Sheeffry Hills – A South Mayo Hillwalking Treat
The Sheeffry Hills may not come to mind when planning a day’s hillwalking in the West of Ireland. And yet they should certainly be considered.
With their high point of 772 m at Barrclashcame towards the western end of the plateau, the Sheeffry Hills offer a very pleasant day’s hiking that is not terribly strenuous, yet reaches a very respectable altitude. Higher than any point in Galway and Mayo’s third highest mountain (see my post on Mayo’s highest mountains), Barrclashcame should not be ignored.
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Spring Gentian – Wildflower of Limestone Landscapes
As we left the stump of the once impressive round tower behind and began our gentle climb towards Teampall Bheanáin above, we came upon several little groups of the gorgeous Spring Gentian.
A flower of the Burren, its Aran Island outposts and a few sites in north Galway and south Mayo, the Spring Gentian truly is one of the most beautiful of Ireland’s native wildflowers. Its particular hue of blue attracts the eye very quickly, as it lies low in the grass among the pinks, purples, whites and yellows of the Orchids, Daisies, Bird’s Foot Trefoils and Sea Thrift.
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Wildflowers Delayed due to Cold
Out for a woodland walk at the weekend, I noticed how delayed the arrival of seasonal wildflowers has been. The very cold spring (even last night, temperatures around the country were barely 1 to 4C) has resulted in few wildflowers in bloom to enjoy.
Loop Walks – A Vision for the Mullet Peninsula
The very remote Mullet Peninsula in northwest Mayo already boasts a few short loop walks. But measuring around 25 km from north (at the Erris Head loop walk) to south (Blacksod) and a maximum of 14 km from west (Annagh Head) to east (Ballyglass), imagine what a coastal loop walk the whole way around this wonderful place would be like.
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Cong Lakes Walking Weekend 2013
Join our group for this fantastic guided walking weekend in May. Taking place over the May bank holiday weekend, from May 3 through 6, this is one of the top walking weekends the West of Ireland has to offer.
Clare Island
The old lighthouse at its northern tip was our target during a day trip over to Clare Island in late summer.
A beautiful day welcomed us to the pier at Roonagh, itself a lovely spot. Had we been a little earlier arriving, with some time to spare, we could have walked the low stony coastline southward from the pier’s carpark, down to the first strand reached, to look out for the seals that often lounge on the partly submerged rocks just off.
Twelve Bens – Walking the Gleninagh Circuit
What I like about the Twelve Bens is that lots of them boast proper conical or pointed peaks. Moreover, most of them are rocky on top. Coming from Mayo and our almost universally turf-topped mountains, they make for a nice change. This earlier post names which Mayo mountains have rocky summits.
Irish Red Cross Sunrise Summit Challenge, April 14
I am happy to relay this press release from the Irish Red Cross :
Irish Red Cross Sunrise Summit Challenge
From: Vikki Walshe, Challenge Events, Irish Red Cross | 01 642 4659 | challengeevents [at] redcross.ie
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