Back to Exploring

It’s been a while since I’ve been out and about exploring. Today I got a chance to go wandering. Be warned this is a long post.  The photo above is a Celtic Trinity Knot tree design: planted mid ’80s by the McCabe Family. They planted that whole hill (known as ‘Tormór’) in the mid-eighties, and planted the design in the centre (Celtic Trinity Knot) with Japanese Larch on Sitka Spruce. They plotted the hill using white plastic bags, ground pegs and a two-way radio to give instructions from the opposite layby on the N16. The Glencar area is divided between Co. Sligo & Co. Leitrim, this design & surrounding property is in Co. Sligo. It was privately funded/planted for the enjoyment of all & the Celtic design comes out best in autumn when the Japanese Larch change colour. source: A.MacCabe, Glencar, Co.SligoI had a quick look around the Glencar Waterfall area until it started raining but I did get these photos…not the best but I’ll go back in better weather.

I found the frog in the toilet at Glencar (well not in the toilet itself but on the floor). I wasn’t sure if I should put it in the water or near the water so I phoned Nature Learn who told me it had probably just come out of hibernation and it was best to leave it near the water. The frog started hopping as soon as I put it down so hopefully it’s happy enough now and out of harms way.

After my little stop at Glencar I drove a short way along to the road to the new (ish) Sligo Walk.

This is Sruth in Aghaidh An Aird – The Devils Chimney. It’s apparently Ireland’s tallest waterfall at 150m. The waterfall doesn’t flow during dry weather but as it had rained a lot last night I knew it would be flowing today. Luckily you can see the waterfall from the road – so if you can’t see it it’s not flowing.

As I started walking up towards the waterfall I met the lady who owns the house there. She was telling me about her beautiful donkeys, two of them came over to say hello 🙂

It’s about a 1.2km walk up towards the waterfall (you don’t actually get right to the top). It’s well-marked and there’s a gravel path. There are a few places to stop along the way – which is handy because it’s fairly steep in places. Oh and remember to bring water with you, I left mine in the car. At a few points I was wishing there was a stannah stairlift and an oxygen mask 😉

Thankfully it only takes about 20/30 minutes to walk up there so my heavy breathing was short-lived.

The views are well worth it though. I’ve read that when it’s very windy the water blows upwards so I’ll have to go back again to see that. You can find out more about this walk and others on the Sligo Walks website.