Click here for details on how to order this CD.
Below are random extracts from the CD to give a 'taste' of its contents. Please note that the links that are 'live' on the CD have been disabled in this sample.
The index gives an idea of the contents:
Introduction
Preparation
Week 1: Pembrokshire.
Week 2: Still in Pembrokeshire but then the Rosslare ferry - Carrick-on Suir - Blarney
Week 3: Still Blarney and then Bantry - Lauragh, Co Kerry - Cahirciveen
Week 4: Cahirciveen continued - Gallurus, near Dingle - Ardfert - Adare
Week 5: Adare continued - Doolin - Spiddal - Renvyle
Week 6: Castlebar - Rosses Point, Sligo - Downings - Benone - Cushendun - Drum Manor Forest Park
Week 7: Drum Manor Forest Park continued - Gosford Forest Park - Camac Valley Caravan & Camping Park, nr Dublin
Week 8: Redcross Village, Co. Wicklow - Our Lady's Island, nr Rosslare - Rosslare ferry
Post-mortem:
Guide Books used
Statistics
MS Word edition: A printable version of the text only using Microsoft Word.
Some entries and photographs, selected at random. Note the route between campgrounds, the campground details, walk instructions ... and photograph quality!
Week 3: Still Blarney and then Bantry - Lauragh, Co Kerry - Cahirciveen
Sunday 6th June 2004
Imagine that you are something of a nutter. You acquire a ruin full
of narrow passages and spiral stone staircases. You try to persuade
four people a minute to enter your ruin and battle for access with the
hundred plus already inside. The major attraction that you offer is
the kissing of a stone for which you have to lie on your back and hang
yourself halfway out over the uppermost parapet. How much do you think
you would have to pay people to do this? At Blarney Castle YOU pay 5
euros for the above 'privileges'!
We did toy with the idea of walking from the campground to the castle. To my surprise, I could enter those two locations in AutoRoute Express and get a mileage - 2.8. I decided that the walk would be hard going, especially the uphill return journey - and with the 'narrow passages and spiral stone staircases' interlude indicated above. With hindsight, driving down was a good idea. Parking was straightforward - plenty of room and no height barrier at the Woollen Mills' car park - down the hill to Blarney, turning right on reaching the R617 then take the fork down to the left. In the car park signs indicate the walk to the castle. In spite of the cynicism displayed above - and the fact it was a Bank Holiday Sunday - it was an experience! It does seem that it is an incredible Mecca for overseas visitors. The least benefit of the visit was to demonstrate that, so far, we have been isolated from the main tourist stream - may it it remain that way!
To our surprise we found quite an adequate supermarket in Blarney - we are already appreciating that Ireland is not an 'out-of-town, Sainsburys/Tescos/Morrisons' country. The shop solved our short-term shopping and lunch problem - having one at a pub or whatever would have been a real scrum. Car park lunch over, we thought a walk would be a good idea and to try an advertised one by the St. Martin's River to Waterloo. With difficulty we found the start - a local resident advised us the location and that the path had only just been developed. (From the car park walk back towards the road down from the campground but take the turning to the left just before that - signposted Waterloo - shortly the stony path branches off from that.) We tried it for a while but it wasn't very appealing - and it was hot! We're not complaining! The path might improve with maturity - like us all?
So, it was back to base for a cup of tea in the sunshine - what a life!
Monday 7th June 2004
Moving day to Bantry. The most direct route was via 'R' roads. But, it
did look as if the longer way road via N71 might be more straightforward
- and not so bumpy? One of our motorhome stories is how we were in Spain
and in the town of Pamplona and couldn't escape - no way seemed our way.
We had a touch of déjà vu with Cork! We don't think it was us -
the signposting left a lot to be desired. We did stop twice and asked,
which helped - but it was still a convoluted route to the N71. We found
that it was off the N25 South Ring West. This was a tiring and frustrating
start - the exhaustion continued with the road surfaces - our hope of
that being better was not realised - quite a consolation was the thought
that it must be much worse for those towing a caravan.
The countryside changed as we penetrated west County Cork. We started getting views of the sea and those fingers that reach out. But, now the question was what was the campground going to be like - Eagle Point Camping, overlooking Bantry Bay, a Caravan Club Affiliated site? We were aware that it was a large site - 60 tourists/65 tents - and the first view of the multi-level layout confirmed this. We we were sent to Section 'B' and a piece reserved for motorhomes. Our reaction was disbelief! It is a lovely location, right by the water with a view right over the bay. The drive was forgotten! We look forward to our three nights here with a possibility that we'll extend.
Site details: Eagle Point Camping, Ballylickey, Bantry. Tel: 027 50630.
Directions:
Out of the campground turn left and walk up the road for the best part of a mile. After a while, there will be a conifer wood on your right. Where this ends there is a grey metal gate. Go through this down over rough ground and by gorse.
At the bottom there is a fence with a river beyond. Try to follow this fence down to the right, although you may have to go out away from this and back again for access. You are aiming for another metal gate in this fence with the river beyond. Go through the gate and over the river on stepping stones.
Ahead of you and going to right of a a large shed and house is a long straight track. A road curves in from the left to meet it. Keep going straight ahead. In a while you will see the lake to your left. At a T-junction turn left to visit the lake. Note the island which has a small stone building on it.
To make this a circular walk you have to return to the T-junction mentioned above. Continue straight ahead there and simply stay on that road. This will lead to Lauragh and a pub - hopefully open! After refreshment, turn right past the pub and ascend the hill back to the campground. Some helpful photos are below ..
Click here for details on how to order this CD.