Barley Lake

Exhausted, hungry, overwhelmed by a long mountain trekking, yet absolutely grateful for this day. I couldn´t ask for anything else more. But in the moment I returned to the beginning of my trail, I just looked back. What I witnessed was something else. I saw the sunset casting its golden light upon Barley Lake, modifying the same landscape to something else than what I witnessed earlier this day. The shadows, the water reflection, the colour tones, the wind, the smells, everything just transported me to a different world in this moment. Beyond gratefulness, I felt blessed by Nature!

Glengarriff (Gleann Garbh), Co. Cork, Ireland
2018, March

A mountain summit lake

A curious place to find a small lake, in the summit of Killane Mountain! Along with many other bogs, I supposed this was a remaining testament to the previous and now melted snow. From this summit, and with the favouring weather, the landscape stretches beyond Beara´s Peninsula and deep into Kerry Co. Here, I could see Ireland´s highest mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks range (Na Cruacha Dubha), with its peaks still under a snow blanket. Certainly a vision for future trails.

Glengarriff (Gleann Garbh), Co. Cork, Ireland
2018, March

Rough terrain

In a more intimate perspective, I ended up surrounded by rough terrain, with rocky steep slopes, composed by dark sandstone, interwoven by patches of golden grassland. The trails along Co. Cork and Co. Kerry border remained the only walkable throughway.

Glengarriff (Gleann Garbh), Co. Cork, Ireland
2018, March

Layer upon layer - looking North of Caha Mountains

While hiking the trail along the border between Co. Cork and Co. Kerry, I witnessed the landscape North of Caha Mountains being formed, layer upon layer, of alternating sunny spells and shadow casts. Far away, Knockanaskill Hill (Cnoc na nEascal) in the Dunkerron Mountains, reflects sunshine with its snowy slopes. Yet, where I was standing, a magnificent Spring day dominated.

Glengarriff (Gleann Garbh), Cork Co., Ireland
2018, March

Caha Mountains

While hiking a trail along the Caha Mountains, following the border among Co. Cork and Co. Kerry, and in an absolutely wonderfull Spring day, I was truly grateful for the all-around scenic landscapes I found myself into. Along the trail, I witnessed many unique landscapes, composed by hills and mountains, valleys, lakes, rivers, soft patches of golden grassland, extensions of forests and bare dark rock walls. All merging together with different weather conditions, from sun filled valleys to storm clouds over mountain tops. All in the same day, all the same time, all around me, near and as far. Here, overlooking towards the Sheen Valley and Knocknamanagh mountain, a golden grassland turf spreads along the perspective and contrasts with the dark siltstone rocks.

Glengarriff (Gleann Garbh), Cork Co., Ireland
2018, March
 

Lady Bantry’s Lookout

Following a trail that climbs from Glengarriff´s Nature Reserve, one emerges from the forest into a hill overlooking Bantry´s Bay. Here, in Lady Bantry´s Lookout, a bench is provided for any walker to rest upon a magnificent view over this bay. However, I was far more interested in the landscape that I left behind me. The valley, covered by a dark and dense forest, is guarded by the Caha Mountains. Winds, relentless where I was standing, didn´t seem to harass the tree line at lower altitude. Bursting with recent rains, several water falls ripped the cliffs and created their own mist. The typical green tones were now bright golden, with the vegetation burnt by previous days´ snow. Truly, a landscape of contrasts.

Glengarriff (Gleann Garbh), Cork Co., Ireland
2018, January

An amazing colour palette

On the northern edge of County Cork, just before arriving to Glengarriff village, one can witness a magnificent view of the Eastern side of the Beara Peninsula. Prominent over the landscape, the Sugar Loaf Mountain stands at mere 574m altitude. Yet, I do find the name quite provocative. It seems I´ll have to return here in snowy days to see if this mountain stands for its name. In a day of gale winds close to the coastline, trekking and, particularly, photography were neither easy nor pleasurable. Yet, it was still very rewarding. The grasslands, burnt by last month´s snow, have now taken golden tones. In this moment, the Sun managed to shine through the clouds and revealed the most amazing turquoise waters in Bantry Bay. Together, they paired into an amazing colour palette.

Glengarriff (Gleann Garbh), Cork Co., Ireland
2018, January

Hungry Hill

At its northern coast, Bantry bay is enclosed by the Beara Peninsula. With a perspective from the opposite margin, a prominent shape steeply emerges from sea level and dominates the Peninsula, Hungry Hill (Cnoc Daod).

Bantry (Beanntraí), Cork Co., Ireland
2017, December