Walking Break in North Mayo (C Group)
9 to 12 October 2011
Our small, but intrepid, band of eleven Mourne Ramblers - Joan (Calvert), Irene (Cauley), Aileen (Finch), Harry (Goodman), Marie (Hoeritzauer), Minetta (Howard), Dermot (Mc Dermott) David (Oldfield), Alan (Parkinson), Wendy (Patterson) and John (Tweed) made our way west on Sunday 6th October through incessant rain to a very wet and murky Mulranny. While we travelled across in our cars, the ever intrepid Dermot made the journey from Elphin by a series of public buses to Westport and then a 25 mile taxi ride from Westport. Is there no end to this man’s ingenuity !
What was it we were promised? A stunning location, overlooking ClewBay. Well yes, we were all stunned but not in this sense! The dire weather conditions found on arrival and an unchanged forecast for the next three days truly stunned us!! Good grief , we could not even see ClewBay never mind the promised unsurpassed views across it. However, in spite of this general gloom and doom, there was one ray of sunshine, the Mulranny Park Hotel., our base for the next three days. On first inspection and subsequently, it turned out to be first class accommodation, with spa facilities and an excellent range of food.
Monday
As predicted the morning dawned wet and windy and any plans for a walk over Slievemore on AchillIsland were quickly scuppered. After a leisurely breakfast we drove around to Achill and walked a 12k stage of the recently opened Great Western Greenway back to the hotel where it passes through the grounds. The walk was along the line of the former railway track and is used both by walkers and cyclists. Although we started out in full wet gear this was soon removed when we had an unexpected change in weather. The rain stopped and we had a very pleasant morning walk back. Indeed the broken cloud and sunshine gave us fleeting glimpses of what the area has to offer as a walking destination. Once back at the hotel, buoyed up by the continuing absence of rain, we decided, after lunch, to take a walk up from the hotel on to the long and knobbly broad ridge of Claggan Mountain, a relatively low hill, on the western edge of the Nephin Beg Range. While it turned out to be a somewhat torturous “bog trot” there was a feeling of relief just to be out on the slopes.
Tuesday
This was the day we had hoped to climb Nephin Beg. Rain and high winds again greeted us but we are Mourne Ramblers! Undeterred we made our way around to the starting point for the walk. Initially we followed the Letterkeen Looped walk up a rough track beside a fast flowing river, crossing on the way a number of small bridges and then along the remains of an old cattle road. Some 3k into the walk we reached the base of Nephin Beg and decision time as to climb it or not. The continuing heavy rain and strong winds soon put paid to our plans to climb the mountain. Instead we opted to complete the looped walk, climbing to the dizzy height of 311 metres on the way. In all we did a walk of 12k over moorland slopes, along rocky tracks and forest roads. Not what we had planned but at least we were out and about.
Wednesday
Would this be our lucky day? Well there was no rain, the strong winds had abated but the tops were still well and truly hidden in thick cloud. After a chat over breakfast we decided to tackle one of our three planned routes, a walk on the Corraun Plateau but by a shortened route, given that we had to drive home afterwards. Our visit to Corraun Hill and Corraun South East Top were fleeting as the cloud cover prevented us from taking in the fine views that can be seen from the top. But a surprise awaited us. On the way down when we were sitting having our lunch the mist started to lift and in a short time we had excellent views down and across to Achill and to the corries and small loughs below the Corraun Plateau’s precipitous north side. Although the mist persisted on the tops we were very pleased to have an opportunity, at last, to see for ourselves some of the delights this area has to offer, perhaps for a future visit.
In our group, two members were sampling a MRG break for the first time and it was unfortunate for them that better weather conditions did not favour us. However if Minetta and Wendy felt any disappointment it was not apparent as they both entered fully into the spirit of our makeshift arrangements. There is no doubt that the hotel softened the blow and made the break more enjoyable than might otherwise have been the case. With comfortable rooms, excellent food, the use of the spa facilities, a reasonable cost and endless chatter around the dining table what more could we want? Well, yes, I know, good walking conditions !!! Here’s to the next time.
Harry