Conference tallis::celt

    
    Hi There Pat,
    
    Well to be honest rambling/hiking information is indeed hard to come
    by..Though there seems to be a higher interest in this in last couple
    of years. I think the tourist board have begun to issue maps with
    suggested routes..though the one I saw seemed to cover half of Cork and
    kerry and you would want to be as fit as a fiddle to last it...
    
    Alot of folk hire bikes for a day or two and go from B&B to B&B  (Thats
    usually (BAR and BOARD -) -). the main point is that its all
    relatively safe so its really up to one self to choose a route..unless
    you are heading up around Limerick or Kilkenny where you have to be
    carefull...of the locals -)
    
    rgs,
    
    mick 
    

    
    The one thing Limerick and Kilkenny have in common here is that many
    crazy Tipp men (who have spent the last 10 years or so head-butting the
    Rock of cashel) sudenly invade without warning.
    
    They seriously believe they are playing that noble and ancient sport of
    Hurling. In fact they are indulging in that vicious pastime called
    "faction fighting". This has as its main rule the splitting of skulls.
    (Thus the headbutting of the Rock of Cashel). This activity was
    outlowed by the Statutes of Kilkenny In 1314. However news of this ban
    has yet to reach Tipp.

A few years back, before my first trip to Ireland, I wrote to Bord Failte 
for info.  One of the things I got was Information Sheet No. 26A, Hill 
Walking and Rock Climbing.  It's only two sheets of paper (with a map of 
Ireland taking up one page), but it's got sections on Mountain Rescue, 
Maps, Guidebooks, Accommodations, Camping, Marked Trails, the Mountains,
Rock Climbing and so on.

For Macgillycuddy's Reeks it says it's "exciting ridge walking with
lovely views", the main peak -- Carrauntoohil at 3414 feet -- can be
approached either from the head of the Black Valley or from the Hag's
Glen, walking the range from the Gap of Dunloe to Beenkeragh or Caher
is a long and difficult trek, but well worth it.  And that's pretty
much the kind -- and amount -- of info that's there.  (In the section
on maps, they list Macgillycuddy's Reeks -- A Hill Walkers Guide by
John Murray (12 walks) with a 1:25,000 OS Map.)

It does list a couple of references to other organizations that can
provide info:  for a brochure "Maps and Guidebooks for Walkers",
contact AFAS (The Association for Adventure Sports), House of Sport,
Longmile Road, Dublin 12.  For info on marked trails, contact Cospoir
(the National Sports Counceil), Hawkins House, Hawkins Street, Dublin 2.

Bear in mind also that this info is dated 11/91.  You might want to
start with Bord Failte.

Nancy

    
    The Ordinance Survey of Ireland (based in the Pheonix Park) supply many
    maps suitable for hill walking. These have a very detailed scale. I
    recently came across one for the Blackstairs Mountains in the Carlow
    Wexford area. 
    
    There were similar ones for Kerry and the Comeragh mountains on the
    Waterford Tipp border. These are just examples. Also some of these maps
    have trails marked for walks.
    
    These maps can usually be bought at any good bookstore.
    
    Martin B

    
    
    Carlow and Waterford would be good places to hike in ok....
    
    Interesting...there might be a problem getting from carlow down towards
    Waterford though (direct path)..I think most of the land between these two 
    areas is very barren and unmapped...I would's advise walking between these 
    two areas...maybe take a detour around via Tipp or go down towards Wexford
    and cut across to Waterford....
    
    rgs,
    
    Mick
    
    
    

    Thanks to all (Mick, Martin and Nancy) for the leads.
    
    I'm looking forward to this trip and the hiking.
    
    We did quite a bit of canoeing and portaging in Algonquin Park (about
    the size of Co. Cork) this past summer, which whetted my appetite.
    
    I'll leave the canoe at home...
    
    Pat
    

    
    Pat,
    
    You can canoe down the Barrow river from Carlow to Waterford. Its
    beautiful scenery. Only when you get close to Waterford the smell from
    the sewer becomes unbearable.
    
    MBr

    Martin,
    
    I'll need to portage, then, eh?
    
    Damn! I was trying to get away from those 3Km portages. At least there
    won't be any black bears (but what about the locals).
    
    Pat