June 14: Second Hike in Glendalaugh-Miners' Trail over the Mountain

16 C

We returned to Glendalough National Park and planned to walk out to the old miner’s settlement, but we turned the opposite direction and decided to give the complete trail a go. Wow!
9 km, but about 350 m incline and on the mountain ridge. The wind was vicious. The first half of the trail was on a narrow boardwalk on top of the blog. Allen fell off the boardwalk twice, scaring me and several others.  It is surprising that he didn’t break anything. He made it almost the entire way.  One of the women on the trail let the Park Rangers know that Allen was having some trouble so one met us at the miners’ settlement and gave him ride back the last 2-3 km, but he had hiked the major obstacles.  Tonight I had a big Irish beer!

Native Rhododendrom



View from Top of Wicklow Mountain



Feral Goat





Old Mining Town: Built in 1850s-Iron ore



We also went to the Monastic City:  100 ft. Round Tower. The first opening was only reached by a ladder that could be pulled up for protection from enemy.




St. Kevin's Church



Cathedral


Gravestone from 1700s




St. Kevin's Cell (Cave-Hermit)


Irish Beer after an Incredibly Challenging Hike



Comments

  1. DarrelJune 18, 2018 at 8:58 AM

    Did the board walk look that one photo with just wooden boards perched on blocks? I think I would have been blown off, as well, if there were no hand rails.

    ReplyDelete

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