Trip to the west?

ThOnda

Hallo

I am going for two or three days to the west coast tomorrow. Valentia, Beara...

Could you recommend me few places that are worth to visit? No stunning landscape photography required, I just want to see another part of this beautiful island(s).
And not having loooong lens, no puffins welcomed :-)

sineadw

Ah you're on the wrong peninsula! Although I'm sure there are a few here who'll disagree If you think you'll get a chance to check out the Dingle one throw me a PM and I'll let you know some good places. Its a long trip round though.. Where you staying?

ThOnda

I've been to Dingle already few times. I just want to see something new, to complete knowledge of local pubs and restaurants :-)

I have wrote down some contact to B&Bs in Valentia. Looks logical for me to get to Killarney in the morning, than to stroll along the coast up to Valentia, browse that island and stay there for night. I would like to go further along the coast the next day. No time limitation, just 20 rolls of film and one credit card :-)

I have got some information about stone circles and some fortresses, however recommended spots would be appreciated a lot.

bovril

I'm not familiar with the Valentia area but I spent a few days in Killarney earlier on in the year. I rented a bicycle and cycled around the National Park. There are wild deer there. The lakes are fabulous and there are maps of walks and cycle tracks etc. Torc Waterfall is beautiful and you can do a full circle of the lakes which take in the Gap of Dunloe which is worth it if the weather is fine. Killarney should have a tourist office (although not sure if it will be open this time of the year). Here are some links

http://homepage.tinet.ie/~knp/

http://www.muckross-house.ie/

http://www.killarney.ie/sights.php

Not exactly what you were asking about but maybe it is of use to you.

I spent a week down there this summer visiting all 3 peninsulas so I know a few spots.In Killarney I'd reccomend the usual tourist spots,Muckross and Torc but there's also a lovely oak forest called Cloghereen Blue Pool with a 2km walk.It's accross the road from Muckross a bit before Torc.I'd also reccomend a long cycle to see the best of the national park but seeing as you only have 3 days it mightn't be the best idea.I did a lovely 50km loop from Killarney,up Torc,Old Kenmare Road,the Kerry Way to the Gap of Dunloe and back to Killarney.It's rough going though so not possible on a road bike.Not much else in Killarney otherwise,the best of the stuff is in the surrounding area.

Presumably you'll be doing the whole Iveragh peninsula if you're visiting Valentia.On the way from Killarney I reccomend visiting Ballymalis castle a bit outside Killorglin.Rossbeigh strand is another nice spot just outside Glenbeigh.Accross the bridge in Cahersiveen there's Ballycarbery Castle,Leacanabuile Fort and Cahergall Fort all fairly close to each other.

I don't know too much about Valentia,I only got to visit the slate mine there,was in a bit of a rush but there are some great views around there.

Continuing on around the peninsula there's a hill(with a carpark just below it) you can climb just before Caherdaniel with some great views.Abbey Island just beside Caherdaniel is a beautiful spot.After Caherdaniel there's not much else to visit except Staigue Fort near Castlecove.

As for the Beara Peninsula I didn't see much around there.It was probably the least impressive of the peninsulas but still worth a visit.The top of the Healy Pass is supposed to have fantastic views but I didn't get a chance to visit it.What might be interesting though is a boat trip to Bere Island.There are 2 forts and 2 martello towers on the island and a nice nature walk.There's a car ferry that leaves every few hours(I think.)Hope I've given you a few ideas.

ThOnda

bovril + Inibaz: Thank you a lot! Not only you had made me to post my 1000th post, but you gave me also very important amount of information.
Thank you a lot and I hope I'll be able to see as much as possible. And even more thanks yo your help.

ThOnda

I'm just a stupid #####! What I have found on the net - themodernatiquarian.com

I should have known about that site sooner! So many wasted time. There are so many standing stones, thombs, stone circles here in Ireland! And I haven't seen so many of those! I am going to make it 90.000 km in 16 months and such gaps in topography!

Shame on me! Well, time to bed - I have to wake up in 5 hours...

Roen

I walked the Sheeps Head way a couple of years back. would highly recommend it. Christy Moore even stopped up and offered me a lift while I was map reading on the side of the road. Not everywhere you get that!

http://www.cork-guide.ie/sheepshead/index.html

Roen

ThOnda wrote: »

I'm just a stupid #####! What I have found on the net - themodernatiquarian.com

I should have known about that site sooner! So many wasted time. There are so many standing stones, thombs, stone circles here in Ireland! And I haven't seen so many of those! I am going to make it 90.000 km in 16 months and such gaps in topography!

Shame on me! Well, time to bed - I have to wake up in 5 hours...

:eek: I've just found my mission for 2008, and it's a Julian Cope site too. Wow, thanks Th0nda!

ThOnda

I am back. The gale winds, the water from all directions, flooded roads and what was the worst - I fell into cow's excrement. And so badly, that I had to change most of my clothes, wash me in freezing water and to drive home.
I am already clean now, smell nice (what a difference) and washing machine sings it's solo part. I feel so stupid! But I have seen many wonderful places and I'll be regular down there. Very regular! Even with all the mist, fog and rain, it was beautiful.
I love this island!!!

So where did you visit Thonda? And more importantly how did you fall in cow excrement?:D I've always found it to be quite grippy...

This site is also fairly useful
http://irishantiquities.bravehost.com/gazetteer.html
It has over a thousand castles,abbeys,churches,standing stones,stone forts and soutterains from all over the country.

ThOnda

Sorry for late response, but I was tired and 4-tired today. Hot seaweed baths are just a treat now!

To make the story short, I've passed Lough Leane, than went back to Ballymalis Castle, after that just went to Ross Behy beach. My trip ended in Cahersiveen. I have visited and remembered Ballycarberry Castle. There it happened. All the castle is in the cows' heaven. And I have slipped a little on the first one, got shock from that and fell into another one. I hope nobody saw me there. And trying to clean myself.

I forced myself to go to see Cahergall Stone Fort, but it was on the edge. And I think the girls in chipper in Cahersiveen would remember me...

By the way, is it normal to stop my car every few minutes in gale winds and heavy rain just to get my camera and lenses totally wet and don't press the trigger?