The Happy Irish Hiker

Menu
  • Home
  • Ireland
    • Cork
      • Mountains and Trails
        • Ballard Waterfall, Cork
    • Galway
      • Places to See
        • Clifden Castle
    • Mayo
      • Places to See
        • Aasleagh Falls
        • Blacksod Lighthouse
        • Burrishoole Friary/Abbey
        • The Kelly Homestead
        • St. Deirbhile’s Church
      • Mountains and Trails
        • The Bangor Trail
        • Croagh Patrick
    • Tipperary
      • Mountains and Trails
        • Galtymore
        • Slievenamon
    • Waterford
      • Mountains and Trails
        • Ardmore Cliff Walk, Waterford
        • Kilmacomma Hill, Waterford
        • Milk Hill, The Comeragh Mountains
        • Seefin, The Comeragh Mountains
    • Long Distance Walks in Ireland
  • Books & Maps
  • Gear and Stuff
  • About
Menu
Carron Mountain

Ballyhoura Way Day 3: Garrane (Ballinaboola Trailhead) to Ballyorgan

Posted on November 12, 2021December 9, 2021 by irishhiker

This was probably the most scenic leg of the Ballyhoura Way – a fabulous walk, although the length of wet bog from the Base of Little Carron to Castle Philip was tough going in the heat. Other than that we felt blessed with the weather we got. Absolutely blessed!

It’s hard to believe that halfway through October we were walking in our t-shirt sleeves in temperatures of 17 degrees. But, there we were, even at the top of Seefin mountain, baked in the heat.

Logistics

Can’t forget the importance of the logistics. We parked one car at our finishing point of Ballyorgan, then drove to Garrane (the Ballinaboola trailhead), parked the other car, and walked from there.

The sign below gave us a bit of a giggle because it happened to be pointing in the direction of the Ballyhoura Way and we had 16km ahead of us to walk. I’m glad we didn’t go the long way.

Shortcut

I love these stony trails which are typical of the Ballyhoura Way and of the Glen of Aherlow.

Ballyhoura Way Track
Carron Mountain Ballyhoura Way
Carron Mountain in the Ballyhouras
Carron Mountain
First cup of coffee of the day in the Ballyhouras
Ballyhoura Mountains
Looking back to Carron Mountain from Carron Mountain West
Bog in the Ballyhouras

This part of the walk was probably the most difficult. The ground was very wet from all the rain in the week before, and it was tough going in the heat. Still, the views were spectacular.

When we reached Castle Philip (below), it was time for lunch. Apparently, according to information on the Visit Ballyhoura website, the rocky outcrop was used by Irish outlaws as a hideout in days gone by. Maybe there were a lot more rocks on it then because it doesn’t strike me as the best place to hide from anyone.

Castle Philip

We detoured from the main Ballyhoura Route then so we could take in Seefin.

Seefin West
Seefin West

And the other Seefin. Yes, there are two of them, both commanding spectacular views. Descending from Seefin with the trig point was tricky enough. The ground was slippy and, although there’s a stepped boardwalk for part of the way, care is needed as it too was slippy, and damaged in places.

Seefin East

I took the photo below for no other reason than because it was cute.

Garden ornament

Time for Coffee

We stopped at the Spruce and Willow in Ardpatrick for coffee and cake. We had passed this restaurant the previous week and said we’d go back. So, when we’d gotten back to the cars, we drove to Ardpatrick, just in time to get a coffee before they closed for the day.

We can confirm that the coffee and cakes are good.

Spruce & Willow

Castle Oliver Gate Lodge East

En route home, we stopped at this gate lodge which I’ve learned is the East Gate or the ‘Raheenroe’ Lodge. It is just one of many follies and lodges that were built as a means of giving employment to locals during and after the famine. Have a look at TheIrishAesthete.com, BuildingsofIreland.ie and IrishStones.org for more information and photographs.

Castle Oliver Gate Lodge East
Castle Oliver Gate Lodge East

Castle Oliver, itself, which was the venue for Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s wedding, sold a few years ago for €3m to an Australian family who use it as a summer residence. If they are ever looking for someone to come in and turn the heating on in the winter, I’ll give up some of my free time to do that for them. I’m nice like that.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow Me!

Recent Posts

  • Achill-Henge

    Achill-Henge

  • The Reenroe Hotel, Ballinskelligs

    The Reenroe Hotel, Ballinskelligs

  • Cunnigar (An Coinigéar), Waterford

    Cunnigar (An Coinigéar), Waterford

  • Clifden Castle

    Clifden Castle

  • Kilmacomma Hill, Waterford

    Kilmacomma Hill, Waterford

Follow on Instagram

St. Deirbhile’s Church

St. Deirbhile's Church

Other Info

  • Privacy Policy
happyirishhiker.com