( Overview
/ Two Bullocks on a Boat Go West
A little stir crazy as we’re still waiting for better conditions to sail to the Isles of Scilly, we decided to explore the forest trails on the other side of Glengarriff.
As we set off down the N71, a man dressed in green sitting on a wall (Michael the leprechaun?) advised us to go on a back road. Apparently the main road is dangerous in parts, and he didn’t want to be the last person we’d spoken to! There are plans for a footpath, but it’s Kerry slug territory.
Kerry or Kerry spotted slugs are medium to large sized, air-breathing land slug which are dark grey or brown with yellowish spots. Found in Ireland and north west Spain where the environments have high humidity, warm summers and acidic soils with no calcium carbonate, it is a protected species.
We climbed up to Lady Bantry’s View. A fantastic spot, but misty today. At one time the woods were part of Lord Bantry’s estate, but we’re handed over to the State in 1955 for forestry purposes. In 1991, however, the woods were designated as a Nature Reserve.
Views of Glengarriff village.
Glengarriff is derived from the Irish Gleann Gairbh meaning rough or rugged glen. The Caha Mountains rise above the woods.
Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve covers 300 hectares, with the dominant habitats being old oak woodland and young woodland and are one of the best examples of oceanic sessile oak woodland in Ireland.
Having had some rain recently, the waterfalls have started flowing again.
Although damp, it was very warm.
Our first silly selfie.
The hydrangeas have perfect conditions here.
We spotted a few deserted tractors.
Good news about the seal pup. He (it’s a boy!) is at the rescue centre in Wexford. Weighing only 8kg, he seems bright, so the centre are cautiously optimistic. His ID is N-004. Know it’s wrong to humanise wild animals, but we’d like to name him. Any ideas? Glen? Garry? Riff? Seamus?
Catholic Marian grotto to Our Lady of Lourdes.
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