Friday 1st September 2017
Woke to what the weatherman had predicted – the sun! Today was the day to make the trip to Mizen Head, and take in Bantry Bay on the way back. A 4 ½ hour round trip by car, 135 kms each way. We set off early to make the most of the sun.
Our route took us back through Sneem and Kenmare and onto the N71 towards Glengarriff and the Beara Peninsula. The views were spectacular as we drove up into the moutains and back down through the Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve and sea level. There were many places to stop the car and admire the scenery. From Bantry Bay we took the R591, a regional road, south west to the village of Durrus. Durrus is the gateway to the Sheep’s Head Peninsula. Then we continued onto Barleycove and finally the scenic, rugged road to Mizen Head.
It was a brilliant day to visit Mizen Head. Blazing sun and not many visitors. The Mizen Head Signal Station is located at the most south westerly point of the Kilmore Peninsula, high above the cliffs and the Atlantic Ocean.
After passing through the visitors information centre we headed along a path towards the iconic arched bridge and the Signal Station.
The signal station provides information about the lives and work of the Irish Lights Keepers, Ireland’s first radio beacon and Marconi’s attempts to establish cross Atlantic radio communications.
After several photo opportunities, we headed back towards the visitor centre, along the paths and up 99 punishing steps!
To give ourselves even more cardio exercise we ventured down the winding path to view the sea arch. (Time to sit and ponder before heading back up!)
After a spot of lunch we made our way back to Bantry Bay to visit Bantry House and Gardens. We had always wanted to pay a visit, since seeing Graham Norton being interviewed here. We timed it perfectly for tea and cake on the veranda of the house.
It seems that everywhere we have been in Ireland, everyone is fastidious about keeping their gardens neat and tidy. Here too, the gardeners were busy cutting the lawns and tending the plants
Back home and we enjoyed a well deserved bbq Irish steak dinner with a glass of red! A quick face time home and the day was complete.
