Bronte And Me Walk From Barnagh To Newcastle West.

 We went for a walk again on the jewel in County Limericks crown: The Limerick Greenway on Sunday.

It cost over 20 million Euros and it is 40 KM long.  Stretching from Abbeyfeale to Rathkeale.  

You can also walk from Abbeyfeale to Listowel in County Kerry.  I will save that for another blog post and walk with Bronte my hiking Golden Retriever.  In fact dear readers there are repurposed railway lines or Greenways popping up all over Ireland at the moment.  There are new walking routes being planned down here in West Cork.

We set off  this time from Barnagh. I last wrote about Barnagh  and its tunnel last July. Remember the light that automatically came on in the tunnel and we thought we saw a ghost like lady figure in the stone face?

We followed a sign for Barnagh Viewing Point.   About quarter of a mile later we arrived at the side of a very busy fenced off road.  Behind us was a sign for the viewing point:

We could see for literally miles.  Thomand Park home of Munster 🏉,  Counties Clare, Cork and Tipperary.  

I looked for a sign for Newcastle West.  There was no way we would try to cross the fenced off road.  So we turned back and a nice young man and lady advised me to walk back to the station and through the tunnel and under a road viaduct (subway) and we would be on the other side of the road.  If we had walked from the Abbeyfeale direction we would have seen the Newcastle West signpost.  But J had dropped us off higher up.

Twenty minutes later we had walked about a mile and we were opposite where J had dropped us off.  Five or ten minutes later we could see the viewing point across the road.  If only there had been a sign to point to Newcastle West.🤔

Ten Kilometres or six miles in old gas slot meters was our walking distance on Sunday morning.  Already we had put a mile on our saunter.

 The train line must have gone across where the busy road is now.  It was very noisy for about ten minutes and Bronte was not an happy bunny or Golden Retriever.  I didn't particularly like the speeding cars myself.  

Soon the Greenway led us into a much more pleasant rural setting and we passed cyclists, runners, walkers and young children trying to learn from very patient parents "how" to ride their bicycles.  

Where else was there a tarmac path/ road where people exercise safely and greet each other with: " Morning", "Hi" and ''How ya doing?"  It's definitely  20 million Euros well spent on 40 kilometres of public greenway.  Not forgetting the chats and greetings with other people exercising for free.  

Regular readers know I reside next to The Sheepshead Way and  the views and vistas are spectacular.  Read Seamus Heaney's The Peninsula poem if you want inspiration.  I love walking it in the summer.  It's hilly and not the gentle terrain of an old railway line.  Also I rarely if ever meet people to chat or see here.  

Also on the Limerick  Greenway there are public transport connections.  On my side of our peninsula there is little or no public transport other than the Local Link on a Tuesday and a Thursday.  Although on the south side there are now 4 buses a day.  You can even catch a bus from Kilcrohane to Allhies over on Beara.  We definitely need more public transport infrastructure down here.  It's not just a matter of reducing the speed limits which I agree with the recent new road signs.  People like country dwellers and hikers need public transport for shopping and to get home from the rural pub or village..

Here's  so more photos for your perusal:

Bronte waiting patiently at a natural fence.  Old branches lay down and weaved in between the posts.  Very clever!

Please click on the photos to enlarge them!  There's  some interesting town land place names.

Old house looking sad and lonely.

Bronte stopped at a picnic bench.  We ate a packet of Aldi salt and vinegar chopsticks.  We didn't see any litter bins but we didn't see any litter in fairness.

Cattle probably bulls or bullocks with horns over wintering on the Rush pasture.

Bronte leads the way. 

Old train station converted into a dwelling.

Old signal

Looks like an old goods yard now a modern housing estate.

5000 fine if you don't  pick it up.

It was a lovely February day and the gorse was in flower and perfect for a walk with my four legged friend Bronte.  Only 14 Kilometres more and we have walked the Limerick Greenway.  I wouldn't mind an electric bike with a bell to warn hikers and runners I am passing them.

This track began to play on my mental jukebox:

I think the Greenways are an excellent way of enjoying Ireland's industrial railways and rural routes and they pass through villages and towns en route which are perfect for refreshment or hotel and air bnb accommodation.  I would like to see a few more portaloos, litter bins,  burger/ tea and coffee cold drinks vans or cafes  and maybe a bunkhouse in one of the old railway buildings or a campsite or two on a farmers fields adjoining the Greenway.

Limerick Greenway is very accessible from Kerry airport overseas readers.  

Not forgetting the EU subsiding of so many of the Greenways in Ireland.