5/5 County Wicklow tour - Ballinastoe boardwalk

Chose this walk that is only 3.5km, mostly flat, and with different views from the previous one.

It is created inside a tall Larch plantation, feel so strange, from bright day light to walk into this gloomy dark forest. Lucky there are wooden boards to guide the way.

On the way, there are a few side paths that led to viewing platforms, and there are different views along the way, so thoughtful and well planned.

 

Ballinastoe boardwalk

Ballinastoe boardwalk

Ballinastoe boardwalk

Ballinastoe boardwalk

Ballinastoe boardwalk

Ballinastoe boardwalk

Ballinastoe boardwalk

Ballinastoe boardwalk, lough Tay

 

4/5 County Wicklow tour - driving among the hills

Driving into the mountainous area in Wicklow is a pleasure, for the eyes and the spirit, unlike the coast that is built up and crowded, here, there is wilderness all around. 

The hill are covered with fern that have turned beautifully golden brown, contrasting well with a rich blue sky.

 

Wicklow mountain views

Wicklow mountain views

Wicklow mountain views

Glenmacnass waterfall

Peaty river that flows to Glenmacnass waterfall

North west coast Tullaghmore, Ireland 7/7

A huge recreational pier on this coast, built around 160 years ago by the then UK Prime Minister John Temple. He was given a large piece of land (from removing local villagers) in Tullaghmore, where he built his Castle Classiebawn, and this pier, which has never flourished for commercial use. 

 

Tullaghmore pier

                                                  Tullaghmore pier

 

Classiebawn castle

 

 

Told by local, just behind the Pier Head Hotel is the entrance (no sign) to a lobster holding place where they sell to walk in customer too. The owner collects catches (lobster, crayfish, brown crab) from fishermen in the area and keep them for export. The place can keep 40,000 lobsters and with minimum feeding, they can stay alive and in good shape for 6 months. Major markets are France, Spain, Italy and Hong Kong.

 

Tullaghmore lobster holding place

Tullaghmore crayfish

 

Connemara, Ireland 3/3

Went for a hike up the Diamond Hill in Connemara National Park, another sunny day, so lucky. It is just over 400 m high with well laid stone path, but because of a year without hiking, it felt strenuous, the view, 360˚ is superb. 

 

 

Connemara, Ireland 2/3

 

On a rainy day, the mood is totally different, more sober. Driving around, for a small country, there are a lot of wilderness areas, no building no farm, not touched, beauty as they naturally are. The wild open landscape reminded me of driving around in Iceland and Alaska. 

 

 

Connemara trip Ireland 1/3

Finally lock down is relaxed and it is possible to travel to other counties. For the first trip of the year, I have chosen the Connemara area on the west coast above Galway. Known for its natural beauty and one of the top sited in Ireland.

 

Arrived on a sunny day, the many white sandy beaches in that area are stunning, pristine, no human intervention.