Cork Mountaineering Club

Cork’s longest established Hill Walking Club

Month: July 2018 (Page 1 of 2)

Sunday 22 July 2018: Two Walks

  • Gougane Barra Horseshoe

You can see why Finbarr picked out this gem of a hideaway for his praying and mindfulness. On Sunday last you couldn’t help but be awed by the serenity of this magnificent place, and while there was a slight din from the odd tourist and walker, the over-all scene was one of peace and tranquillity.  14 walkers started out from outside Cronin’s coffee shop to traverse the heights around Gougane in a clockwise direction.  The walk started at the back of the “thatched” public toilets just beyond the chapel.  Up to Foiliastookeen @ 500 mts and on then to Lough Glas. From there it’s down to an unnamed lake and then up again to the northern ledge above Gougane where we traversed our way, stopping for lunch, in a gentle cool breeze.  Then it was on further to another unnamed lake where we met our weekly correspondent and continued to our descent at Foilashrone where the walkers had to exercise plenty of focus and concentration to negotiate high grass and hidden bog-holes and indeed hidden streams. Happy to report, though, that we didn’t lose any of our crew to such “perils.”  The day was warm and the walking nice and casual. The heat was quite energy-sapping with a lot of empty water- bottles in evidence by the time we returned to Cronin’s.  There, we met with the Slí Gaeltacht Mhuscraí crew for a welcome coffee and slice of cake – though I did see some “cool” shandies being ordered as well.

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  • Slí Gaeltacht Mhuscraí

11 people were brought by minibus from Gougane to Ballingeary in order to walk the 12 k section of this part of the O’Sullivan Beara Way or Slí Gaeltacht Mhuscraí. It cost each participant the princely sum of 3 Euro. Everyone agreed that was a very small price to pay for a great day out!  The walk took us through beautiful countryside, forest tracks and low lying hills. We had planned to have lunch on “The banks of our own lovely Lee” however when we got there, the river had all but disappeared. It had been reduced to a little trickle!  So some people decided to eat their lunch in the middle of the dried-up river bed. Afterwards, instead of having to cross the river by bridge we were able to cross it on foot. When we arrived in Gougane we met up with the walkers who had done the full Gougane circuit and treated ourselves to beautiful coffee and cakes in the local hotel.

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Sunday, 15 July: Eastern Reeks

Four walkers set out from Cronin’s Yard.  There was a lot of low cloud and, as we gained height, quite a gusty wind. On reaching Lough Cummeenapeasta, it was agreed that we would not cross the ridge: rather than climbing Cruach Mhór, we instead ascended to the right, up onto Cnoc na Péiste.   Once we reached the top, weather conditions did not make for comfortable walking. So, we decided to continue only as far as Maolán Buí and descend along the Bone. (no photos)

Sunday, 08 July: Knocknafallia/ Knockmeal

In spite of the heat, and it was very hot, there were 10 members out on the walk.  They had thought that, because of cloud cover, they were in no danger of sunburn, but the tips of the leader’s ears give the lie to that.  “Should have worn that bloody hat”!  (no photos)

Wednesday 04 July: Crosshaven Cliff Walk

Nine members set off from a sunny village square in Crosshaven.  We made our way to Fort Meagher and down onto the beach.  Because of the tide, we took to walking on a path above the beach.  From this height and along with the good weather, our view of the harbour area was enhanced.  We cut inland to Templebreedy and stopped at the church, where one of our number gave us a brief history of the place.   We made our way back to the village where we partook of some light refreshments.  (no photos)

Sunday 01 July: Coumloughra Horseshoe

While the rest of us were suffering the sweltering heat, the Coumloughra Seven were suffering a different kind of climate.                                                                              Not a nice day.  It was windy, which caused some anxiety regarding the feasibility of the Beenkeragh Ridge, but this was grand.  Glad to have hats and gloves, though, especially on top!  The wind continued over the Caher Ridge, and Caher itself, but the group was strong, so all went well.  Visibility had been poor, but improved on the descent from Caher so we were able to pick a good line.  It was incredibly dry underfoot.  (no photos)

Lake District Walking Holiday 23-27 June 2018

Our annual Club Trip took us to the Lake District this year. Arriving in the quaint little town of Keswick, gateway to the Lake District, we felt that we were leaving conventional life behind for a while and about to explore one of the most amazing and tranquil landscapes in the UK; indeed it surpassed all our expectations! Our destination was Hassness House Hotel, on the shores of Buttermere. Though only 12 miles from Keswick, the journey took over half an hour by a narrow, twisting but scenic road, via Honister Pass. Hair-raising!

Hassness House provided an excellent base for our holiday, nestled away in splendid isolation with an amazing vista of lake and mountain all around. The name Alfred Wainwright is synonymous with the Lake District and we eagerly perused his Illustrated Guides to the Lakeland Fells, provided by the Hassness House library. During our stay, we walked part of the “Wainwright Coast-to-Coast” and
climbed Haystacks, where his ashes are scattered.

Over the next three days we spent a total of 19 hours walking in glorious sunshine, our labours enlivened by occasional readings from Wainwright’s Book Six. We completed the twelve-mile circuit of Crummock Water and through Mosedale, in 27⁰. We followed in the footsteps of Wainwright, climbing Dale Head (753m) High Spy (653m) and Maiden Moor (571m) before descending to the village of Grange, where ice-cream was devoured before getting the local bus back to our cars.
Some of us achieved their goal of climbing Scafell Pike (978m) while the rest of us took the long  route up Haystacks (597m) from Honister Pass, stopping for lunch by Innominate Tarn and thinking of Wainwright.

Our evenings were self-entertaining – music was played, songs were sung (murdered, even!) and  stories were told. All too soon it was time to depart, for Manchester and the flight home.

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Sunday 24 June Galtees (two walks)

  • Western Galtees                                                                                          Sunday’s walk was looking good with clear blue skies and bright sunshine. Turnout was low, with only one companion for the day, but what was missing in quantity was more than made up for in quality. My companion, being somewhat of an ornithologist, was the best of company.  It was a great day for looking and listening for all the birdlife en route. If I can remember half of the information about the big and small, the visitors, the locals and their behaviour at this time of year I will be doing well. A real nature walk day.  On our return, we discovered that our friends had been overcome by a strong desire for ice cream, and had left a little earlier.                                                                                                                                      MAO_6911 MAO_6910
  • Lisvarrinane Loop                                                                                                  It was a lovely walk yesterday, a hot sunny day.  Nine of us enjoyed the dappled shade before emerging to a gentle breeze and warm sunshine and wonderful views of the Galtee Ridge and the Golden Vale.  We had a lazy lunch at the Dolmen trig point before returning to Lisvarrinane for well-earned ice-cream.

Sunday 17 June: Muisire Mór [Gaeilge agus Fáilte]

This walk was rescheduled from February, when snow conditions forced its abandonment.

On this occasion, seven intrepid mountaineers left the Butter Road car park above Réidhleán / Rylane at 11.15, to start along the Duhallow Way, before striking out onto the mountain itselfIt was misty with the sun trying to break through.  The route card with precise bearings and timings became important in order to continue our ascent with confidence.  By 12.15 we hit a discernible pathway which brought us directly to the stone mound and then on to the trig point and the small Marian Cross at 647 metres. From here we descended some 50 metres east to the oldest Tobar Naomh Eoin where we had a comfortable lunch.

Having descended the mountain westwards towards Millstreet Nature Park, we walked on to the Cnoc na Cille Bronze Age Stone Circle (1600 BC). We then continued the Duhallow Loop and arrived at the cars at 17.30. The sun eventually came out in the evening and there were stunning views of Cathair Bhearnach, An Dá Chích, Cruachán and Stúmpa.  Satisfied with our challenging hike, scramble and energetic walk, we repaired to a local hostelry for a well-earned, hearty meal. Dhein gach éinne an-iarracht an Ghaeilge a labhairt i gcaitheamh an lae. 

Sunday 10 June: Glenbeigh (two walks)

Drung Hill Ridge

Several detailed recces resulted in this very decent ridge walk.  The route started at Mountain Stage, then climbed a track leading to the fields at the foot of Drung Hill.  The ensuing steady ascent, a relentless, gradual 500m, brought the four of us to the summit (640m).  Some discussion was entertained regarding the meaning of “Drung”, but no-one actually knew.  From Drung Hill the route continued to Beenmore (650m), then down to its southern col from where a zig-zag bog road led down to a forest break, and thence to the Kerry Way and back to the cars.

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  • Seefin Circuit

Nine members thoroughly enjoyed their day, if the post-walk chat was anything to go by.   Lest anyone think that this is an easy-peasy walk, be reminded that there is a sharp ascent of almost 300m from the start at Glenbeigh to the Windy Gap (Bearna Gaoithe – from where the views to NW and SE were spectacular), and that most of the remaining 8kms are now off-road.

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SUMMER WEDNESDAY EVENING WALKS (June)

We’ve had three of these this month; the first in the Gearagh – a beautiful summer’s evening walk enjoyed by 13 members in balmy, almost tropical, conditions; even the midges stayed away!  Our traditional Midsummer’s Eve walks (held on the Wednesday nearest the date) on the Paps and to the City were enjoyed by a total of 21 members.  The views were magnificent in a golden sunset, but a strong, cold, north wind ensured rapid progress and an efficient return to the cars.

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