Memorial Cross
On our last day of walking, we are reminded of the high cost of Irish independence.
It was with a sense of sadness – and euphoria – that we laced our wet and muddy boots for our last day’s walk around the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland’s County Kerry. The “end” of something so often gives rise to both a sense of accomplishment, and nostalgia.
It was ten long days before that we had set out from Tralee by bus, and then from Camp by foot. We had spent days trudging through rains, down country lanes, into museums and shops and churches, over hills and through bogs, over mountains and across beaches. We were sore and wet and tired: ready for the walk to be over – and sorry that it was all about to finish.
Our last day was meant to be a relatively short one, on foot at least, before we were to catch the afternoon bus from Camp back to Tralee.
Day 10: Castlegregory to Camp and depart
Distance: 11 km/7 miles, Ascent: 50m/150 ft
Our first stop, after we set out from our bed and breakfast in Castlegregory, was the local Post Office to buy stamps for post cards. When we asked the elderly Postmistress if postal rates were different for Asia, Australia and North America, she seemed surprised. “There’s us, and there’s others,” she told us.
I guess that is true of most countries, but it certainly highlighted the strong Irish sense of self. We left the post office smiling, mailed our cards, and set off across the countryside.
“Guinness for Strength”
Every small Irish town has at least one pub.
Stone Bridge
Our path led us through the wet fields and over small bridges.
Hidden House
The grasses are so high in the rolling hills that small farm houses seem to disappear.
Celtic Cross
The Irish Republic declared itself independent from Great Britain in January 1919, but continued to fight until the treaty 6 December 1921.
Wild Roses
Thanks to the ever-present rain, the foliage is fresh and green all around us.
Daisies
Once again, our path leads us over sandy terrain.
Sandy Coast
Another long beach leads us around Tralee Bay.
Beach Walk
Low clouds and a long beach…
Rocky Coastline
As the tide comes in, we lose sand, and meet more rocks.
Nature’s Art: Colourful Rocks
Nature’s Art: Moss on the Rocks
Rocky Shore
Looking out to Sea
On many of the headlands, sculptures look or point out to sea.
Back to Civilisation
As we turn off the beach and round a corner towards Camp, an old church comes into view.
We trudged into Camp early, but too late for the morning bus which had left an hour before. So, we resigned ourselves to a long wait at the local pub – not a bad place to be – for the afternoon bus that we were too early for.
But, the luck of the Irish was with us.
We met up with the hostess from our first night’s stay, and she graciously offered to drive us into Tralee, rather than making us wait.
So, our trip came full circle, with a reminder of the the warm generosity of the Irish people.
Sláinte!
Pictures: 27June2012
I. was born in that farmhouse
near the bridge
in Aughacasla in 1958! The. scenery. is still the same today!
Thanks for your visit, Eileen.
It must have been an amazing place to grow up – it is beautiful, wild, countryside. Cheers!
[…] in tourist-friendly bites. So, when my contact in Ireland, with whom I was organising our ten-day Dingle Way walking trip, strongly recommended that we book the medieval dinner at Bunratty Castle as part of our […]