Sunday
Hikes July/August 2005
HIKE PROGRAMME |
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MEET: Burgh Quay
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DEPART: Sundays 10.00 am
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COST: Private bus. €10
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Date |
Route
Description |
Distance |
Leader
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Jul 3rd |
Introductory
Hike Route: Road Junction (GR159 996) - Wicklow Way Track – Paddock
Hill- Scarr- Glenmacnass - Lough Ouler - Spot Height 668 - Tonelagee - Spot
Height 546- Brockagh Mountain - Lead Works Carpark. |
17km/ 875m |
Jimmy McCullagh |
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Jul 10th
|
Route:
Start:.gr087876, - SlieveMaan., Carrawaystick, - Corrigasleggaun, -
LugnaCoille, - Cannow, - Benleagh, - Fraughan Rock Glen, - .Barravore. |
16km/ A. 620m |
Mark Campion |
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Jul 17th |
Route: Stranahely Wood - Old
Pack Horse Track - Wexford Gap - Cavanaghs Gap- Lobawn Mountain -
Corriebracks - Church Mountain - Wooden Boley -Hollywood Glen. |
18km/ A. 750m |
Philip Roche |
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Jul 24st |
Route: Croghan -
Kinsella Circuit (O.S. Map 62). |
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Frank
Rooney
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July 29th – Aug 1st |
Club Hike to Sligo Hikes in North
Sligo, North Leitrim/ South Donegal |
Various |
Philip
Hayden
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Aug 7th |
Take ‘Pot-Luck’!
Meet at the usual place for a local hike starting from Enniskerry, route 44
bus. |
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Aug 14th |
Take
‘Pot-Luck’! Meet at the usual place for a local hike starting from
Enniskerry, route 44 bus. |
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Aug 21st |
Hike
led by Garry Byrne 44 Dublin bus, leaving from Screen Cinema @9.30AM and
@ 10.20AM at the Monument in Enniskerry. While southsideDarts
are not operating on Sundays, people on the line can still takefeeder busses
to Enniskerry or indeed take car to Enniskerry and get bus back from Dundrum. |
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Garry
Byrne
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Aug 28th |
Day Trip to the Cooleys Bus
leaves at earlier time of 9.30a.m. Cost E15 Meal
in Carlingford at the end of the hike (Not included in cost!!) |
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Tom
Kenny
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Sep 4th |
Introductory Hike Route:
Killybeg (GR945 909) - Keadeen - Ballinfoyle - Ballineaddan Mountain |
18km/ 950m |
Philip
Roche
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General
Hike Notes
PARTICIPATION Mountaineering
is an activity with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants should
be aware of and accept these risks. People who take part in our club activities
do so at their own risk and are responsible for their own actions and
involvement.
SUNDAY HIKES Participants on Sunday Hikes must be a member
of An Óige Hillwalkers Club. If you are not a member of the Club, but are
considering joining, we invite you to participate on our monthly Introductory
Hikes.
INTRODUCTORY HIKES An Introductory Hike is organised once
per month for aspirant members. Participants on these hikes must be a member of
An Óige.
CO-ORDINATION Tickets are given out on Sundays to ensure
that participants reserve a bus place as they arrive on production of Hillwalkers’ Membership Card.
LEADER The leader has
the right to refuse anyone who is not adequately equipped (e.g., without appropriate boots, rainwear, food, torch, hat,
gloves, etc). The leader may alter the route from that described in the
program. The leader sets the pace of the hike and walkers are expected to obey
the leader’s instructions at all times.
TORCH During winter months it is essential to bring a (head)
torch on all Sunday hikes. Check your batteries / bulb.
ENVIRONMENT Try
to reduce the erosion and widening of trails, e.g. do not walk on the edge of
worn tracks; walk through the centre of the original track or go several meters
into the scruff where the ground is untrodden, walking parallel to but not on
the track.
LITTER Litter is unsightly and dangerous to animals. Even
bio-degradable items like orange peels and banana skins take years to
disappear. Bring all your litter home and try to include at least one extra
item from each day out. Do not bury litter – animals will dig it up.
Hike
Competition
Start: at the monument in
centre of Enniskerry Village. This has
the advantage of catering for anyone on the Dart line, they can take feeder
bus. Buses can also be taken from town,
ideally the 9.30AM bus for a Sunday hike.
From Enniskerry, head north on road parallel to main
road to cross over river. Turn left
into sports ground, keep to left of football pitch perimeter and follow path to
river. Ignore first path just inside
football grounds, it leads to river but simply loops back up. Good views here of a fine bridge over the
river bringing the main road into Enniskerry.
It goes completely unnoticed if travelling on this road.
Follow path up to main road and go left on footpath
as far as boundary wall of church property on far side of road. There is a somewhat muddy bridle track here
high up over the river. Care is needed
in parts where the path has collapsed, however, there is generally no great
difficulty getting through. Path eventually take you to the old stepping
stones, currently being replaced by a wooden bridge. Alternatively, when
reaching the road, go right to walk through Knocksink Wood on paved road to
information signs and wood. Follow
track to new wooden bridge. This option
involves more walking on tarmac but can be used in wet weather or if you want
to read information signs at the interpretive centre.
From the new wooden bridge,
tracks lead through the woods to the Glencullen Enniskerry road, near the
quarries at Ballybrew. The trick is to
navigate your way successfully through the woods without going astray. I know of two Hillwalker members who tried,
but turned back!. In practice it is not
hard and largely involves following your instinct. Mostly there is a clear track either along the river or higher up
on the left. Bonfires and empty bottles
and cans are unfortunately other signs you are on the right track. About half way through the wood there is a
very steep track up through a thick pine forest. At the top go straight ahead along some stone markers for
drainage works, these markers are met again on the route. At the very end of the track through the
woods, there is a fork at which you turn left, houses can be seen in the
distance through the right fork.
At Ballybrew, turn left to take wide track by houses
about 1km later on your right. Follow
this through gates, always open, to reach grassy mound with forks left and
right. Good place for a stop and admire
the views over Dublin bay. Turn left to
reach awkward gate and barrier at
forestry entrance. Follow track to take
first right and, at a distinct left turn, head right up a barely discernable
track which takes you uphill through forestry to reach a wide track. Follow this right to Wicklow Way or follow
tracks up by Raven’s Rock to Wicklow Way.
Boranaraltry bridge is an excellent place for lunch.
At the grassy mound it is possible to take the right
and eventually turn left up tracks through the bracken around the wood at the
head of the valley. Follow the wood by
the track to reach barbed wire. Take a
right here over the wire to the clear sandy area in the wood which you can see
over the stream. This is a gully which
you follow west to eventually reach the Wicklow Way. It is hard going here, either you wade along the gully or walk
the bank high above you. There are many
saplings on the bank and it is tough going and unfortunately not recommended
for a group. This is a pity as the
tracks are excellent right up to the barbed wire fence.
From Boranarltry Bridge follow road to main road and
take Wicklow Way route. Alternatively
and much more interesting is go right at the main road. Turn left at a gate which leads to small
cottage, recently renovated but apparently unoccupied. Cross over wire fence to head north-east to
forest track at the side on Two Rock Mountain.
This can be done visually, or using a compass bearing in bad weather.
Break at Two Rock for wonderful views.
An alternative here is to visit the dolmen marked on the maps in the
trees at the foot of the mountain.
From Two Rock either follow Wicklow Way direct or go
by Three Rock Mountain. You have a
choice here of going to Stepaside or Dundrum or following the Wicklow all the way
to Marley. At Marley don’t follow
Wicklow Way signs all the way to Marley House but follow park boundary walls
anti-clockwise around to one of the side entrances. Cross the main road and go through the cul de sac to Ballinteer
village. This saves quite a lot of
time.
All in all, a great walk which can be done with
public transport, ideal for when Jim Dowling’s bus is not available. I led the Hillwalkers twice on it, once in
August and once just before Christmas, so it can be done all times of year. A good option for a group is to finish at
the Ballinteer House, which we did at Christmas. The walk is perhaps unique in finishing in Dublin city, having
walked through two counties.
Knocksink Woods
are very interesting with a mix of acid and lime soils giving a great variety
of trees, plants and animals. Deer can
also occasionally be seen. It is a real living wood, which you may find out to
your cost if you hold onto a branch for support, only to find it rotten! Conditions underfoot are generally good, but
it can be a bit damp and mucky at times especially in the early stages of
Knockwood and on the side of Two Rock.
I would estimate the walk at around 18KM, but it can
be lengthened as mentioned above. The
wooden bridge at Knocksink is probably finished by now, but if not, river is
probably impassable. Much of the walk,
except that through Knocksink can be followed on the Harvey’s Wicklow map. Thanks to Tom McCarthy for showing me this
walk many years ago.
Garry Byrne February,
2005.
Next
Social Event
Evening Horse Racing and
Barbeque Dinner At Fairy House Race Track
Organised by Enid Gallagher
Saturday, 9 July
Pain in
the Palace
Or
A
Hair-raising Experience
Blood-curdling
screams echoed off the walls of the Palace on Sunday 26th,
disturbing regulars in their enjoyment of their pints. Intrigued patrons who
followed the sound of sobbing into the back of the pub were greeted with the
shocking sight of two men being tortured in a cruel and Medieval manner. But no
police were called as this was all part of a Charity Leg Waxing organised by
hillwalkers in aid of Zambian children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
Enid Gallagher and Ali
McSorley were the masters of ceremony (or mistresses of pain) and made no
secret of the pleasure they derived from their evil task. Armed with Veet
waxing-strips and Bic razors they attacked their first sacrificial victim, Mark Campion. The brave lad Mark had
(amazingly!) volunteered for this rôle. However, soon his face was a wonder of
colour and expression as the ladies busied themselves over him.
Not content that
he should suffer alone, and because misery loves company, Mark roped Warren Lawless into his ordeal. Oh how
the mighty have fallen! Back in his reign of terror, no one would have dared
laid hands on the ex-Editor. Now he was reduced to providing laughs for the
rabble, like a common thief locked in the stockades! Warren’s participation was
totally willing and there is no truth in the story that he hid in the Palace
snug and only joined in when threatened with having his arms waxed.
Patricia Furey was recruited to assist and launched into her task
with relish, quickly taking huge chunks of hair off her boyfriend’s legs, and
thus adding a whole new meaning to the song “Patricia the Stripper”:
And with a lick of her lips
she started to rip,
To tremendous applause she
took off his curls,
Threw it all in the air and
everybody stared.
And as the last piece of
hair fall to the floor
Warren was screaming aloud,
On a Sunday night, Two-ooh
Thousand and Five.
For the record
lads, the hairier you are the more it hurts, and the back is worst than the
front. Just thought I’d share that. Next time club members are in the Palace,
they are invited to spot the chairs wherein the victims were placed (the blood
and hair has been washed off, but the finger grip-marks should still be on the
handles). Just make sure you don’t get
a pint in the glass they used to wash the razor blades.
The winner of the
Lovely Legs Competition afterwards was…Warren! In tests, 7/10 women expressed a
preference for the smoothness of his newly waxed legs over Mark’s. In fact,
Mark said he liked the feel of them too, at which point Warren quickly covered
up.
Since their
experience, both hikers have reported numerous benefits of their more
stream-lined appearance: a deeper empathy with women, better tanning, more
success hitch-hiking and faster walking speeds (due to reduced wind-drag). In
short, they have signed up for regular sessions at their local beauticians.
A photo gallery
of the event has been placed on the web at the address below for your
amusement. Just type in the link or Google it under “pain inhuman unmanly
suffering humiliation Palace”….
http://homepage.eircom.net/~wlawless/wax
If you have
derived any pleasure from this article or sniggered gleefully at the thought of
the agony of your friends, then please pass on a euro or two for the charity
collection to Ali or Mark when next you meet. 0.07% of any funds raised will go
toward surgical hair-replacement for the guinea pigs so that they have their
winter- coats back in time for colder weather.
Anon. ex-editor.
August
Weekend 2005
An Óige Hillwalkers Club
August Weekend 2005
Friday 29th – Monday 1st August
2005
Visit
to the Yeats Country of Co. Sligo
Yeats Village
Hostel, Co Sligo
Moderate/Hard
Walkers Welcome!
Two grades of walk each day
on Saturday, Sunday and Monday
Leader:
Philip Hayden
Strictly Bus Trip Only
Weekend Walking Itinerary to include:
Benbulben
Plateau (North of Glencar Lake)
Castlegal -
Cope's Mountain,Crockauns,Keelogyboy
Castledargan
Forest Walk (South of Lough Gill)
Social
Events
(Less strenuous
route variations for moderate walkers)
Ordnance
Survey Maps: 1:50.000 Discovery Series Sheets 16 & 25
Booking: EUR 60
NON REFUNDABLE deposit to An Óige Head Office by credit card or cash deposit
(8304555). Booking facilities available from 13Th
June 2005.
Balance of Money must be
paid by Friday 22nd July 2005.
Cost: EUR
120 (includes 3 Bednights & Transport costs only)
Eating Arrangements: Self-Catering Weekend - Bring sufficient food for
Saturday breakfast and lunch - otherwise ample supermarket and eating out
facilities locally.
Bring: Rain wear/change of warm
clothing/ sheet bag/towels/toilet gear/ flask/torch/ first aid
kit/camera/binoculars/ valid An Óige membership card.
Departure: Friday evening from George's Quay (Tara St.) at
4pm/ 1600hrs sharp.
Return: Monday evening /arriving Dublin City centre at 8pm (2000hrs) approx.
Please note that the
walking programme may be altered or curtailed at the discretion of the leader
to take account of adverse weather conditions and walkers capabilities.
Club
Travel
Though we had
made a couple of afternoon forays into the hills, the daily morning jog into
the village for the regulation croissants and baguette jogged the conscience of
this escaped hillwalker. Perhaps it was the calorie laden (nay energy giving)
nature of the provisions, which spurred us into action that morning but I like
to think it was the little man.
We had had a week
where the only navigation was that of the minor roads into Andorra, climbing
through col after col and negotiating bends hairpinny enough to keep even my
hair in order. I thanked God for the internal combustion engine and good brakes
as we climbed above the snow line and ran the gamut of weather from sun to
heavy snowfall and sleety mists. Weather-protected by the walls of the car we
admired the stamina of those who make such journeys on two wheels or even
better on two feet!
This particular
morning we had no weather fears as the sun shone down and the temperature rose
steadily as we prepared for our little adventure.
Our little man
hung on the wall of a corner building on the village square exhorting all to
venture in the direction he pointed, upwards and onwards towards upland forest
with the mountains rising behind. Earlier in the week Cathy had pointed vaguely
towards the mountains and mentioned a wonderful walk she had done the previous
year through the Gorge de Jaume. She was uncertain that she could remember it
.Our maps covered only the hills on the other side of the house. I had no
doubts however. “The little man will show us,” I assured her, confidently
pointing out the letters beside him. “GR36! That’s one of the big hiking
routes,” I assured her, already planning the light picnic we would take with
us.
Following the
direction indicated by the signpost we left the village of Caudiès de
Fenouillèdes (Pyrenées Orientales), following a boithrín out along the back
gardens of some of the village houses and over the almost disused rail lines
along the fields where wheat and vegetables peeked through the almost bare
soil. Soon we were climbing passing a wayside shrine and an ancient pilgrimage
church on our right hand side. Shortly after the church our little lane began
to level off. Painted routemarkers, again the reassuring GR36 and the name of
our destination Fenouillèdes, guided us into the forest. For much of the walk
we followed a narrow track along the side of the river into the gorge proper.
Steep parts of it were railed off but we could see down to the great deep pools
which provide a shady haven in high summer. Already there were violets in bloom
on the edge of the path. The running streams and higher still a waterfall
provided wonderful sound effects Our first stop was at an abandoned watermill.
Eventually we
reached Fenouillèdes a tiny hamlet which no longer has even a shop, much less a
café. The younger children go to the village school except when winter snow
makes the roads impassable, while the 10-14 year olds are weekly boarders in
the next town. There is a church though and a hostel for backpackers. There is
a small estate of social housing on the approach to the village for which there
is no waiting list. There are even vacancies! What a place to get away from it
all, write that book, or just recharge the batteries!
The main village
is tiny and picturesque with steeply ascending paths curling around the edges
of the houses. Cars are parked below on the edge of the village.
Windowboxes and
pots of shrubs brighten up the stone. Today many of the houses are weekend
retreats for people whose money is earned in towns such as Perpignan or even
further afield. Some are occupied year round. The main village is beautifully
maintained giving an impression of pride in its history and heritage. Above the
village tower the medieval fortifications; the area has been the scene of many
ancient battles including those between France and Spain. Each summer there are
teams of archaeologists and volunteers researching its remains.
After giving
ourselves plenty of time to admire the wonderful views we clambered down from
the fortifications. Having looked at the sensible option of making the return
journey by road, we declined in favour of the path less travelled and plunged
our way back into the gorge again, giving ourselves views for reflection for
many a day!
Checking the
internet on my return, I discovered that the GR36 runs in a mainly north –south
direction from Normandy to Spain. Getting better acquainted with it might be a
challenge for “le troisième age”, retirement as the French put it!
Deirdre McMahon
Articles
Wanted
Articles and
photographs are needed for forthcoming issues of The Hillwalker. While articles
in electronic format are easier to use, handwritten articles are also welcome.
Send your contributions to:
Deirdre McMahon
at 11 Aspen Rd. Kinsealy Court, Swords, Co. Dublin or mcmahond@eircom.net
Support
your Hillwalker’s Club
Ideas and help
are welcomed by the committee:
President: Proinsias Mac an Bheatha
Treasurer Jim Barry
Walks Organisers: Tom
Kenny and Philip Roche
Social Organiser Steve
Buckney
Secretary Frank Rooney
Membership
Secretary Anne Russell
Editor Deirdre McMahon
We are very
grateful and appreciative of the work of Cyril McFeeney and Pearse Foley for the printing, production and posting of The
Hillwalker each month
Club
Committee
Club President and Chairperson: Prionnsias
MacAnBheatha
Secretary: Frank Rooney
Treasurer: Jim Barry
Sunday Hikes: Tom Kenny and Philip Roche
Membership Secretary: Anne Russell
Training Officer: Jimmy McCullagh
Editor: Deirdre McMahon
Social Officer: Steven Buckney
In addition, four
club members work behind the scenes as follows:
Distribution: Cyril McFeeney & Pearse Foley
Webmaster: Matt Geraghty
MCI Environmental Officer: Patricia
Goodman
Map and Compass Course
The Club will
be running its annual Map and Compass course commencing in November 2005. The
course will include three Tuesday evening introductory sessions, each of
duration of 2 hours, to be held in the An Óige Headquarters,
Evening
Sessions (3): Room 102,
Evening
Venue: An
Óige Headquarters,
Requirements: (1) Ordnance Survey Map, Sheet 56 - Wicklow
(Scale 1:50,000) Laminated version is
recommended (approx.
€15)
(2) Compass, Silva Expedition 4 graduated into 360
degrees (approx. €40)
NB: A 10% discount is available
on all outdoor equipment in either The
Great Outdoors,
First
Weekend: November
5th & 6st ,
Accommodation
in the Glendalough International Hostel
(Saturday overnight) is included
in the course cost.
Second
Weekend: November
19th & 20th,
Accommodation
in the Glendalough International Hostel
(Saturday overnight) is included
in the course cost.
Night
Hike: December
11th, meet outside Coach House Pub, Roundwood at
Course
Cost: €100
Cost
includes
Course
2
overnights in the Glendalough Hostel
Cost excludes
Transport
costs to/from Wicklow for both weekends
Commeragh
weekend January 2005
Booking: It is essential
that interested persons book in advance through the An Óige Head Office, Tel
(01) 830 4555.
Consolidation
Weekend: January 28th
&
(Costs associated with this weekend
are not included in course cost)
Course
Organiser: Jimmy
McCullagh