After a very good nights sleep I still woke up early and was busy blogging by 7am. It was a beautiful day and today we’d be retracing some of our steps into Killarney National Park. Jane and I were a little late getting ready, making plans with John for our trip to Dingle on Friday, and when we came downstairs everyone else was already sitting in the cars tapping their fingers. I asked if we had a plan but non emerged. The term ‘herding cats’ often comes to mind when travelling with 6 adults and trying to decide how to spend a day. Levels of research , ideas of what makes an interesting way to spend time and ability to make an actual decision all vary. Pam’s spreadsheet had already gone slightly to the wind so it was all a bit vague. We knew we didn’t really fancy Killarney town itself so in the end we set off heading towards Mucklow Lake Boat Trips because Jane had mentioned that she fancied a nice trip up the lake to admire the views.
It took over an hour to get here and we drove into the grounds of Mucklow House but then diverted following the signs saying ‘Boat Trips’. It was only 100metres down from the car park to the boathouse where the man sat in a tiny rowing boat like vessel. Hm…this wasn’t quite what we’d imagined and Pam would definitely not be happy sitting in this in her life vest tossing about on the slightly choppy waters! No one else really fancied it either. Luckily, we had sneaked via the back gate into the grounds of the house so we took the opportunity to have a little mooch about along the lake shore. We walked along a peninsula getting sunny views through the pine trees and up the Lake Mucklow. At the end we came out onto a lovely rocky beach and the scene was an oil painting waiting to happen.
After about an hour we walked back to the car, the place was starting to get busier and we had to dodge the ‘Jaunty’ Horse Traps prancing along the paths.
Next the cars split up again as Jane and I wanted to see Torc Waterfall which the others had stopped at the day before. It only took us 5 mins and it was a pretty waterfall for an easy walk. We then drove up the windy road to Ladies View cafe where we met the others and had coffee and cake on the terrace overlooking the splendid view. We then walked out into the rocks (shaped like elephants back with beautiful striations) for photos. It wasn’t busy and it was a fabulous spot overlooking the lakes and valley below, with mountains all around.
Then we carried on up to Molls Gap but the views today weren’t so spectacular and we were very glad we’d stopped the evening before. We then headed straight down to Kenmare which we’d all bypassed the day before in our speed to get home.
Kenmare is a busy little town with lots of colourful shops and pubs with the most amazing hanging baskets. We didn’t really have a plan of attack so the cats just wandered about for a while. I then took us down to the harbour where the tide was out and it wasn’t particularly pretty. I am really missing the ability to look at my OS maps app on the phone. The maps I can access don’t have footpaths or contours and I find it impossible to picture what we’re going to find.
We had to retrace our steps into the village and now it was time to visit the oldest pub in Kenmare – PF McCarthy. Well , it all looked very old and traditional on the outside but inside it was more like a canteen. Very disappointing and we decided that we would not eat here later but did have a Guinness and ales and enjoyed their toilets.
Next we found our way to the Kenmare Stone Circle where we were presented with some tags on which to write a prayer and tie it to the Fairy Hawthorn trees. It was interesting to look at others peoples tags which prayed for health and happiness for family and friends whilst others prayed for World Peace. My particular favourites were these two:
Abundant Cheese for all
Well, I suppose I’m meant to write on here ‘World Peace’ . So ‘World Peace’.
Jane added her own little prayer , a very poignant ‘England to win Euros 2024‘ and mine may have mentioned a budgie!!
Meanwhile, Pam was wandering round stroking the rocks in the stone circle and getting a tingle in her fingers tips. It was indeed a very magical place.
A little bit further on we found Cromwell’s Bridge over the stream. It’s a very steep side old bridge but has nothing to do with Cromwell at all. Adrian and I couldn’t resist the challenge of climbing up it and sitting like leprechaun’s with our feet dangling over the top.
By now it had started to rain and Pam decided that she needed Colcannon and she needed it NOW! Unfortunately the best place in Kenmare for colcannon was only serving ‘Lite Bites and pizza’ today so we didn’t stop there. Instead we opted for the pub with the best floral display ‘Foley’s’ where people ate Irish Stew or Beef and Guinness pie with a flaky hat on it! Jane wasn’t impressed. I had pizza.
By the time we came out it was pouring with rain and it was time to hack it all the way back to our house. It was chaos in Killarney as the Jaunty’s were all going home, there was a shinty match at the stadium and a funfair all going on at the same time.
Safely home (just) – it was time to chillax and enjoy the hot tub in the light drizzle. Perfect!
Where shall we go to next? 