www.ireland-travels.com www.facebook.com/IrelandTravels Follow @TravelsIreland Ireland travel is about taking a journey into the magical. While taking a tour of Ireland you should always include time to travel West Cork and Mizen Head. You can experience more of the West Cork area and Mizen Head at my Ireland blog using the links above. Whether you are walking the paths of the many parks, climbing the rocky hills, fishing from the rugged coastline, sitting on a sandy beach, taking photographs of the Irish countryside or cycling the winding roads; a tour of this scenic area of southwest County Cork, Ireland is a must. Leaving the small village of Goleen you will head in the direction of Mizen Head (http://youtu.be/P7z7hdDd2AU). Continue past the turn to Crookhaven, and you will approach the left turn for the Mizen Head Signal Station and Barley Cove. Keep going straight until you get to the "T" in the road. At the "T", turn right and head into the beautiful pastureland of the Mizen and Dunlough area. The road will continue to wind for several kilometers until you come to Dunlough Pier. Leave your car in the small parking area and head up the driveway of the farm. Because you are entering private property, be mindful of locking gates and not disturbing the livestock. It would be very sad to have the castles closed from visitors because of the trouble they caused. On foot, follow the signs and well-worn tracks in the fields. The first part of the walk is fairly easy. It isn't until you get to the bigger hills that the climb becomes harder and the footing a bit uncertain. Upon climbing the first hill, a small, shallow valley will open up in front of you. Walk through this small depression and continue up the other side. As you approach the top of the rise, be prepared for the incredible site of Dunlough Castle. With the castles now in view, the last part of the hike is a bit touchy as the track down is steep and rocky. But, before you head down the hill to the castles, take a moment to enjoy the views in every direction. If your camera isn't overheated yet, I'm not sure what it will take! The castle itself has three different towers that are joined by a crumbling wall that rises to about 15' (5 meters) in height. For towers built eight hundred years ago, they are in magnificent shape. In no time, you will be climbing around the site letting your imagination go as you let the history of this place come over you. It is not too hard to imagine the people in and around the castle. If you look carefully through a security gate on the east side of the largest tower, you will see the bottom of a perfectly intact staircase leading up to a higher floor. What I would pay to be able to climb on those steps and see where they go. Besides the towers, another prominent feature of the site is the lake. In typical Irish fashion, there is always a story, and the story I have heard goes something like this. While the king and his two sons were away at battle, word came back that two of them had been killed. To preserve the fortune of their house, the lady, or queen, threw all their worldly possessions and treasure into the lake. The story goes that if a person searches for the treasure with greed in their heart, the lady of the lake will come for them. Death will follow soon after. You have to love a good Irish story! The walls around the lake are original walls. At the far east end of the lake, where the cliffs drop into Dunmanus Bay, there is also an original dam that holds the water. I have also been told that you can see small mounds near the castles that were part of a promontory fort that pre-dated the castles. I need to go back so that I can find them for myself! After you have finished exploring the castle site, a walk up the hills past the towers is worth it. Up there you will find another lake, a stone monument used to measure the height of the hill and stunning views to the north. On a clear day, you will be able see Sheep's Head, the entrance to Bantry Bay and the mountains of County Kerry. You can easily spend several hours enjoying all the different areas of Three Castle Head. You will be in a very remote place, and it is likely you won't see another person during your hike. What is an absolute must for this hike besides good shoes? A picnic and a thermos of tea. For some reason, tea tastes so much better while sitting on a cliff at Three Castle Head. Planning your next vacation to Ireland? Don't forget to tour West Cork, Three Castle Head and Dunlough Castle. www.ireland-travels.com www.facebook.com/IrelandTravels Follow @TravelsIreland Track title: Arrival of Spring
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• published: 23 Aug 2012
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