Walking in the Killarney National Park

Walking in the Killarney National Park

I stayed in the Lake Hotel located next to the Killarney National Park. After watching Munster playing Sale in rugby I decided to take a walk in the National park. I walked along the lake shore and arrived at a beautiful Abbey called Muckross Abbey. It is a magical place you can walk inside and around the Cloisters, there is even an very Old Yew tree growing in the centre. It is autumn and the leaves are falling the place looks special. I decided to walk on a bit and arrived at Muckross House it is an old stately home. I walked through the Gardens and followed the trail to Torc Waterfall. It is really flowing today with all the rain, even though it is raining and very windy it feels great to be out, it feels so refreshing with the mist and wind. Looking at the map at Torc Waterfall, I decide to be adventurous considering I was only going to walk a couple of miles and continue on further. There is a trail from Torc to Dinis Cottage on an elevated pathway which keeps you off the main road. (below right)

Now the mist is pouring down but it feels great to be away from everything no news, no recession no unhappiness. the walks are great and there is nobody in sight. This trail leads to a crossing to the entrance to Dinis Cottage. There is a car park here and the sign says 15 minutes to the Cottage.

What a beautiful walk with the leaves falling like snow, it takes me 12 minutes to get to the cottage. Beside the Cottage there is the World Famous "Meeting of the Waters" you don't see this so you have to go looking for it. The Lady in the Tea room tells me its 4 to 5 miles to the Lake hotel if I continue on my journey of 6 to go back. I decide to go on and it was a good choice. I can hear a whistling noise quiet loud, its some type of animal, Later Niall Huggard told me it was a Sika Deer. This deer was introduced by the English in the 1800's, its sounds are unlike the sounds around my Hotel where the Native Red Deer give our a big Roar sounding like a very aggressive mooing sound.

After this peaceful area I arrive at Brickeen Bridge here I can see the two Lakes and a beautiful panorama each side of the bridge with great views of the Mountains.

A little further on I come across old Copper Mines opposite an old building, here there are mine shafts protected by a fence. You can see many old shafts and a couple that look very deep. I must investigate the history of these mines. (below)

Now the legs are getting tight, I had only started out on a 2 mile walk now its going to be 10 miles. I will have to come the other way the next time and do some more looking around. The Artur Young walks look great I will be back to walk the Yew Woods, some of the other walks that look great.

Overall this was a great day I went for a small walk and ended up walking 10 miles, Niall is laughing at me know because i asked him to add this to his Blog, he told me to do my own so this is it. He just told that the Yew Wood i saw is the best example in Europe and is Protected EU law. He has set this up for me on the Internet and he will put a link on his web site.

Here you can see our Hotel from near the Yew Woods(left).

My wife is probably finished with her treatments and soaking in the Hot Tub. She thinks I was in the bar all this time since the Munster Rugby game and won't believe me when I tell her I walked 10 miles.

It was great and we will be back, the hotel is something else and especially Niall & Joe Huggard and all their staff. I will look forward to viewing my Blog when I go home later on.

Michael & Grace Callaghan