valley below. As usual, Nick was right, jaw dropping beauty!
The Healy Pass is a winding mountain road between Adrigole in County Cork and Lauragh in County Kerry, that cuts through the high Caha Mountains. The Pass is 334 meters above sea level and passes between two of the highest peaks of the Caha range. The Healy Pass was built during the famine times in the year 1847 to help prevent starvation (sort of public works project, but they paid the working 'starvation' wages - almost nothing in otherwords). The Pass is named after Timothy Michael Healy who was born in County Cork. He was the first Governor General of Ireland and was well aware of the need for a proper road between the Kerry side and the Cork side of the Beara Peninsula. He died in March of 1931 and in April the road was dedicated to him.
As we drove along coming out of the Healy Pass, Nick spotted a bog, that had peat harvested and stacked. He took the opportunity to stop and tell us about bogs & the peat that they harvest to burn in fireplaces to heat homes. A bog is a wetland that accumulates peat, a deposit of dead plant materials. Once it is scraped up of the ground, in to little 'logs' they stack it and let it dry, once dry the peat becomes fuel for fires.
Our next stop was at Dunboy Forest Recreation area in Castletownbere, where we did a lovely hike, followed by lunch in the town. After lunch, a short stop at Carriganass Castle, which is the restored ruins of a castle in the heart of County Cork. It is a very picturesque place for a nice stroll.
There was a pretty lake along our walk and as I walked down to the waters edge, I looked down to pick up a rock (I pick up a rock from all my hikes) and I see someone has painted rocks with fish, sunshines, shells, jellyfish, etc and just sprinkled them amongst the rocks. Interesting!
As the end of the day approached we arrived at the Gougane Barra Hotel. This might be my favorite hotel of the trip. It is situated in a valley, next to a lake. Quiet and isolated in the best way. Nick pointed out that there was a lovely walk behind the hotel, so after dropping my bag in the room, I went out for a stroll. So peaceful and beautiful.
We left beautiful, quaint Kenmare in route to Gougane Barra. First stop was in Tourist, County Kerry, to visit at the Uragh Stone Circle that was out in the middle of no where really. The land was owned by a local sheep farmer, who had a box on a fence where you could put a few coins to help maintain the site. We hiked up to the site and it was very calm and mystical feeling. There was a slight mist this morning, but we really weren't bothered. Nick told us what is known about Stone Circle's and then walked us up a hill so we could get a view of the valley. Even on a misty morning, Ireland is beautiful & enchanting. I brought up the rear of the group and stopped at the stone circle for a short meditation, before catching up with our group.
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| Farm house in the distance |
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| waterfall on the hill behind the Stone Circle |
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| Misty Morn' in front of the Stone Circle |
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| Nick talks about the Circle |
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| View from the hill above the Stone Circle |
We hit the road towards the Beara Peninsula to Gougane Beara. The Beara Peninsula is the forgotten Peninsula as Nick told us. The roads are narrow so tour buses do not go here. The landscape is unspoiled and tranquil, very picturesque. We stopped frequently to take pictures. About half way through the morning we stopped in Lauragh at a small cafe/post office (Pedals & Boots Cafe), for refreshments and bathrooms.
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| Pedals & Boots Cafe |
After another short ride Nick stopped the van and we all got out, seemingly in the middle of no where. We were about to experience the Healy Pass. Nick said the best way to see the beauty of the pass & valley was to walk up the road, a hill that curved and we could not see what was on the other side. Nick then got in the van and said he would meet us on the other side. We all started our little trek up the road and came around the curve to see a magnificent valley below. As usual, Nick was right, jaw dropping beauty!
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| View looking back the way we came |
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| Road where Nick dropped us off |
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| Pano view looking back the road we came up before Nick dropped us off |
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| View as we came over the hill and saw Healy Pass |
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| As we drove through the pass, lots of sheep! |
The Healy Pass is a winding mountain road between Adrigole in County Cork and Lauragh in County Kerry, that cuts through the high Caha Mountains. The Pass is 334 meters above sea level and passes between two of the highest peaks of the Caha range. The Healy Pass was built during the famine times in the year 1847 to help prevent starvation (sort of public works project, but they paid the working 'starvation' wages - almost nothing in otherwords). The Pass is named after Timothy Michael Healy who was born in County Cork. He was the first Governor General of Ireland and was well aware of the need for a proper road between the Kerry side and the Cork side of the Beara Peninsula. He died in March of 1931 and in April the road was dedicated to him.
As we drove along coming out of the Healy Pass, Nick spotted a bog, that had peat harvested and stacked. He took the opportunity to stop and tell us about bogs & the peat that they harvest to burn in fireplaces to heat homes. A bog is a wetland that accumulates peat, a deposit of dead plant materials. Once it is scraped up of the ground, in to little 'logs' they stack it and let it dry, once dry the peat becomes fuel for fires.
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| Nick explains the science of Bogs & Peat |
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| Field of Peat drying out |
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| Kelsey doing her best 'Vana' with Peat |
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| pretty flowers along the path |
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| do you see the sunshine? |
There was a pretty lake along our walk and as I walked down to the waters edge, I looked down to pick up a rock (I pick up a rock from all my hikes) and I see someone has painted rocks with fish, sunshines, shells, jellyfish, etc and just sprinkled them amongst the rocks. Interesting!
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| The view from my window at Gougane Barra Hotel |
As the end of the day approached we arrived at the Gougane Barra Hotel. This might be my favorite hotel of the trip. It is situated in a valley, next to a lake. Quiet and isolated in the best way. Nick pointed out that there was a lovely walk behind the hotel, so after dropping my bag in the room, I went out for a stroll. So peaceful and beautiful.
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| my room with a view |
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| Baby Lamb outside on the hotel front lawn |
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| babbling brook on my walk behind the hotel |
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| Just munching away on the walking path |
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| Came access this guy on my walk - looked at me like ' what are you doing here?' |
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| The lake in front of the hotel |
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