 |
 |
|
|
Courtesy of Roundstone House Hotel
COMMENT: This is a simple local walk. It combines foreshore with quiet country roads, and you get to see a bit of the village, too. START AND FINISH: At the Roundstone House Hotel Front door. WALK: As you go out the front door (A), turn right. At the fIrst road junction, bear straight on, down towards the castellated wall marking the entrance to the Michael Killeen IDA centre. Just at that entrance, there is a gate (B), with a stile beside it, to the right. Go in there (closing the gate if you use it rather than the stile). Now you're off, in a peaceful ambience of a grassy road between thick furze bushes. The road swings around" left, then follows three sharp bends, as it wends its way along towards the seashore. There are marvellous views up to Errisbeg on the right, and out over the coast towards Inishlackan. The little road reaches the shoreline where houses stand at the shore (C) and here the road peters out. Continue along the shorefront on a grassy path, outside a low stone wall. You might have to step onto rocks here and there, just watch your footing if you do. A stream coming onto the stones can be crossed either by stepping-stones or by a short footbridge (I chose the stones because I'm no gymnast, myself). Soon after, you must cross a short low stone wall, but that is no great obstacle, and then the green path resumes to wind around to a small road at the back of the cove (D), in Ervallagh. This is an attractive little spot, with a small beach and a pier. Turn right onto the narrow road; it ascends briefly and then you have excellent views towards the Twelve Pins, and the spires of the churches at Roundstone. The green-striped road wends between small reedy lakes and fields probably with ponies. It is a very tranquil setting, especially the morning I walked it at sunrise -when the blue of the night meets the gold of the day, and all that. When you arrive up to a crossroads (E) on the main R341 road, turn right and now take care for then next ten minutes, because this road can be busy. Walk in single file on the right to face oncoming traffic. When you reach the "Welcome to Roundstone" stone, turn left just before it onto a welcoming side road, with a grassy stripe. This ascends in the gentlest of fashions, in a leafy rural setting. At the next junction (F), turn right, and this quiet road heads directly back for the village. The views just before you descend straight through the fmal junction (G) are marvellous, and then you arrive down at the harbour pier. The Hotel is just up the street to the right now. *Footnote: If you want to extend this walk, my suggestion would be to do an out-and- back extension from that cove (D), walking on a really narrow road along Ervallagh for say 5 minute to (X), and then coming back to (D), and then finish the walk as described above. This obviously adds % hour. You can go all the way around the loop via the junction at (Y), but this entails more walking on the busy R34] road; and you'd miss the COMMENT: My feet are here on Broadway -ach, y'know the classic .emigran Anyway, on a happier note, here is a real bog road for you. An hour from readi you could be standing in a completely isolated bog, with scarcely any sign of habitation, with just small lakes, furze and skylarks for company. (Unless of you're reading this in Manhattan, in which case it might take a little longer). The local name for part of this route is Farrell's Road. This is an easy wal wonderful views and a truly peaceful ambience. Because it is an out-and-back wa can turn back at any stage short of the full walk and you will still have had outing. START AND FINISH: At the Roundstone House Hotel front door. WALK: As you go out the front door (A) turn left and walk down the hill towa harbour. At the bottom, turn left into a side road, and ascend a short bill to ajuncti Turn right here, and you're off into a country road with the bulk of Letterdi looming to your left. At the highest point of the road (C) just beside the hill you m first of two gates. Close it securely after you. From here on, the views are really good, with a grandstand panorama entire Twelve Pins ahead, the lone Cashel Rill off to the East, and the inner Rour Bay down to the right. As you descend this lovely quiet session, a few gurgling s cross under (and sometimes over!) the road. Near the bottom (D) you approach a gate, but just before it a bog road br left. Follow that, and now you're into the real feature of this walk. The peace an, here is extraordinary, as you walk along the undulating road out through the bog. is a tiny bridge over a bog stream, and then two lakes, as you walk along. You mig a few pools on the road after rain, but they are easily circumvented. If you go t distance to where the bog road ends (E), you'll be forgiven for wondering whether the only one left on the planet. When you've seen and done enough, the route home is exactly as you car It is often surprising how different things look in the reverse direction. I really like this walk, and the fact that it so easily reached from the Hotel COMMENT: This is almost as far West as you can get in mainland Connemara. Bunowen is a small port with a pier and a beach, and this is a simple anq easy walk on level grass and country roads. There is a very peaceful ambience out here. START AND FINISH: At Bunowen pier (Map Ref: 592415), some 19km (12Mls) from Roundstone: DRIVE TO START: From Roundstone drive towards Ballyconneely on the R341. A Ballyconneely, turn sharp left just before the pub/shop there, for Bunowen. Doon Hill appears ahead on the left. Ignore the branch right for the Golf Club; carry on straight to Bunowen. Park with care near the pier, noting the warning signs about the open quay. WALK: From the pier (A) walk back towards the beach, and just as you reach behind it, turn left onto a side road. Walk along here, passing a small beach and pier (B) on your left. The road then swings around to the right, and abruptly changes to a lesser track outside a row of bungalows. Walk past these houses, and now the track almost disappears as it bears sharply right across an open grassy area. Follow on the faint track, passing just to the left of the nearest house over there, and then reaching the unfenced road going out to the golf course (C). Across the road, the outermost house is called Connemara House B&B. Just to the left of it a sandy track heads NW out across more open grassland. Bear left with this track, keeping left of a football pitch (of a sort), and also left of the low hill ahead. As the track bears further left, the attractive little Sand Lake comes into view, at a corner of the golf course (D). Here you come onto a little road; walk along this with the lake on your right, and now you follow this zany road until further notice. You'll soon see why I call it zany -the road builder must been paid by the furlong! It is a most attractive wee road, weaving along firstly beside the golf course, but then it swings sharply inland (E). Any few short ascents are gentle, and will be no trouble. Soon you are past the last house for now, walking on a green-striped road between low stone walls; Aillebrack Lough is on the right on a really quiet and enjoyable part of the route. Gradually signs of human habitation re-appear, and the road winds on down to a T -junction (F) with a stone sign on the left "Emlagharan". Turn right here. The next quiet stretch of road is well surfaced, but just watch for traffic. It undulates along past homesteads to a junction with a yield sign (G). Turn right here. This is the road from Ballyconneely, on which you drove in. For the next twenty minutes, pay particular attention to traffic, as it is can to be busy with golfers, or other visitors. Walk in single file on the right, to face oncoming traffic. That said, it is a scenic session along here, with Doon Hill and that stark ruin of Bunowen Castle up to the left. On the right are the sombre remains of a seaweed enterprise, then you pass between Lough Derreen and Lough Doon, and then St. Caillin's National School is on the right. Once again, ignore the branch right (8) to the Golf Club, and walk on straight. COMMENT: If you stand outside the Hotel front door, you see alone hi hiding behind the lamppost. That is Cashel Hill. This is a simple out aI should say up and down) hill climb to a summit ofjust 311m (1010 feet).l sea level, and it is quite steep nearer the top, so be prepared for a bit more ( you might otherwise expect. Though it is not overly demanding, this i experienced hill walkers. You should have boots and a walking stick, and hill walking gear. Because this is a stand-alone hill rising quickly fr countryside to a small top, the views from the summit are simply amazing. START AND FINISH: At a roadside car park (Map Ref: 804423). Church in Cashel, some 14km (8'l:zMls) from Roundstone. DRIVE TO START: From Roundstone, drive North on the R341, turniJ T -junction for Cashel. Swing left onto Toombeola Bridge, and just after Bar, turn right, signed Cashel/Carna. Continue on this scenic R342 road b, Bay and then Cashel Bay, passing the Cashel sign and then Boulger's Office. Watch for the church on the left, and park opposite the church. WALK: Walk up the side road (A) just to the left of the Church grounds first but eases after a few minutes -leaving any gates as you found then road for say 15 minutes, all the way to the cemetery (B) at the top. Now stony path just to the left of the cemetery, and go through a gate that leads hill ground, closing it securely. Beyond the gate, walk left up onto the 1 and then ascend this ridge Westward. Closer to the main hill, your obje( right, into a broad gully (C) at the South side of the hill. (Notice that (East) side of the hill face has many rocky escarpments, and these are Now there is nothing for it except to ascend the steep fmal section towar There are good grassy spaces as you slog up, and just take it steadily a footing. Don't forget to look back from time to time to watch the c unfolding. At the top, there are actually two summits, separated by a wet The real summit, with the concrete trig point (D), is the farther (NortheJ you ascend the few metres to that you are treated to one of the most spect: the Twelve Pins, and indeed over nearly all of this part of Connemar wonderful panorama. If you have a good day, you will dawdle up here. When you ha return route is the same way you came up. Take it really carefully as yOI steep grassy gullies now, particularly if the ground is wet. Remember to ~ the rocky escarpments now to your left as you go down. Then bear left O lower ridge again -the cemetery is visible from higher up so you s A;i'f1f'111hl in hp"nina for it From the cemetery. COMMENT: Cycling is another good way to see Roundstone and Connemara, and thi is the classic cycle loop around .here, one I have often done myself. Bike rental i available locally -just ask at Reception. The distance might not sound much, but if yo haven't been on a bike since your schooldays you'll notice it. We'll get the few main hilJ out of the way early on, so this is a clockwise route. Bicycles can be rented in the village -just ask for details at reception. START AND FINISH: Roundstone village. CYCLE: It is in fact a simple route: cycle on the R34l through Ballyconneely, turn right at Ballinaboy onto a quieter road across the bog, and then turn right onto the R34l agai at Toombeola, back to Roundstone. So, from Roundstone (A) head West on the R34l, passing Gurteen Bay an flogs Bay (B) on the left. There are fine views of Errisbeg up to the right, and down le onto the extraordinary white strand at Dogs Bay. Now, as the route swings Northwar( the hills begin to bite, and don't worry if they are a bit too much -just get off and wal for say ten minutes here and there if you like. The good news is that the corresponding downhills offer a nice freewheel, an then the road is fairly level as you move on towards Ballyconneely, enjoying coasu views and passing by some placid lakes. At Ballyconneely (C) there is a pub and a shop, and a church if things are thi bad. Be warned -this is the last shop before the return to Roundstone. Then the onwar route passes beside an attractive shore line session, and brings you through a crossroad (D) with signposts about the Alcock and Brown exploits (see Walk No.6). At Ballinabo Bridge (E), where there is a significant bend in the road, you now leave the R34l,i.e d not turn left for Clifden, but turn right, presently unsigned for anything except a B&B. After a short uphill h.ere, the route levels out into what I think is the real featur of this cycle, going along a (usually) quiet road with great views of the Twelve Pins t the left. You pass many attractive lakes, and while there a few minor hills here and thert it is an easy enough part of the route. As you near Toombeola (from the Irish for the tomb of Beola, who was in ear! times quite a local lad -the Irish for the Twelve Pins is na Beanna Beola, also name after him), you reach the R34l again (F), and turn down right for the fina16km back int Roundstone. Remember that these roads can be busy, so cycle carefully in single file, wear a helmel and bright clothes. and stay well in to the left-hand side.
In association with Roundstone House Hotel |
