When: 1st Tuesday of every month, and meeting at St Philip’s Church at 1.30pm to car share. Otherwise meet up at 2pm at the walk venue – details below. We usually spend about two hours, walking at a leisurely pace and try to end with refreshments. Join us for good company, being in the open air, enjoying spectacular views and keeping up some exercise.
October 1st Knockree Youth Hostel, along Wicklow Way and Glencree River
November 5th Dodder river – newly opened section
December 3rd Knocksink Woods from Bog Meadow car park, Enniskerry
January 7th Lehaunstown and Tully Old Church, on Green LUAS
Tuesday 4 June – Crone Woods and ‘Powerscourt Waterfall’
The regular Sandmiller’s walk back in June took us to County Wicklow across the Military Road (Featherbeds) to the Glencree valley, the Gateway to the Garden of Ireland and Crone Woods. The early morning was inauspicious with low cloud and mist, however by lunchtime the weather lifted to allow for an afternoon of blue skies and sunshine. The group of 12 assembled in the car park and struck out at a gentle pace along the forest tracks. Following the ‘zig zagging’ tracks upwards through the woods until emerging out on the terrace path overlooking the famous Powerscourt waterfall (which featured in many films filmed in Ardmore Studios, Bray back in the 1950’s and 60’s)
After a brief pause for a snack and to appreciate the view over Powerscourt, the party divided, some returning to the Call of Poppy’s Teashop in Enniskerry while a few intrepid members carried on along the terrace walk to the edge of the forest and overlooking the Dargle Valley, Glensoulan with views of Djouce, Maulin and the Tonduffs.
We divided again here, and I carried on solo to the shoulder and summit Maulin before returning back along the forestry tracks rejoining Eric and Frank and so back to the car park; and a short pause in Doherty’s aka The Merry Ploughboy, Rockbrook for a brief apres hike libation. Again, a very enjoyable afternoon stroll, thanks to all for their company. Ronnie Hamilton
Tuesday 2 July – Little Sugar Loaf Mountain
The Strollers walk in July was a little more demanding than a stroll, when nine hardy souls took on the ascent of the Little Sugar Loaf in Wicklow. Luckily, as with some of our walks, there were options: one could return from the stunning outlook point or continue upwards. The Little Sugar Loaf is 342 metres (1,122 ft) high: its sister, The Great Sugar Loaf, is 501 metres in height (1,644 ft). There are a number of starting points for this walk: ours was at the wonderful Belmont Demesne near Greystones. The Brabazon family, who have been custodians of the estate since 1842, has a long history of championing outdoor pursuits. As well as walking trails, Belmont has a range of biking trails, free to the public. The drive from the entrance to the parking area through kilometres of dappled shade is stunning in itself. Near the parking area is The Barn at Belmont, a unique blend of restaurant, café and event venue.
We headed up the track through open fields where signs of the working farm were evident in the plantings of various vegetables. There are sheep here too and warnings of a bull, so, although dogs are allowed, they must be on a lead. From the lookout spot we enjoyed a panoramic view of the north, south and east over Greystones and the Irish Sea. Some walkers took the option of returning from here to enjoy a coffee at The Barn: others, including the Rector, pressed on led by a small fluffy white dog, rejoicing in the name of Wrestler.
The track now turned steeper along a stand of trees and became stonier. The day was hot so some effort was required! However, we successfully reached the endpoint and stopped for a short rest and snack. The views from here were spectacular, encompassing the verdant woods, hills and fields of south and west Wicklow; the Great Sugar Loaf lay to the west. The return journey had its own challenges as it is a little steep in places but was successfully negotiated. We had met at the car park at 2.15pm, set off a while later, and got back there just before 5pm; however the walk can be accomplished in a much shorter time – we do a lot of chatting as well as strolling. By then the café had closed so we headed home, tired but happy as we used to say in school essays. A highly recommended outing. Betty Hilliard
Tuesday 6 August – Three Rock Mountain
For our August walk we met at The Blue Light and walked from there up to Three Rock. The ascent was quite stony and we were lucky to have a beautiful sunny day, as it could have been quite treacherous in wet weather. The views from the top of our hike were amazing and we were able to have a clear view over Dublin. Our walk down the hill was on more even ground, with the exception of the last section. The predicted rain only arrived as a short shower as we sat outside The Blue Light with our coffees after our walk. It was a really enjoyable day for all of us. Sylvia Roddie
Tuesday 3 September – Bulloch Harbour and Sandycove Walk
Bulloch Harbour and Sandycove were the destinations for this month’s walk and our outing was expertly led by Gwen. The Bulloch Harbour is very historic – Bulloch Castle was built in the 12th century by Cistercian monks to protect the fishing rights given to them. A township grew up around the harbour and the monks defended the area in return for a form of taxation – one fish for every catch made by the villagers, modest enough by today’s standards. The harbour was the safest point of entry into Dublin port for centuries and was eventually rebuilt in 1818.
Following the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry V111 in 1539, the castle was taken over by the Crown and leased to private occupiers. It now forms part of Our Lady’s Manor nursing home, a place where my aunt, who spoiled me rotten, spent 4 very pleasant years at the end of a very long and happy life. Maisie was born on the same day that the Titanic was launched and took great delight in telling us that she was a lot more durable than that unfortunate vessel. The area holds another personal significance – a bench commemorates a friend who died tragically in a diving accident.
The whole area is built up with Dalkey granite – the Dublin Ballast Board (now the Port Company) operated a quarry in the area as the granite was highly prized. The quarry is now a popular hiking area. The area became very famous again in 1982 with the infamous GUBU incident.
We travelled on to the James Joyce Tower in Sandycove and were given a highly enjoyable tour by Matt, a volunteer guide with a wonderful voice. Matt explained the difficulties around the publication of Ulysses and the controversy it provoked when eventually published. Ronnie got to read aloud the final few lines of the book – part of the then longest sentence ever written – 4491 words! ‘Yes’ featured strongly among those words. The tower is one of a series of Martello Towers built to withstand an anticipated invasion by Napoleon. The good man had other things on his mind however but many of the towers remain in situ to this day.
Joyce only spent 6 nights in the tower and left in a hurry after bullets were discharged over his head by a companion who had vivid dreams of an attack from a black panther. Alcohol may have been a factor. Joyce made the tower the setting for the first chapter of Ulysses. It holds a fascinating collection of artefacts and first editions and is definitely worth a visit. The views from the roof top are magnificent; care needed on the narrow winding steps for those of us of a mature disposition.
On to a beautiful park in Sandycove where Gwen gave us a fascinating insight into the life and times of Roger Casement – a gifted and complex individual. He was born locally – we stopped outside his birth place at the end of the outing. There is a fine statue on the seafront commemorating his very interesting life, located opposite the Dun Laoghaire library. His back is turned on England – he rejected their colonial treatment of native labour in various parts of the world – treatment he observed as part of his work in the British Consular Service. He was appointed as a British Consul in 1891 and served in this capacity for 20 years. During World War I he made efforts to gain German military aid for the 1916 rising in Ireland. He was arrested, convicted and hanged in England for high treason and stripped of an earlier granted Knighthood.
We then adjourned to Fitzgerald’s Pub in Sandycove for a variety of refreshments. Matt joined us and explained that each chapter of Ulysses is featured on the stained glass windows throughout the pub. The pub was established in 1861 and can trace its origins to the Royal visit of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in August 1861. It has been in the ownership of the current family since 1960 and is a beautiful example of a Victorian pub. A wonderful afternoon, full of information, scenery and song. Thanks to Gwen, Matt and Margaret for a memorable outing. Frank Harvey