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Miscellaneous

How to Visit the Caves of Keash in Sligo

by Derek Cullen May 18, 2021

written by Derek Cullen

Asking yourself how to get to the Caves of Keash in Sligo?

The Caves of Keash are located on the side of Keshcorran Hill near the very small village of Keash. It’s easy to reach the foot of this hill and there is plenty of parking down near the Keash Church Park just a couple of kilometres away.

Many mythological stories have been told about this area and it was the birthplace of a legendary king of Ireland – Cormac Mac Art. But the remains of bears and wolves have also been found inside and glacial boulder beds indicate these caves were submerged in ice at one point in time. For a better idea of what you can expect, make sure to watch my short video above about my recent hike to the Caves of Keash.

Now, back to the directions…

There is also a yet-to-be-opened small parking area right at the trail head for the Caves of Keash but it’s rather small which means the church car park is probably the best place to park. This means you simply park at the church for free and walk along a quiet country lane for ten minutes. You should then see the caves up above on your right-hand-side and after coming to a small junction, stay to the right and proceed past a house to the clearly marked trail head.

X marks the church car park, O marks the trail head and the small arrow marks the caves.

The trail itself is short and mostly on gravel path. However, the 88 metre ascent is steep and takes approximately 20 minutes to walk. At the actual caves, the terrain is tricky to navigate, especially in wet conditions, and you need to take care inside the actual caves. All-in, it takes approximately 1-2 hours to visit the Caves of Keash in Sligo.

What to Wear: It’s a short climb but hiking shoes and rain-gear might come in handy.

Where to eat etc: The Fox’s Den pub is not far from the trail head but there is little more in this area in terms of food or shops so I suggest taking a packed lunch and plenty of water.

Would you like to add anything or share your experience of visiting the caves of Keash?

Please do share your thoughts below…

May 18, 2021 0 comment

Miscellaneous

What you Should Know about Camping on the Great Blasket Islands

by Derek Cullen May 10, 2021

written by Derek Cullen

Here’s another adventure idea: Leave the car in Dunquin and take the ferry to the Blasket Islands. Camp overnight on this stunning remote island and remember what life was like before the internet. Next day (or after a couple of days), take the ferry back to Dunquin and then head to Dingle for some fish n’ chips.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy social media but escaping the clutches of the internet from time to time can’t be a bad thing. For me, wild camping on the Great Blasket Islands is a real adventure but there’s a few things you need to know…

Brief Intro to Camping the Blasket Islands

Located just a few miles off the west coast of Ireland, the Blasket Islands are no longer inhabited and part of Irish folklore. In spite of there being just 150 people living on the island prior to the 1950s, some of the most famous Irish literature and writers came from the Blasket Islands. For this reason, tourists from all over the world come to see the primitive homes and conditions on the island that these locals needed to endure.

In case you might be asking yourself, after the collapse of the fishing industry in the 1940s, locals on the island were paid-off to move to the mainland for safety reasons. Long story short, the younger islanders had either emigrated to America or moved to nearby cities for education/work which made it near impossible for the older folk to survive the harsh conditions and demanding lifestyle on the Blasket Islands.

Anyway, the island is remote and rugged with unspoiled beaches, cliffs, seabirds, seals and views of the Atlantic Ocean. You can take a ferry to the Blasket Islands from Dunquin and once on the island, you can camp wherever you like.

Is Camping on the Blasket Islands Allowed?

While there is a small hostel and cafe on the island, camping on the Great Blasket Islands is also possible. That being said, please do your own due diligence and make sure that you have the right equipment and supplies. Because you need to take everything with you on the ferry including food for the duration of your stay. Weather can also change quickly so you will need warm gear and a reasonable amount of experience in terms of camping. Finally, you will need to check for permission to camp from the ferry service (who operate the cafe/hostel on the island) and make sure they can pick you up the next day or whenever you wish to come back to the mainland. You should also know that it’s not always possible to reach the island due to weather and so it’s important to be well-stocked and prepared to stay another night if needed.

There was decent phone reception/signal on my previous visit but no way to charge/recharge gear.

About Taking the Ferry to the Blasket Islands

You can take a ferry to the Blasket Islands during the Spring or Summer months. Weather permitting, this ferry departs from either Dingle Town or Dunquin. You need to reserve a place on these boats and I believe this is the best point of contact from which to start making your plans.

Blasket Island Ferry at Dunquin

Blasket Island Ferry from Dingle

Why You Might Enjoy Camping on the Blasket Islands

But why else might you want to visit the Blasket Islands?

Here’s an interesting post I found online from fifteen years ago…

“Once on the island, you can camp wherever you like. I spent six weeks out there a few years ago, and I can highly recommend it. Be prepared to be cut off from the mainland for days on end – bring enough supplies for that contingency.”
Trip Advisor Forum

You read that right, this person decided to spent six full weeks on the island. While this is obviously a little extreme, it would seems that the Blasket Islands offers one of the most remote experiences in Ireland.

After checking out the abandoned buildings, you can stroll along the grassy tracks and watch as sheep, hare and rabbits run free. Seals and birdlife is common around the island and “An Tra Ban” is a beautiful white beach that you can visit.

If you read up about the islanders, it’s also fascinating to learn about the local way of life and how storytelling was the main form of entertainment. What’s more, Gaelic was spoken on the Blasket Islands and locals knew very little English.

It might not be everyone’s cup of tea but if you like the idea of escaping civilization for a couple of days, forgetting about the online world and enjoying some quiet time – camping on the Blasket Islands is a unique experience at the very least.

May 10, 2021 0 comment

Miscellaneous

The Longest Off Road Cycling Path in Ireland

by Derek Cullen May 9, 2021

written by Derek Cullen

Here’s another adventure idea in Ireland: Leave the car in Westport, cycle along “The Great Western Greenway” to Achill Island and then return to Westport by taking the ferry back across Clew Bay.

Any takers?

If you don’t fancy cycling the Great Western Greenway, you might spend a couple of days walking the path instead.

But what is the Great Western Greenway exactly?

What is the Great Western Greenway?

The Great Western Greenway is a traffic free, off-road trail that travels from Westport to Achill Island in County Mayo. As part of the National Cycle Network, this route is popular with cyclists but also open to those who wish to walk.

More specifically, the Great Western Greenway has four major intersections: Westport – Newport – Mulranny – Achill.

Just so you know, there is also bike hire in each town which means that you do not need to take your own bike.

Clew Bay Loop and Cycling the Great Western Greenway

It’s known as the “Clew Bay Loop” and in case you might be asking yourself, this will mean cycling approximately 42km.

12km – Westport – Newport – Cycling from Westport to Newport should take approx 1.5 hours. Walking this same route will take at least 3 hours for most people.

18km – Newport – Mulranny – Cycling from Newport to Mulranny will take approx 2.5 hours. Walking this same route will take closer to 6 hours.

13km – Mulranny – Achill – Cycling from Mulranny to Achill should take approx 1.5hours. Walking this same route will take closer to 4 hours.

Although closed since 1937, this was actually the route for the Great Western Railway. But today, gentle gradients and a well-marked path make this ideal for cycling and walking.

In fact, this is now the longest off-road cycling path in the country.

Best of all…

The Best Thing About Cycling the Great Western Greenway

There is no traffic and plenty of signage for cycling the Great Western Greenway. As part of the path, you cycle through fields, mountains and working farms with cattle, sheep and horses. What’s more, it’s often possible to see dolphins, seal colonies and seabirds at each end of the loop.

When you reach Achill Island, it’s then possible to take a chartered boat back toward the Westport area. However, this boat can only accommodate up to twelve passengers and needs to be booked ahead of time.

If it was me, I would like to cycle the Great Western Greenway on a Saturday, stay overnight on Achill Island and then take the boat back toward Westport on Sunday.

May 9, 2021 0 comment