I’ve been stricken with Covid, so the post I was planning to write – about my visit to the amazing Derry Duff Farm will have to wait a week. And no – I haven’t forgotten I need to get back to the Skeams and St Brandanus! Instead I bring you one of Robert’s posts from a few years ago in which he leads us along some of the smallest roads you can encounter in West Cork. I’ve swapped in a few photos.
Small Roads
Road repairs in rural Ireland peak in the summer months. Favourable weather is responsible. Always be ready for holdups and diversions. ‘Boreens’ – narrow roads in country areas – are often unable to take the machines required to cut edges, fill potholes and restore surfaces while letting traffic through at the same time. In the worst cases, alternative routes can add many kilometres to a journey. So, when setting out, always leave yourselves plenty of time.
Here’s our Yeti straddling the border between Cork and Kerry on the Priest’s Leap road. That’s one of our favourites: the scenery is outstanding, but there can be problems if you meet someone coming the other way. In fact, that difficulty is present on very many of our local byways: hone your reversing skills!
It’s not always other vehicles you have to watch out for . . .
A rural road can be a challenge: never be in a hurry. You just have to go with the flow, even if that means reversing for half a mile. In that situation, of course, the main difficulty is making the decision as to who will have to reverse: you, or the vehicle coming the other way. If that oncoming vehicle is a large tractor and trailer, you may not have much choice.
Yes, there are still a few roads around in very out-of-the-way places which are not surfaced as you might expect. They fit well into their rural surroundings!
Take care not to get lost . . . Some of these boreens are not even marked on the map!
Give a thought to those who built these byways: quite a lot of engineering has been involved in carving through rocks to create a more or less level route.
Some roads lead to a dead end. I prefer those that fly high – over the mountain passes; the scenery never disappoints.
. . . The Road goes ever on and on
from ‘the old Walking Song’ by J R R Tolkein
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say . . .
There’s always a reward to be had for travelling uphill: it’s the view from the top!
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Re and related Well Off the Well-Trod Track. I walked (backpacked) these typical routes 50-odd years ago on my way from Kerry to Glengarriff. Nothing has changed. Ah memories. . .)
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And i covered them on a Honda 50, probably round the same time.
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Small roads lead to many beautiful views.
Wishing you well with your recovery.
June
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I suspect I might have, also. All this time without, and… laziness on my part
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Hope you’re feeling better, Michael.
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My throat is easing up, but still got weak and wobbly muscles, and temperatures still up and dow. Woozy head.
How about you?
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All better and up and about. Really only felt bad for three or four days.
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Take Care of yourself. Joan says Hello.
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Sorry to hear that you have Covid, Finola. I love that narrow back road description.. Coomola to Kilgarvin is another good one!
Get well soon. You might be well enough to call to our pop- up Museum in Skibb town hall 16th -24th August.
Get well soon
Brigid
Sent from Outlook for Androidhttps://aka.ms/AAb9ysg
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I wouldn’t miss it, Brigid!
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Well get better soon ! There still seems to be a lot of covid around indeed…. It was a lovely post anyway.
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Lovely old roads, and may the grass always grow on them. Good to be reminded also of Robert’s love of signs – and the west of Ireland’s version of a road worker is more realistic than ours, as well as being (I think!) more careful of his back! Sorry to hear you’ve been ill, Finola, and hope you’re feeling a lot better soon.
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Lovely to read a piece by Robert again. He’s always on my mind as are you Finola as well.
Perran
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Thanks, Perran. I hope your own situation is as good as possible.
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Get well soon Finola
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Do hope it doesn’t knock you too badly.
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Your first image looks very suspiciously like the place where, having got taken astray by the GPS, I had to get out of the car, kick they tyre and eat and apple before I could continue! Hope you’re feeling a bit better today.
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And I forgot to mention the very loud swearing too!
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Was it the kicking or the apple that got you there in the end?
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Ah, YES, I remember it well, the beautiful boreen!Down with a ‘rotten dose’? – we send sincerest wishes for you to batt
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Thanks, Paddy!
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Dear Finola,I am very sorry to hear that you have got Covid! Please take care to get well as soon as you can, and let us all know how you get on.I have enjoyed following the journal for several years, especially the wildflower and history posts. After our American elections in 2016 I fantasized about moving to county Cork. Alas, I did not, and now things are even more troubled. So, vicariously enjoying Ireland through your blog.Thank you, Shelle Smith in Colorado Sent via the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone
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Never too late? Thanks for the lovely comments.
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Feel better Finola 💚
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Get well soon! Beautiful photos! Hope to visit there one day.
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Make a plan!
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Oh Finola, that’s such bad luck. Was wondering why you weren’t at Lissard yesterday. Keep safe and get well soon.
All the best
William
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Thanks, William. Hope you enjoyed Liss Ard.
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Thank you so much, Finola for your lovely mails. I really enjoyed the piece. I wish you a speedy recovery. Regards, Dee Morris
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Thanks, Dee!
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Hope you feel better soon
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Thanks, Jenny!
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No place better than the boreens of Ireland to “Get Lost”. They bring me so much creativity and peace as I travel the twists and turns and discover the treasures around every bend. Much of my work comes from these backroads…inspiration galore! Hope you are feeling better soon!
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Thanks so much – a fellow enthusiast, I see!
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No place better than the boreens of Ireland to find your creativity and peace! Nothing like getting lost on those backroads that hold so many treasures. I spend a great deal of time getting “lost” on them. Much of my work comes from them. Love the story and I hope you are feeling better really soon!
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Hope you recover well soon finola
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