Oh what a trial! We nearly don't know what to do with ourselves, here in Ireland, when weather is favourable 2 days in a row... I eventually decided with the help of herself and discover ireland's walking website - quite a good resource for inspiration which enables you to pick walks in your area, or wherever you're willing to drive to anyway.
I chose the Paul's Lane loop - on the basis that a) it wasn't too far away, being within about an hour's drive and b) wasn't too long, given my recent inactivity. So, I downloaded the map, made a salami sandwich, put some coffee, milk and boiling water into a flask and assorted other contents into the bag, and set off.
On arrival, I found some parking in Cadamstown - there's a small carpark there, just by the junction and the bridge - with a little difficulty, as it is (as I said) a small carpark and it was a glorious day.
Sunblock - is this a first? - and off we went. The lane itself, though marked on the map, is a right turn off the "main road" served by a signpost with the traditional walking man instructing the walker to go straight on...I duly ignored him and turned right. Anyone else following the route should do the same thing - the lane is just beyond a house, high on a hill, with big railings on the road frontage.
Beware, the lane is a little boggy in many patches, granted it is only April, but that said, it's not been very rainy of late. Be prepared! It's a little bit of a featureless trek up the lane, though the lane itself is of interest with retaining walls both sides - you wonder how anyone would use it on a regular basis to come up and down from the (you can understand why) deserted village at the top of the lane.
There are about 5 or 6 tumbled down houses up there (indicated on the map as 3), though to be honest, this is where I found the map to be next to useless. After reviewing the notes when I came home, I reckon that the hillside has just changed so much since it was written. There was no "right turn" to be seen just after the village, and if there were, it was overgrown with gorse and new-growth forestry. So I continued along the track, shortly came to a t-junction (not really indicated map-wise) and turned right down a track through the gorse. At the end of that track, I was nearly stumped....
Knowing that I was still needing a right turn to make it down to a tributary of the silver river, I decided to do so, and with a little bushwacking and some slightly scraped arms, I made it down to that tributary. I since reckon that this is in fact the right turn noted as there is a gate off it roughly where the mass path is shown.
I had taken that gate, and followed the hedge in a field down the same direction and scrambled back out of the field once I got to the tributary. From here it was a simple matter of following the water to where it meets the silver river and on back to the carpark.
After that navigational unrest, the rest of the walk was quite pleasant. I stopped for a sandwich about halfway along (as ever, there is somewhere better a little further on, but I had to stop somewhere!), and admired the bluebells, yellow-flowered things and fancy butterflies that are doing the rounds about now. I took some pictures too, if I can be bothered later on I may well post them up if any of them are anyway decent!
Navigational caveat aside - and common sense (and scratched arms) will get you over that hurdle - this was a nice enough meander. Not too challenging up-and-down wise, but a little boggy underfoot along Paul's Lane, with little alternative. No breathtaking views or vistas (vistae?) but the walk back along the river glen makes up for that. The 2 hours or so mentioned in the guidance will be taken up if you stop for a bit of lunch and a wee read with your coffee.
I have to say that website is good for motivating yourself, pointing out the easy-to-reach walks that remove the "it's too far" excuse! So now I'm starting to think about the slieve bloom walking festival in a couple of weeks.....
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