Loop walk 5: Peakeen Ridge

What a day! Sunshine, warmth - the boots were thrown on, refreshments bunged into backpacks and we decided to do a big one the Peakeen Ridge Loop walk . We parked at the Pieta only for me to find that I'd left my camera at home - a last minute change of T shirt and the camera was on the bed. Duh! Himself started off without me and I did a quick zoom home and back, luckily only about 10 minutes each way. We agreed to rendezvous at the tomb. Already a steep climb upwards onto the ridge, the remains of this collapsed passage tomb with attendant arty cairn has astonishing views out in every direction. Who was buried here possibly as much as 5000 years ago we shall never know but what a place to choose.

This is a mighty walk - you climb up as high as you can go, then head down steep gulleys to swerve around the mountain, then stagger across boggy ground to literally cross the peninsula. You then start to ascend again with amazing views out to the very end, noticing the remains of tiny houses amongst the bracken. You then walk down towards the Goat's Path before veering off yet again, upwards on the Horseshoe road, well named for its winding route.

The weather was perfect, warm with a very slight breeze and the colours were so vibrant - gorse, heather, goldenrod, scabious and still plenty of butterflies and bugs about. A few swallows, a couple of lizards, some noisy ravens, fat blackberries and two wheatears added to the exitement. At one point we were outraged to see other people coming in our direction - 3 shy French, 3 loud Irish with lots of dogs and two rather serious looking types with poles. Later on, as we staggered breahtless up the last track we met two locals out enjoying the weather. He informed us that if the weather was good for a couple of days on each side of the Equinox (today) then it would be grand until Christmas. Looking good!

A swim - even the seaweed is changing into its autumnal colours and is bright orange.
Now a glass of something refreshing and collapse.


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