Two weeks without updates.

Yeah, I know I am a lazy ass..
It has been nearly two weeks since last time I set my paw over the keyboard however, I have to say that our computer at home is not the fastest ever and I have loads of pictures to upload so sometimes it takes me a while.
Anyway, Two weeks ago we went to a  Glengariff nature reserve. It takes one hour and a half so it is not too bad.

They are taking good care of it...!!

Eva was very excited because she loves the nature parks like us and the walk in the book looked long enough, however, Peter didnt seem very happy with the idea of an 8 km walk again.

After arriving there we looked at the map provided by the park to see exactly where to start and finish our route because it wasn´t very clear.



Our route was all over the place...

So  we set off  looking for the first point in the map.

Ben and myself were wagging our tails thinking that it would be as great as the one we did the week before.

We completed our streching and a few bits of pilates we learnt lately to prepare for the long walks...

Concentration....

This humans some times are very handy

The landscape was fabulous, there was a river which we walk along side for quite a while. The guide which Eva was reading while walking said that long before now there was a luxury house in the middle of the river.

The actual park belonged to the Lord of Bantry who handed over to the State in 1955 for forestry purposes.

The River Walk

Distance:1km 
Duration:25 minutes
Standard:easy  
Terrain: footpath, mostly level
Directions: Leaving the main car park cross the footbridge and turn left.  Half way round this circular walk, is a footbridge (cross the bridge if you wish to embark on the Big Meadow walk).  To continue the River Walk, ignore the bridge and carry straight on until you near the public road.  Climb the steps and in a fewminutes you’ll be back at the car park.

And as you should have guessed by now we  embarked ourself on the Big Meadow walk too without knowing our fate...

We crossed the bridges (a few of them, by the way...) We didnt like them much because they were kind of scary with all the metal net over the floor...

Scary bridge.

Just right after the bridges we entered in a lovely woodland with oldoak woods and ferns, mosses and linchens growing on the old oak trees. This is typical of the oceanic woodlands in the south-west of Ireland.

Big Meadow
Distance:3km 
Duration:90 minutes 
Standard:easy
Terrain: footpath and woodland track. Mostly level.

The most unique feature of this walk is the big meadow, an area of old grassland that has not been fertilised or ploughed in living memory.

We enjoyed running through it trying to catch birds and butterflies...but the ones who were caught were us by a couple of ticks...(now we are free of ticks again...we had to wear the smelly drops...I hate them)

After passing through the meadow, you walk along a woodland track where Beech, Eucalyptus and Scot's Pine feature.

It was very simple to follow although

Even the humans did it!

Directions: Take the River Walk until you reach a footbridge.  Cross this bridge, keep left and cross a second bridge.  Turn right to reach the Big Meadow. At the end of the meadow turn left through Beech trees along a forest track and past a small lake. Just before the gate onto the public road turn left onto a track. Follow the track for 1.3km until you reach the sign to Lady Bantry’s Lookout.  Turn left to get back to the carpark (or right if you still have the energy to climb up to the viewing point).

At this point Eva was really disappointed because of the public road was part of the route and she didnt realize till that very moment...She is a pain in the neck. She is always saying that she should have checked before hand but when she plan something she gest to excited as to check anything...

So we were here stuck again trying to decide where to go...

Peter  deciphering the guide...

After a few of discussions, because we wanted to keep going no matter what and on the other hand Peter wanted to go back to the car, we agreed to climb the last walk called Lady Bantry´s lookout.

Distance:1km
Duration:30 minutes 
Standard:moderate 
Terrain:steep footpath with steps

The climb up through the woods is steep, but the effort is worth it.  From the top there are fantastic panoramic views over Glengarriff to Garinish Island, Whiddy Island and Bantry Bay.

We love the steep walks as we like to peer out over the highs but Peter doesnt share our pasion at all as

the climb kills him and makes him very grumpy, but we know that deep inside he likes to challeng himself and he feels very proud when he reachs the top of the montain.

We were very sorry for him.

But we got there stright to the submit....!

It is slippery!

Don´t you think I look like her?

Can you see the humans in this pic?

Look there is a rabit down there!!

So this is our adventure in Glengariff nature reserve.
 To be honest with you it was a little bit of desappointment as we expected longer walks than they are but otherwise, a nice day out with Eva and Peter.

P.S. Every time we go out with them we behave very well to let them believe that they can bring us every place but the truth is that we are very good actors.