Sheepshead

View towards Carrigacat

In the morning, a few miles up the road we paused to break fast at a wonderful little cafe in Durrus. Really, a bit too sophisticated to call it a caff - like many places we had passed, euro-culture had leached into Irish life along with the blow-ins. But this had not affected the countryside or the stunning views across the lough, peppered with a variety of unexpected artefacts from history like this tower house just standing in a field.

This was an unpopulated peninsula with only occasional farmsteads to pass by. Eventually the road narrowed to such an extent, is was difficult to navigate. We found a parking place and got out the bikes.

Sheepshead Lighthouse

After 10Km or so of switch-back lanes winding through bracken, heather, gorse and limestone, even the road gave out. Fortunately at a little coffee shop to gird our loins as we set out on foot for the 3Km clamber to Sheepshead lighthouse right at the very end of the finger of land pointing into the Atlantic. The lighthouse is perched high on cliffs dropping dramatically to the coast-line remaining hidden below.

View from the light North to Beara

This was wild country and the wind coming in from the sea could knock you over. Few folk ventured anywhere near the edge of the cliffs but standing relatively safely beside the light, holding on tightly to the safety railings, the view north to the Beara Peninsula was spectacular.

Even the walk back gave some terrific views of sheer drops to the sea and the odd house or cottage nestled out of the wind; there were no trees at all out here.

Dusk at Glangariff

It was getting late now by the time we returned to the van so there was little time to savour as we headed for Bantry passing through to Glengariff. Looking down the lough gave a lot of promise for tomorrow