The End of the Beara

The day started showery so we had a leisurely start before driving to the Beara Peninsular just to the north of the Sheepshead. TJ's land here overlooks the Beara so I've long been intrigued to explore this area which I feel I already know from afar. The further west we drove the wilder and the more dramatic the landscape became. That drama was intensified by the drama of the weather. It had turned from autumn to winter overnight with the Beara being swept and scoured by a succession of squally showers punctuated by intervals of bright sunshine.

As we entered Allihies, where we were to stay tonight, it was almost as if we were entering a whole new kingdom. Each of the peninsulas in West Cork has its own unique character and Beara has an altogether different feel to the Sheepshead and the Mizen, where we were yesterday. There is a more complex topography here, and a real sense of isolation.

It wasn't really a day for long walks. We stopped often and explored on short walks when the sun was out. Even then the strong wind still chilled us to the bone. It was sometimes the case of jumping out of the car to take a photograph and jumping straight back in again! The highlight of the day was a visit at dusk to Garnish Strand where the sea was giving the rocks an incredible battering. From the beach the sea looked like it was boiling and seem to rise way above the level at which we were standing. I've not experienced quite such an immense sense of power before. I wouldn't have wanted to out there in any kind of boat! Unfortunately, the light wasn't good enough to do the scene justice.

This was taken from just north of Allihies looking across to Dursey Island.