antonalyptic: killarney

Showing posts with label killarney. Show all posts

20260710

2026 Foray#2 Derrynane overnight

The Dingle Peninsula

Gorgeous weather and a longing to foray, so I walked down to the end of our road and caught the 65 'bus to the Square and then the Luas to Heuston rail station where I rode the Cork express to Mallow and the branch line from there to Killarney.

I had over an hour to kill in Killarney so took the opportunity to walk to the Lidl to purchased hard tack and orange juice, returning via a public WC to the bus station. All activity at my age revolves around where is the next WC: the bus station has a nice little café which boasts one WC cubicle "for customer use". My next modus operandi was the 270 bus to Kenmare then the 281 bus towards Waterville but I got off at Caherdaniel and walked the last 40 minutes to my destination. Beautiful Derrynane, in particular the Long Beach.

Derrynane

Here I explored my environs as one always must, and picked a suitable hollow to "hide" my tent as a sign noted that camping was strictly not permitted. Having come all this way and the day being almost over what was I to do? So I did it anyway and put the onus on whoever erected that sign to find me and tell me to move over. My tent in a hollow was all but invisible from most angles. I slept and woke the next morning without incident. Although I did have to share the domain with numerous rabbits.

My return trip was largely the inverse of my outward journey. I walked back to Caherdaniel to catch the 281 bus to its terminus at Waterville, then switched to the 280 to Killorglin and then to Killarney. Then Irish Rail to Heuston, the Luas to the Square and an interminable wait (over an hour) for the 65 bus that goes past our road as it terminates at Ballyknockan across the lake. And a 20 minute walk back home where I enjoyed a shower and a curry prepared by my better half.

Why did I go? Partly because I could (as in my Free Travel pass). Partly because I love watching the scenery fly past (glued to the window I rarely read). Partly because my chosen destination and/or the route there is so beautiful. Now-a-days I choose an easy final route for walking or cycling (not too much elevation please). And some decent weather please.

Derrynane has well maintained public WC, as does Killarney railway station. The bus station has a nice café which I availed of for a light lunch.

I'm glad that I did go, and have these photos as a memorial.

The morning after

See here for a nice aerial view

20230415

2023 Foray No.1 Tralee

Now that Covid has (or the official rules concerning Covid have) retreated somewhat, my Free Travel pass is burning a hole in my wallet. So I decided on a leisurely beginning. The rule of the game is that the trip must cost nothing, or at least very little. That rules out using a car or a B&B or purchasing much in the way of kit.

I took the 07:10 bus from the end of our road not yet fully decided on a destination, and ended up getting off at the Square, Tallaght and taking the Luas tram to Dublin Heuston station and boarding the train for Cork. At Mallow I changed to the single-track Killarney line and rode all the way to its terminus at Tralee. Here I disembarked somewhat perfunctorily - to convince myself and any interested railway staff that I had arrived at my final destination (they were not interested) - and then re-boarded. I guess I was at my final destination there for less than 10 minutes before the train retraced its wheels back to Mallow, thence to Heuston, the Square, and finally back home. This must be the furthest you can go from my home in one day using public transport. The total cost (to me) of this trip was the €3.80 I rashly spent for an overpriced and underrated coffee on the train.

On my last foray at Killarney station I pointed out the strange track alignment indicated above. To depart from Killarney towards Tralee the train has to reverse and come to a halt in a siding. The driver then switches ends (he walks through the train corridor to do this) and the points are set so that the train, going forward, now branches to the right and thus towards Tralee. With a reverse procedure on the return journey. Which process takes time and must be a trial for the driver.

Sun rise over our lake, from the bus stop

Loughmore Castle

Carrauntoohil over there somewhere

20190802

Now we are sixty six

So I have this free travel card which entitles me to travel anywhere on public transport in Ireland. It seems a shame to waste it so, after a good bowl of muesli and cornflakes laced with evaporated milk, I set of with my backpack at 06:30 to the end of the road where I caught the one and only bus from here to Dublin. At the Square I transferred to the Luas tram to Heuston where I took the Intercity to Mallow, then the regional service to Killarney and finally the bus to Beaufort Bridge from where I walked for two hours (10km) to Cronin's Yard where is the most popular trail head to Carrauntoohil, the highest peak in Ireland. Since I knew I would be tight for time on the morrow, I spurned the camp site there and strode a few more km to the base of the mountain and wild camped by Lough Callee, and ate dry sandwiches and fruit cake for dinner, washed down with water.

I had chosen Thursday for my early morning climb on the basis of this excellent site which correctly prophesied:

Exiting to relieve myself during the night I was awed at the clear night sky with the Milky Way clearly visible. You don't get that where we live near to Dublin.

I woke several more times, uncomfortable and cold, then realised it was lighter - I had overslept by 20 minutes and by the time I had struck camp and set off it was 06:10. The view across the lough of my intended uphill path was somewhat intimidating at that time in the morning but, trusting I would feel better about it once I had gained some altitude and some bodily warmth, I set off, hiding my tent and sleeping bag behind a conveniently obscure rock. Breakfast (a couple of muesli bars) had to be consumed on the way.

Not surprisingly I didn't meet anyone until I started my descent, but then there was a constant stream. It is a very popular trail.

The interesting part of my climb

Showing my route back to Beaufort Bridge

Here is my track from wild campsite to summit and back to Beaufort Bridge. Stats 11.7 miles, 2.78mph average speed moving, elevation loss 1219m. To this you might add the day before's trek from Beaufort Bridge up to campsite about 13km.

This image copied from the internet

My route up was by Brother O'shea's Gully, return via Devil's Ladder. I had to do this and get back to Cronin's Yard by 10:30 in order to make connections to get me home - if I missed a connection it worked out that I'd be delayed about 5 hours. In fact I made it to Cronin's Yard by 10:20, and so was able to get the only bus that would take me to our road, and arrived home at 19:30. A hot shower, a decent meal and my bed - oh, bliss! Although I have removed two more ticks the day after...

Oh, oh, and I had to "manage" the wound on my foot from the recent St Kevin's Way trek when I had scraped some skin off the inside of the arch of my right foot. For a bare-foot runner this is somewhat of an encumbrance. I wore sandals on the mountain climb, but the sandals chaffed the wound...

Oh, and what did I do whilst camping and hiking? I don't do earphones and constant musaz. I did listen to some audio-book whilst in the tent. But whilst hiking I enjoyed just being, and contemplated my past life. What impact has my life made? Not much, but at least I have spawned four amazing children who already far exceed my weak attempts.

The following pictures are in reverse order again. As always, click on a picture to view it full resolution, after which you should be able to scroll through the pictures.

Goodbye Heuston station

Killarney station train approaching and some interesting pants

Our train approaching Killarney station

Killarney track alignment

That Killarney is in Kerry might explain the zany arrangement. First, to get from the bus station to the train station you have to walk the long way around the block - marked in red - why could they not have provided a pedestrian bridge? Second, the train from Tralee approaches from top left of my map (yellow), and then has to reverse back into the station (waiting for the driver to walk from one end of his train to the other to do so). If only they would move the station it would solve both problems.