TO SPLENDOUR OF PRE-FAMINE MOUNTAIN
During October and November every opportunity is spent in deciduous woodland to marvel at the great range of colours in our second annual colour season. The evergreen holly extends the range of contrast.
While there are no cars in these shots this is a busy road with cars whizzing in both directions all of the time. Which is not to boast that I risked life to record the glory but to advise strongly against standing in the middle of the road!
Sometimes the best view is from the edge of the road but parking can also be a challenge. Best to park in the designated areas at either end of this beech woodland.
The splendour of the variation in the single colour on the mountains last Sunday, a special delight for the discerning eye.
The well-maintained board walk made it possible to walk in comfort across the waterlogged plateau that crosses from the valley between Torc and Mangerton to Derrycunnihy. The low November afternoon sun dramatically highlighted the layers of mountain.
This green field, with little use and maintenance, is now a place where ferns grow.
Directly below us now the Ullauns or Derrycunnihy oak woodlands and south, south west the southern end of the Upper Lake, Lord Brandon’s Cottage with a background of the whole McGillicuddy Reeks … but the photograph, in the weakening evening sunlight, was too soft to show!
In the softer evening sunlight the single colour autumn mountain cloak is even richer, and in enhancing the experience does not change from year to year to fill greedy pockets
A huge crop of berries on the holly bush in aslightly more protected dip in the mountains.
Both of the photographs above show remains of pre-famine settlements that had simple stone houses and small fields surrounded by stone ditches.
The population of Ireland doubled between 1740 and 1840. This was made possible because of the arrival of the potato. People survived on a diet of potatoes and it was possible to grow potatoes up here in the mountains.
At the end of a satisfying three hour week in the fading evening light. In the distance the edge of the oak and conifer woodland that we will enter shortly and fifteen minutes later to the carpark that spilled over on to the road when we left it.
– Frank Lewis
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