On Saturday morning we drove to Fenit in county Kerry.
Regular readers will remember we visited the brand new Greenway two years ago. Ireland is spending millions repurposing so many of it's old railway lines.
Yes railway lines with spectacular sea views and paid for by by the English and built by the Irish navvies and so many Irish caught the train to the ferry and on to Blighty.
The tracks have been removed and tarmac has been laid instead.
The routes are suitable for runners, cyclists, walkers, horse riders ( I suppose?) and dogs like Bronte.
The Greenways are not hilly and boggy like the Sheepshead Way where I live. There are toilets, shops, bicycle hire, accommodation and you even get to meet people.
I can go walks where I live and I probably won't see anyone most times.
The Limerick Greenway which is not not far from Fenit. Even provides a regular bus service for you and your bike, to get back to where you started if you want, or to your next destination.
J dropped Bronte and yours truly off at Causeway and we got on to the repurposed railway line and arranged to meet her in Fenit. It was a typical Irish mizzle morning: "It's that rain that gets you wet" I thought to myself.
Bronte was delighted to going a stroll. So was I a part from it raining. A lady cyclist rode past and Bronte happily barked at all the excitement. The cyclist smiled and said: "Your dog is happy and excited to be going a walk". We both laughed.
I only saw two more walkers and half a dozen cyclists. Here's some photos of our four mile walk in the rain:
Old branch station house. It would make a good bunk house for walkers or maybe a snack shop?Cows in the distance lay down keeping the pasture beneath them dry.
Bronte next to the Rugosa rose.
Daisies.
Bronte next to the Valerian flowers.
Old railway arch.
Fenit Lighthouse. St Brendan the Navigator lived near here. He sailed from here in a cow hide boat and discovered America before Columbus did.
Beach. I found twenty Euros here last time I walked along the beach.
Fenit Harbour.
Footbridge.
Bridge House. It has been converted into five self catering cottages.
Fenit old railway station.
Old railway signal.
Sonebody owns a polytunnel just like someone who writes these posts.
West End Bar. It serves food, drink and does B and B.
What a walk. SO full of interesting history . A lovely place for a man and dog to take a walk. Better rain than the sun beating down. Says I who stays at home
ReplyDeleteYes lots of interesting history Linda. I think it is fitting that these unused railways are being repurposed for recreation. The labourers who sweated and toiled to build these lines are not forgotten and their work was not in vain. Thanks.
DeleteIn the rain it's nice to have a good path to follow, we have a costal path here, but it mainly grass.
ReplyDeleteIt was a nice walk Marlene but unusually so cold for a late June morning. Bronte enjoyed the walk very much.
ReplyDeleteSomebody in the Irish government must have shares in a tarmac business. That's a hell of a lot of fresh tarmac they have laid.
ReplyDeleteHe's called Mr Malloy and his understudy is called Yosser Hughes. They worked a lot in the Liverpool area YP. Alan Bleasdale is a literary genius.
ReplyDeleteGie us a job! I can do that!....and... "I'm desperate Dan!"
Delete"Shake hands".
ReplyDeleteA pleasant walk.good to see the way repurposed...but sad to see no trains.
ReplyDeleteThanks GZ. It looks like there was also a Dr Beeching in Ireland. Sad to see them no longer used for trains. But good to see them being repurposed for leisure. Great habitats for nature and safe for walkers and cyclists and joggers to use.
ReplyDeleteThe tarmac will look better as it ages. It's a bit in your face at the moment. How long is the whole track?
ReplyDelete13. 6km from Fenit to Tralee. We walked the four mile completed section Tasker. Greenways are popping up all around Ireland at the moment.
ReplyDelete