Ireland August 2012 - Day 7 & 8 - Dunmakeever and Cuilcagh Mountain

Day 7 Afternoon

Tuesday afternoon .

This is another view of Lough MacNean.

I went to visit friends Philip and Mary, and spent the day with them.

Philip has been diagnosed with a serious disease and is having chemotherapy.

Mary cooked sumptuous T bone steaks, Philip has a great appetite and a great attitude to his illness.

It was a lovely evening as we walked off our dinner with a circuit of the FlorenceCourt Estate.

Anyone seeing Philip striding out would think there was nothing wrong with him.

I'm sorry I didn't get another visit before coming home. All the best to you both.

Day 8 Cuilcagh

My twin daughters Sarah and Marie, and Sarah's fiance Phil are joining me to climb
Cuilcagh Mountain 

The twins have climbed it previously, it'll be Phil's first time.

We start to walk from what is locally known as 'Brian's Hill'.
We head over by the old peat bogs, and follow the river upstream.

Cuilcagh is important in mosses and lichens.

Looks like it got some interesting fungi too.

I took much more macro shots of Cuilcagh's flora and fauna on last years climb.

Scroll down this link for a colourful collection.

2011 Climb

The first time I climbed up here, I learned  from my father in law about the 'Green Stripe'.

I've been coming up this way ever since even though there are easier ways up.

We're soon looking down again on the wider Glangevlin Community.

A mountain native.

It gets easier on the plateau (not that I'm inferring that Phil is resting, he's enjoying the view)

Sarah and Marie and the wee lough below...............

........................and over thirty years ago their older sisters Michele and Lynn

(Have you two been up since ? Oh yes Lynn climbed it last in 1993)

At 665 metres, Cuilcagh Mountain is the highest point in Cavan and Fermanagh. Its distinctive table-top profile is the dominant landscape feature in a region rich in geology, archaeology, folklore, history and wildlife. The mountain is topped by gritstone, which is exposed in places as dramatic cliffs looming over the upper sandstone and shale slopes. The middle slopes of Cuilcagh Mountain are covered with a thick layer of peat forming one of the best examples of a blanket bog ecosystem in the north of Ireland. Cuilcagh's lower slopes contain Ireland's finest karst or limestone landscapes, which hide many complex cave systems.

A full zoom brings up Lough MacNean and Belcoo.

Spot the raven,I never noticed it while I was taking the picture.

Lots of pictures taken at the summit.

The Triangulation Station was put up in the 1950s.

The sand, cement and aggregate was brought up on donkeys.

The name of one of the builders can still be seen in the spider.

We'll see him back at Dunmakeever.(He's my brother-in-law)

The ten second delay picture.

Now I thought I'd take a panorama.

I'm disappointed that the light wasn't better.

                      Panorama of Cuilcagh Mountain View on CleVR.com

It's also here on Panogio

Here are some stretches of water.
Top is Upper Lough Erne.
Below left is Upper Lough MacNean
Below right is Brackley Lake (What looks like an oversized tree is a Crannog in the lough)

We have lunch and just enjoy being up here.

Marie goes walkabout.

In the distance is Ben Bulben, while Keiran O'Conner flies over in his F172N Cessna.

We get another shot of the four of us, and Sarah and Marie add white stones to the ancient track.

Cuilcagh is part of the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark

Thanks for this picture Marie

In 2008, the UNSECO endorsed Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark of which the Marble Arch Caves are a key site, was expanded to include some of the most scenic landscapes in Counties Fermanagh and Cavan, making it the first cross-border Geopark anywhere in the world.Marble Arch Caves is the flagship attraction of the Geopark and is one of Europe's finest showcaves. Visitors explore a fascinating natural underworld of rivers, waterfalls, winding passages, lofty chambers and a bewildering array of cave formations.Behind the visitor centre is the Marble Arch National Nature Reserve. For a peaceful and relaxing walk, follow the path alongside the Claddagh River. The unique ancient plant life that grows on the river banks changes with every season as does the amazing wildlife with dippers and pine martens being just some of the animals that reside there. 

There's a stile along the fence on Bursan, and we'll descend by the old track.

I think we're all a little light headed with the altitude.

I was asked

"Why didn't we come up this way ?"

It was about here we strayed from the track a little.

I always seem to lose it at the same point, yet at the gate looking back it's obvious !

N.B (At this point we had to almost run for our lives.
Billions and trillions of flying ants began emerging from the earth and getting into our clothes, hair and even into body orifii. They were also vicious biters. I still don't know how we survived them.) 

Back at Doonmakeever we're treated to our second slap up meal......

...........and below, a farm tour.

We're in unison about one thing.

We've had a great day.

Cladagh Glen and the Marble Arch

It's Saturday the 30th of October and I'm missing my second walk in succession with the ramblers.I'm in Ireland attending a funeral and don't get the boat back till this evening.
However,all the ceremonies and proceedings are over and I've just a few people to visit.I can take a short lovely walk.

I could have sworn I'd blogged pictures of the Claddagh river before,but since I can't find them I'll put it down to an age thing.

Here's Wikipedias page on the Cladagh River.
Cladagh
And here's the Marble Arch caves own website.
Global Geopark

The car park sits almost halfway between the border town of Blacklion and Florencecourt
There are numerous information boards throughout the walk.
This is part of the 33 kilometre Cuilcagh Way.
(As far as I know,there's two acceptable ways to pronounce Cuilcagh.Phonetically it's either Kwilka or Kwilkay.)

A totem pole erected by the local boy scout troop is one of the first interesting items encountered.

Very soon you're alongside the river on a gentle climb.

Another gate and more information tells you you are in the Marlbank National Nature reserve.

After a couple of days rain,the river has a copious flow.

While looking for the Wikipedia link,I noticed on Google that this particular river Cladagh has been misspelt countless times by adding an additional "d".

One in particular is a professional photographer who will charge you £95 for a 12 by 36 inch print.For that sort of money you'd want the right name wouldn't you ?

The Cascades is particularly popular with children.

As I continued upwards,I noticed this bird hopping along in front of me.He might have a poorly wing since he didn't fly away.(Name that bird Slew ?)

A couple of local lassies had brought Maggie for a walk,and judging by her antics in the water this must be a regular treat.

Now although the path hasn't been particularly steep the sides of the gorge are closing in.
Deep cuts in the rock sides appear and the waterfalls are steeper.

(£55 for a 7 by 21 inch ! I need to get myself a poster printer.)

By the way,if anyone does steal my pictures for publication,you'd better give me the recognition or you'll get sued!Nuff said.


To the left above is the arch where the Cladagh tumbles out the side of the Cuilcagh mountain.

I won't go into detail,you can magnify the information board later.

A board tells me this is the Marble Arch.

There's no one around,and no 'keep out' signs so I'm taking a closer look at the 'Phreatic Tube'.

It's slippery under the Marble Arch,so I wouldn't advise anyone else to try getting closer.
Unless like me you think it's the picture that counts.

Now I'm looking down into the Arch through Maggie's Hole.The reason for the name is also on the information board in the next picture.

The Marble Arch show caves were only opened up to the public in 1985.It was as late as 1970 that Fermanagh council first thought of them as a tourist attraction.

Over the years I've been coming here,the caves have been a topic of conversation.They crop up frequently in stories of fugitives hiding out,and cross border smuggling.

Now I'm below the visitors centre and the entrances to the caves.It's quite a few years since I took a boat trip under here.I won't be going down today.

Steep steps lead down to the entrance...

...a sign says 'No entry without a guide'.I suppose I'd better not then.
That's quite a torrent down there.

Have a look at this full size.
Don't pictures come out better when the sun comes out.

It's time to retrace my steps and go visit some folks.I've a boat to catch.

I love this walk.