Corrib Rambler Summer Trip 2021

Heather Martin

The Corrib Ramblers had to lie dormant during much of the first half of 2021 on account of Covid restrictions and it wasn’t until 16 May that we had our first outing of the year when we walked in Killannin Woods. Sensing that the mood of the group was somewhat like greyhounds straining at their leash, the committee decided we should head off for a few days as soon as regulations permitted. The decision was to go not too far away for the first break after lockdown but far enough that people felt they were “away”! So within days of the hotels reopening we found ourselves heading to Co. Clare where our destination was The Falls Hotel in Ennistymon. This provided us with a very comfortable base from which to explore the wonderful Burren countryside.

Monday:
On Day One we met up in Crusheen in the morning and then headed to the nearby Dromore Wood Nature Reserve. This wood originally formed part of the private estate of the Crowe family. It was acquired by the State in the 1940s and worked as a commercial forest and then,
during the 1980s, the National Parks and Wildlife Service took over the management of Dromore and focused on the regeneration of native
species. In 1985 it became a Nature Reserve. The park covers an area of around 1,000 acres and includes rivers, lakes, turloughs and callows
(meadows that flood during winter), limestone pavement, fen peat, reed and rush beds, and large areas of woodland. There is a vast variety of
flora and fauna species.
There are also some interesting historical and archaeological features such as the O’Brien castle dating from the 17th century as well as the remains of two ring forts, a lime kiln, a children’s burial ground and a chapel. It is reported that the Pine Marten, one of Ireland’s rarest mammals, continues to inhabit Dromore Woods but, as they are mainly nocturnal animals, we did not spot any!
We did a very pleasant ramble around the Castle Loop and the Rabbit Island Loop, although some of our group were definitely like unleashed greyhounds and went off at an exaggerated pace which resulted in not everybody doing the whole of the Castle Loop and others looping back on themselves! We had brought a picnic lunch which we had sitting beside Dromore lake.
Then we continued our drive to The Falls Hotel where we were greeted with tea and coffee and freshly made scones, all of which were very welcome. The hotel, which had only reopened the few days previously, was following all Covid guidelines so masks were required when walking around public spaces. In the dining room our group was seated in a separate area and four to a table. Can you imagine the excitement of being able to read a menu and choose something cooked professionally after so many months of each of us eating at home?

Tuesday:
The plan was to do a walk along the Cliffs of Moher but Tom and Aidan, who went off to do an early morning recce while the rest of us enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, came back and said the Cliffs were in fog and that it would not be safe to do the proposed walk. So instead, we left at 10am to head to Cassidy’s of Carran in the heart of the Burren, from where there is a choice of walks. We choose to do the Carran or Purple Loop having been assured that it was easy-going. But subsequently, on looking at the map, I see it is described as “strenuous” and that it was! It starts off harmlessly enough on a minor road, then turns off onto a track and then one starts climbing Termon Hill before crossing fields of limestone slabs before descending again along animal tracks and back by another grassy road. Despite having the choice of options along the way everyone opted to stay together and we all managed to get up to the top of the hill where we had a picnic lunch in the lee of some rocks. The fun began on the way down as the descent necessitated crossing limestone pavement with deep grykes or fissures between the clints of limestone. Heather and other
plants were growing in the grykes so it was quite hard to see what was rock and what was the gap between. A few people came a cropper as their foot disappeared down a fissure but fortunately no bones were broken although one person did manage to sprain an ankle (they did not fully realise it till later)! At one point a black kid goat appeared right in front of us and got quite a shock at being faced with a gang of Corrib Ramblers. It held its ground bleating loudly and reply bleats came from deep within the scrub – Mother Goat did not appear but eventually the young goat ran
off into the scrub and presumably was reunited.
Once we descended we got back onto a quiet track which we followed back up into the village of Carran. Sadly the beautiful family run pub of Cassidy’s in Carran was closed on account of the current Covid restrictions but, having eaten there many times before, we hope that we will be
able to return again in the future for the delicious food and friendly welcome. This pub and restaurant, currently operated by Robert and Michelle Cassidy, has been in the same family for the last 200 years. The nearby Burren Perfumery was also closed, and is currently only open part-time.
We returned to the Hotel with the intention of relaxing before dinner but Tom suggested that it was a good time for a short walk along the Cliffs of Moher as the evening was dry and bright at that point and the morning was forecast wet and cloudy again for the cliffs, and some people had never seen the Cliffs. So about ten people headed off for the short drive to the Hag’s Head end of the cliffs and then a very pleasant one-hour stroll along
the cliff tops from where one could look out at the Aran Islands. Una had brought her binoculars and enjoyed spotting the fulmars nesting on the ledges below us.

Wednesday:
On account of the damp weather near the coast Tom decided that we should again head east and so we headed to the Lough Avalla farm to do the looped walk there. This is a working farm run by Harry Jeuken and his family using traditional farming methods. They raise white- belted Galloway cows, goats, donkeys and sheep and make yogurt and cheese.
In 2011 the family, with the assistance of Clare County Council, developed a looped trail on their land. The trail is clearly marked and well maintained and has a variety of hand-made hazel fences and stiles as well as beautiful old stone walls.
There were also numerous hazel walking sticks which Harry has left for people to use and then return. The trail is about 6 km and can take about 2.5 – 3-5 hours to complete at a leisurely pace. From the initial track the path leads past a holy well festooned with offerings, through hazel woods and up onto a limestone pavement. This was somewhat slippery after the rain during the night so required some careful negotiating.
From there one climbs up to a plateau where one is surrounded by wonderful views and where we chose to sit and have our picnic. The views of the amazing limestone rock curves of Mullaghmore were magnificent. After lunch we continued on beneath the cliffs and wandered through the Burren landscape until we got back down to Lough Avalla with its little jetty. Just as we were regaining the trail Harry appeared on his bicycle to say if we wished to have coffee in the farm he could serve it to us at the end of our walk. Sure enough we all headed there and had tea and coffee, and delicious homemade apple tart and chocolate brownies, before exploring Harry’s amazing vegetable garden. We then wandered back down the track to the cars from where we drove to Lahinch to have a look. Some people choose to do an hours walk along the beach on a rather windy
evening whereas others went straight back to the hotel where we again had a lovely dinner. Some even fitted in an occasional swim in the hotel pool during our stay. The hotel had only opened the few days previously and were still trying to recruit staff. It seems as if very few mature people
are now looking to work in hospitality and the average age of most of the new staff in the dining room seemed to be about 17! They were having a steep learning curve but were all doing very well under the helpful eye of the managers.

Thursday:
We packed up at a leisurely pace and left the hotel at 10:30, some having even managed to fit in a little bit of shopping in Ennistymon before leaving. We headed to Coole Park via the back roads of East Clare. Coole was the perfect place to walk after the somewhat challenging walks of the previous days. The paths in Coole, that at times used to be muddy, have now been tarred so we had a very pleasant ramble through the beautiful woods, along the lake shore and back via the walled garden where we studied the autograph tree where various poets in the time of Lady Gregory had carved their initials. We ended up at the Coole Park Tearooms where we had a wonderful lunch sitting outside, before we all headed off home. This trip was particularly special as it was our first after the long lockdown and it was such fun to enjoy the companionship of the group as we rambled around the beautiful and amazing scenery of the Burren.

Flowers and Birds:
This was a great time of year to appreciate nature in the Burren. Luckily, we were able to avoid the showers during the unsettled weather. The vegetation was looking very fresh and the trees were in full leaf. The trees and the plant life in general differed depending which part of Co Clare we were in. In Dromore Woods there is a variety of terrain from the wetlands, grassy meadows and shaded woodland to the typical ‘living stone” Burren landscape, and so the plant life varies accordingly. On the higher slopes of the Burren at Carran Loop and Lough Avalla Farm Loop, we saw both water avens and – higher up – the mountain avens, with a profusion of the beautiful purple bloody cranesbill, the rock rose, and a variety of
orchids still in bloom. The hawthorn was in full bloom in many places in the Burren providing wonderful white colour against the grey limestone and, in Coole Park, we found lots of wild garlic. We came very close to swans and their cygnets on the shore of Dromore Lake, there were fulmar
nesting on the ledges beneath us at the Cliffs of Moher and one of our enduring memories was seeing and hearing the sky larks as we wandered through the landscape.

Covid regulations permitting, Corrib Ramblers normally meet up in Oughterard Carpark on almost every Sunday morning at 10:30am. We used to carpool but, in these Covid times, people are mostly taking their own cars. We go for interesting, varied and social walks within about one hour’s driving distance. We occasionally walk further afield, including The Burren, other parts of Ireland, and in other parts of Europe. Usually, the walks
are 2-3 hours long on established paths, and often there are options for people to do shorter versions if preferred. There are plenty of opportunities to loiter along the way and chat and have a picnic lunch. Also, many take refreshments at a local hostelry immediately after the walk –
again

Covid restrictions permitting. We welcome new members and visitors at any time: email corribramblers@gmail.com for
further information, or phone Mary Kyne (086 077 9114) or Barbara McSharry (087 353 1535).

 

This page was added on 28/09/2022.

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