Sheeps Head Way 4: Seefin to Cahergal

Bright and breezy this morning, so walking boots on and we headed off for the fourth leg of the Sheep's Head Way - Seefin (Finn's Seat) to Cahergal (the White Fort). We started high near the top of Seefin but then slipped down to the side of the mountain, a very pleasant ramble down the windy Horseshoe Path - an old council road, now pretty much greened over. Blackberries hung enticingly on the brambles, tortoiseshell butterflies flitted on the scabious, a startled kestrel fanned its tail as it rose above us and a delicious smell of camomile wafted up from the little flowers clumping in the path. A north westerly blew the cobwebs away as we continued, flanked by the brilliant blues from Bantry Bay. The last part of the walk was on the Goat's Path -a proper road but much smaller than the one we'd just walked down. It clings perilously close to the edge of the cliffs and rises and falls, zigzags and meanders through the gorse and heather. A quick diversion to check out an old mass rock and a relaxing but exhilarating walk done. This view is not long after we'd started out - such a sweeping lush green. Behind you can see Bere island, and beyond that the Beara Peninsula.

On the way home I had to herd six bold sheep out of the way, the same six Himself had had to sort out going. We stopped off to eat apples at The Cove - a tiny roughly made quay right at the water's edge where the writer JG Farrell drowned. The waves were huge and turquoise, it was easy to see how it might have happened.

Well, I thought it was all over but NO! The winds were minimal on the south side, the sun was shining, it was a very high tide and the sea was so clear - yes, a swim has been taken!