Ireland day 0508. Saturday 18 February 2023- Derrybawn *

Ireland day 0508. Saturday 18 February 2023- Derrybawn

Today’s summary	Val was working so I drove down to Portmarnock to pick up a friend then we went on to Laragh to walk the Derrybawn loop with the walking club. A bit grey and drizzly but very enjoyable day out nevertheless
Today’s weather	Grey overcast and drizzly to start with. Brightened up a bit later and by the time we were back at the cars the sun was shining. Light wind at the start but gale to severe gale westerly wind on the ridge. Appx 10C but feeling colder higher up.

Today’s overview location (The blue mark shows the location of our route)		Close-up location (The blue line shows where we walked) (Click button below to download GPX of today’s walk as recorded, or see interactive map at bottom with elevations corrected): Derrybawn via Cullentragh DWC

Commentary

(Summary blog only. Last full blog was Day 0368).

I was out with the club again, while Val sadly had to earn a crust at the museum.

An early start as I picked up a friend in Portmarnock at 8:30 am before heading down to Laragh and the start of the hike. Just enough spare time to drop into Clodagh’s lovely rustic café on the Green in Laragh to pick up a coffee en route.

The walk itself followed a similar route to the one we had done in July last year, but starting at Laragh rather than Glendalough, and with a better return section (not along the green lane which always seems to be uphill no matter which way you walk it). Decent views and not too many people out, which was nice.

Great chat, as always, and even the chance to practice my Spanish with a fellow walker who’s also learning. The weather wasn’t perfect – grey and drizzly to start with, then blastingly windy along the Derrybawn ridge on the way back. But not unmanageable and the gear (including new Paramo jacket) performed well.

Back fairly early so dropped into Lynham’s for refreshment – sadly limited to a cup of tea in my case as I was driving. Another great, friendly, day out.

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)


Bookey Bridge, over the Glendasan river, by the car park in Laragh	First frogspawn of the year! Apparently where it is in the pond (middle or edge) is a predictor of the summer weather to come. Unfortunately I don’t know what the link actually is

Splashing along the ridge. Even though it’s been pretty dry most of February, recent rain over the last couple of days has created a healthy supply of mud	The weather looks benign in the photo but at this point on Derrybawn the wind was so strong we could barely stand up

Heading down off the ridge	Passing through the woods sweeping back under Derrybawn on the way to the car park. A nice way to finish the walk – all downhill!

Here I am at the end of the Derrybawn ridge, looking peculiarly strained. just before the drop back into Laragh. Upper Glengalough lake to the left