Day 1 : Tuesday, 7th August.
We start walking our Beara Way from Glengarriff to Adrigole. Distance 18kms and a maximum ascent of 300 meters. We are driven out of Glengarriff and start our tour somewhere along the R572. This stage introduces us to the wildness of the Beara Mountains. In sunny weather, under the Sugarloaf and Glenlough Mountains we try to find our way to the little village of Adrigole. The muddy track leads us westwards in to the Magannagan Valley. The track meanders along a rough road towards Sugarloaf Mountain, passing the little Magannagan loughs and a small forest. Through a scattered coniferous plantation we’re heading for a pass between Sugarloaf and Gowlbeg.
We really get rewarded for our struggle when we reach the pass. Fantastic outlooks over Bantry Bay with Sheep’s Head stretching into the Atlantic across the bay; Whiddy Island on the far side of the bay stretches long and flat. In the far distance we can see Mount Gabriel and Knocknamadree, the highest points of Mizen Head, since we are lucky to have clear weather today. Soon the track changes into a formal route when it gets bounded in places by old stonewalls. This road, Cromwell’s Road, descends into a green and fertile landscape.
We pass an old ruined church at Mass Mount and far ahead of us we can admire the impressive massif of Hungry Hill and Adrigole Mountain. Soon we reach the main road, which leads us to the village of Adrigole. In the first pub we come across we pay our respects to old Mr. Guinness; he is good for us, we know for sure. We have been craving for him since our Dingle Way tour in 1999. After this renewed acquaintance, Mrs. O’Mahoney’s daughter picks us up at the pub and takes us back to our guesthouse, Rockwood House, in Glengarriff.
Original Source : Shamrock Memories