Cork – Valentia Island
Today
was all about sightseeing and scenic beauty as we left the city of Cork for the
Ring of Kerry. The first stop of the day was Blarney Castle & Gardens. Unfortunately,
we didn’t climb to the top and kiss the famous Blarney Stone (not that either
of us wanted to), because the queue was far too long for me to stand. The
grounds were extensive and it’s easy to spend hours here. We managed to explore
a lot, despite the torrential rain – it was just so peaceful. On a nicer day, a
picnic would have been ideal.
Next
up, we touched the surface of Killarney National Park with a walk to the
incredible cascades of Torc Waterfall. Another spot, we could have spent hours,
if I was feeling more energetic (and not carrying an extra few kilos!), there
were plenty of different walking trails to be had – dependent on time and
activity. The waterfall was spectacular, although was busy with people taking
photos; however, the park area seemed a lot quieter and was just so serene. We
even stopped to take photos at Upper Lake.
After
stopping a couple of times to take more photos of the landscapes and views, we
called at the Cliffs of Kerry. It was 4€ each, but well
worth it when we left the car and started the ascent – the views were just
incredible! Obviously, I couldn’t walk to the very top and with routes to the
left and right of the central point, I only managed one of those. But we
certainly chose the better of the two and the scenery was beautiful. There was
a point called Puffin Island – unfortunately, we didn’t see any, either because
we weren’t close enough or because the weather wasn’t clear.
Today
we walked 7.4km.
Where we
stayed
An old but charming hotel,
with restaurant and lively bar. We had dinner at the hotel, but missed the live
music that night. Our room was a reasonable size; however, I found the en suite
quite small. The hotel is currently undergoing a re-furb, but wasn’t noisy in
the slightest. There isn’t much to do on the island itself, but it’s a good
stopping point on the Ring of Kerry and the island is accessible by bridge or
small car ferry.
Love,
Lucy xx
No comments
Post a Comment
Enjoyed this post? Let me know. Leave a comment, or find me on social!
Love, Lucy xx