Having learned my lesson on Monday morning that Island View B&B omelets are the size of Montana, I opted for the bountiful continental, which included delicious cheeses, one of which is Wallace and Grommet's favourite, Wensleydale. The weather couldn't make up its mind, but the sunny side of its disposition was smiling on Bere Island, our destination, so this boded well.
These wonderful signposts seen on the national trails in Ireland pointed the way, at least at the more civilized parts of the walk. Once we climbed higher, the track was marked with yellow arrows painted on rocks.
Bere Island is a study in contrasts. Lower down, we passed houses and fields of cows. Higher up, a beautiful rocky wilderness.
On this trail, as with so many others in Ireland, you get high with sheep. That is to say, you share the higher altitudes with them.
Of course the weather was in a fickle mood and we were blessed with intermittent showers, but no fog! The wind was making a big statement today as well. We climbed to the ruins of a Martello tower, one of many that the British built in 1804 as defense against an expected invasion by Napoleon. The little general never came calling, so the 150+ towers built in Ireland and England were never put to military use.
The west coast of Ireland is ruggedly beautiful. At every turn in the trail, we were amazed by yet another mind-boggling view.
Little Lucy is great friends with himself, a.k.a. Christopher, our fearless leader. There she is perched on his shoulder at the lunch break. Labradors always come out when there's food about.
Several hours and about 14 kilometers later, we were back at water's edge, enjoying our chosen libations at The Lookout. Everything is aching, but who cares! A good time was had by all on Bere Island.
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