Today’s stage is relatively easier supposedly so we took our time getting started enjoying Mary Healy’s top notch Irish Grill breakfast and chatting with her until about 9.
We departed about 9:15 saying goodbye to the peacocks sitting atop the other guest’s car. Though it is cloudier today with a threat of rain, Lough Acoose is still beautiful and makes for a good start to the hike.
The walk started out for a few kilometers on the road but quiet and pleasant scenery. Leaving Glencar we came to an old Celtic Cross marking the murder of IRA members in defense of The Republic.
Eventually we passed Climbers Inn which is where many of the hill walkers stay when climbing Carrauntoohil. Just past the Inn, the trail turned left into the forest eventually coming to a road before a second stretch through forest and farms, scenic and quiet. The mist turned to a light rain but we were due.
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Later on we came out of the forest onto a road taking us into a small village, Gortdirragh, where we started an ascent offering good views behind us.
We continued up over the Pass, appropriately named Windy Gap, where we took in the beautiful views of broad green pastures and then on the horizon our first view of the sea, Dingle Bay, with the Dingle Peninsula in the background.
Coming into Glenbeigh it was a bit of a struggle to find the Emir View B&B and our host was gone. So we headed down to the Tower Hotel for a well deserved couple of pints.
Our dinner at the Glenbeigh Hotel met high expectations. Delicious fish and chips and roast (beef) of the day.
