The Northwest Dingle Peninsula
Sybil Point jetties into The Atlantic, pointing towards the Blasket Islands
Rich is eager to explore the Dingle Way, through farmer fields and over fences.
A waterfall tumbles from the craggy shore cliff.
The Three Sisters perch at the foothills of Mount Brandon, Ireland's
second-highest mountain
The tiny village of An Baile Uachtarach is home to fishers and farmers
Magic hour Sybil Point
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EXCERPT FROM SARA'S JOURNAL October 18, 1998
Near Ballyferriter
Dingle Peninsula
There's a challenge in figuring out how to turn on the hot water and
the cooker and the toaster and the electric heaters and everything else that requires
three switches before it will work in Ireland.
From the front door is part of the Dingle Way, a 178km circular
bike/car/hiking route that begins in Tralee and circles around the Dingle Peninsula. A
three-hour walk around Clogher Point, through farmer’s fields and along the scraggy
coast reveals mounds of sheep excrement. There are pebbly beaches, and the two
small villages of An Baille Uachtarach and Fearann Leataoibh. The ordinance
map is in Gaelic. There's a point of land that rises up to an elevation of 206 metres
called Tur Comhartha on the Sybil Point. On it stands a ruin of some kind, a falling down
building with windows. We can see it from the cottage. It makes a curious shadow on
the surrounding hills, and will make a good climb tomorrow.
Dingle is 20 minutes by Alfi and a good place to stock up with
food supplies, peat briquettes, kindling and candles. In the evening, with the blustery
wind and the crashing waves outside, we stoke our fire and snuggle down with web
site work. It rains and blows and we watch the magic hour movie with all of its
atmospheric effects on the Sybil Point and the Three Sisters to the East.
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Suantra Cottage is situated on the Dingle Way, a 178km
circular car/bike. hiking route around the Dingle Peninsula.
The Blasket Islands are a collection of deserted, mountainous
islands and are the most western part of Ireland
Baile on Chala, population 5
Sara makes a friend in Clogher
Ferriters Cove, Clogher Point
Practice makes perfect when it comes to building the perfect peat fire |
