HIKE PROGRAMME

February 2008

 

MEET:  Burgh Quay

DEPART:  Sundays 10.00 am

COST:  Private bus.  €12 (unless stated otherwise)

 

2nd pick-up point: The bus picks up walkers who are already at the designated point. It won’t be waiting and places cannot be guaranteed as the bus may be full at Burgh Quay. 

NEW 2nd drop-off point: Where indicated in the programme below, the bus will drop off hikers at the 2nd pick-up point on the return journey, unless circumstances dictate otherwise. We regret that this is not possible on all routes.

 

10 February 2008

--- Glenmacnass Valley to Wicklow Gap

Leader: Ciarán King

2nd pick-up & drop-off point: Bus Stop before the roundabout at Loughlinstown.

Route: Laragh * Glenmacnass Valley * Mall Brook * Lough Ouler * Tonelagee * Wicklow Gap * St Kevins Way * Lead works CP.

Distance: 16km   Ascent: 760m   Maps: OS 56 and Harvey

 

17 February 2008

--- Glenmalure Rambles

Leader: Stephen James

2nd pick-up point: Bus stop before the roundabout at Loughlinstown.

Route: Shay Elliott (GR T130 922) * Carriglineen * Glendorcha * Drumgoff * Coolalingo Bridge * Wicklow Way * Mullacor * Cullentragh * Shay Elliott * tracks to Drumgoff.

Distance: 18km   Ascent: 650m   Maps: OS 56, Harvey and Healy

 

24 February 2008

--- Ballynultagh Gap to Sally Gap

Leader: Steven Buckney

2nd pick-up point: Bus stop near pond at Seán Moore Park on Tallaght By-Pass

Route: Ballynultagh Gap (GR O045 109) * Black Hill * Mullaghcleevaun * East Top * Duff Hill * Gravale * Carrigvore * CP Military Road (GR O137 088).

Distance: 17km   Ascent: 800m   Maps: OS 56 and Harvey

 

2 March 2008

--- Introductory Hike East Wicklow

Leader: David McCann

2nd pick-up & drop-off point: Bus Stop before the roundabout at Loughlinstown.

Route: Deputy's Pass Nature Reserve (GR T233 902) * Ballinacooley * Glenealy * Carrick Mountain * Ballylusk * Dairy Lane * Ballycullen * R763 (GR T232 977).

Distance: 18km   Ascent: 650m   Map: OS 56

 

16 March 2008

---Trip to Blackstairs

Leader: Paul Carroll

Further details in the March newsletter

 

 

 

GENERAL HIKE NOTES

 

PARTICIPATION Mountaineering is an activity with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants should be aware of and accept these risks. People who take part in our club activities do so at their own risk and are responsible for their own actions and involvement.

 

INTRODUCTORY HIKES An Introductory Hike is organised once per month for aspirant members. Any participant on these hikes must be a member of An Óige.

 

CO-ORDINATION Tickets are given out on Sundays to ensure that participants reserve a bus place as they arrive.

 

LEADER The leader has the right to refuse anyone who is not adequately equipped (e.g., without appropriate boots, rainwear, food, hat, gloves, etc). Don’t forget your torch, spare batteries & bulb! The leader may alter the route from that described in the program. The leader sets the pace of the hike and walkers are expected to obey the leader’s instructions at all times.

 

ENVIRONMENT Try to reduce the erosion and widening of trails, e.g. do not walk on the edge of worn tracks; walk through the centre of the original track or go several meters into the scruff where the ground is untrodden, walking parallel to but not on the track.

 

LITTER Litter is unsightly and dangerous to animals. Even bio-degradable items like orange peels and banana skins take years to disappear. Bring all your litter home and try to include at least one extra item from each day out. Do not bury litter – animals will dig it up.

 

EQUIPMENT   It is essential to bring good rain gear (both jacket and over trousers) and to leave cotton t-shirts and jeans at home! Boots must be sturdy with proper ankle support and a rigid non-slip sole such as Vibram.

 

WALKING STICKS AND RUCKSACKS   Remember that walking sticks and rucksacks cannot be brought onto the bus and must be stowed away in the boot during the journey.

 

Any club member interested in leading a hike, please contact:

Garry Byrne.

 

 

FURTHER AFIELD

Hiking in Mallorca

 

Walking on Olives

While teachers’ holidays are generally the envy of the world, one sad reality is that they usually are, by definition high season and usually expensive, particularly if southerly destinations are involved.

 

This year I managed to beat the seasonal price hike and secured a package to Mallorca departing from East Midlands with Thompson Holidays. The package offered us B&B in Port de Sóller in a hotel used by a variety of walking and hiking groups as well as transfers from the airport.

 

Port de Sóller is quite a small resort around a horse-shoe shaped bay with the central Serra de Transmuntana rising behind the hotel. The beach area bears no comparison with the beaches around Dublin but Port proved a very good base for walking. Armed with Paddy Dillon’s Walking in Mallorca (Cicerone) and Walk! Mallorca (North & Mountains) - Charles Davis - Discovery Walking Guides and the accompanying Mallorca North & Mountains - Tour & Trail Map 1:40,000, we felt well set up to explore. The map had the additional advantage of being waterproof, a quality which served us well!! Using a combination of both books and our map we managed to devise interesting walks averaging 10-12 miles most days.

 

For our discovery walk we followed a circuit from Port de Sóller via Cami de Castelló to Sóller. A steep mule track brought us uphill onto a plateau covered with ancient terraces planted with olives. The contorted asymmetry and irregularity of the olive trees contrasted strongly with the geometry and regularity of the stone terraces. Quiet and unspoilt, this tranquil landscape was a world away from the heaving resorts of the south of the island. Having gradually curved our way along tracks and paths we descended into Sóller between orange groves and vegetable plots. Saturday market was in full swing and we retreated hastily into quieter streets. We chanced into a local restaurant where we had a delightful lunch. Wine and water were included in the menu price and local colour came free. Considerably fortified we devised an alternative route to bring us back to base.

 

Walk! Mallorca described our Sunday sortie as ‘the ultimate picnic walk’. Suitably equipped with the ultimate picnic we set off in a north-easterly direction. First destination was Torre Picada a large and imposing tower overlooking the port. This first section took about an hour and curved upward, initially on road and then on forest track and narrower path to the tower. Having admired the spectacular views of the harbour, we progressed further along rocky coastal paths, past the imposing leaning tower of rock at Penyal Bernat. The ultimate picnic spot was a rocky ledge with spectacular views of the little island of Sa Illeta with its whirling colonies of seabirds. Rather than continuing further along this path which would have involved confronting a subsided and eroded path, we retraced our steps back the way we had come. The views were just as good on the return.

 

Monday saw us take a bus to Deia, a wonderfully preserved village perched on a hilltop west of Sóller. English poet Robert Graves lived and is buried here. Having explored the village and purchased the makings of a less than ultimate picnic, we took a path leading downhill to the Cala de Deia, a beautiful fishing harbour with spectacular views. Refreshed with a coffee we found the beginning of our cliff path and began our coastal trek back to Port de Sóller. Erratic signposting, erosion and fallen trees made route-finding on this route slightly challenging in parts. We learned that the fallen trees were victims of a disease, wreaking havoc on some of Mallorca’s forests. As the day went on clouds thickened over our heads. We counted ourselves fortunate that the rain really only set in after we had turned inland for the final few kilometres of our trek. However it must be said that we squelched back to our hotel just as wet as after a bad Wicklow Sunday!!

 

Since the forecast for the following day was awful we cut our losses and headed for Palma on the famed orange train which snakes its way over and through the mountains. It’s a feat of engineering and its twists and turns offer a succession of wonderful views – at least when it’s not raining! Palma has much to recommend it – picturesque narrow streets, a wonderful cathedral, restored by Gaudi, some cosmopolitan shopping and an impressive history as a stopping off point for the Crusades. Unfortunately it also offered a variety of food-poisoning which felled one of the party for the following two days, leaving this intrepid explorer to crusade alone!!

 

With time in Mallorca running out and much to see I combined two routes to make for a long varied and interesting sortie. Having taken the tram into Sóller, I trudged uphill along the Cami de sa Capelleta heading for the Mirador de ses Barques a spectacular viewing point. This path is rugged and steep leading through olive terraces and up stone stairs at some points until the Mirador is reached. What a view!!! From here I retraced my steps until I came to the path for Fornalutx. Fornalutx must be the most beautiful village in Mallorca. Its steep winding and stepped streets are lined with beautifully restored buildings in the local sandstone. The village square provided welcome refreshment and a chance to watch the world go by. As I left the village I came on the local cemetery just as the locals were leaving after the annual All Saints graveyard ceremony. The graveyard and its little chapel were lit by candlelight and beautifully adorned with bunches of fresh flowers and bouquets. By now shadows were lengthening. After a short search I found the mule track leading to the next village of Biniaraix. This too seemed a beautifully restored village but as dusk was falling I found the path leading back to Sóller and hastened along, reaching the hotel as night fell in earnest.

 

Would I recommend Mallorca for a walking holiday?

 

 

Yes! Definitely!

 

Deirdre McMahon

 

 

MOUNTAIN VENTURES

 

Based in Ballinclea, Co. Wicklow, Mountain Ventures runs a hostel as well as various training courses such as Mountain Skills and a Wilderness First Aid Course.

 

For details visit www.mountainventures.ie, email info@mountainventures.ie or call 045-404657 (landline)

 

 

SOLUTIONS TO CHRISTMAS WORD SEARCH

 

Congratulations to Dorothy Fine, Paul Farrell and Don Reilly who devoted some

of their time during the Christmas period to solving the word sleuth!

 

Their prizes will be dispatched in the next few days.

 

Below are the answers to the word search.

 

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  1.   Mountains of M… = Mourne

  2.   Northern Irish town connected by ferry to Omeath, Co. Louth = Warrenpoint

  3.   Slieve B… = Binnian

  4.   Northern Irish seaside resort = Newcastle

  5.   Slieve D… = Donard

  6.   Lough on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland = Carlingford

  7.   One of the tracks through the mountains = Trassey

  8.   Slieve G… = Gullion

  9.   Village in Co. Armagh, near Bessbrook = Camlough

10.   Northern Irish city on the main Dublin-Belfast route
= Newry

 

11.   Spanish for “Way” of St. James = Camino

12.   Type of pilgrims’ accommodation = Albergue

13.   Spanish province where Frank started = Rioja

14.   Where Frank met Elliot and Justine = Azofra

15.   Elliot’s final destination = Seville

16.   Name of a river and mountain range = Oca

17.   Largest region in Spain = Castilla y Leon

18.   Frank’s “home town” = Villafranca

19.   At 1200m the highest peak en route = Pedraja

20.   Home town of Nirvana impersonator = Sheffield

21.   Airline suspected of planning flights to Burgos
= Ryanair

 
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