Hill of Allen

Thanks to heritage week 2012, the tower on the top of the Hill of Allen is open this week. I was on a day's holidays so took the opportunity to take a wander up, it being a nice day and all. There's a car park at the base of the Hill which is usually blocked up, but it's open for the week at least.


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You can see in the satellite photo that most of the Hill has been removed at this stage, the quarry has fed many major road projects in the area as far as I know, but the tower is still in situ at the top. I remember going up here as a youngster with a friend who lived nearby, when the air was thick with the legend of Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the Fianna - the legend had it that this was their seat, and that Fionn himself was buried here.

So what's up there now? A walk uphill through a forest, with constant signage reminding walkers of the quarry to one side, leading up to a pretty impressive tower which was built as a folly between 1859 and 1863 - each of the 80-something stone steps has the name of a builder carved onto it.



As you get to the top, the tower is capped rather oddly (ignominiously?) by a squat conservatory type structure. Obviously this is to prevent damage to the castellations at the top, but it doesn't help you get a view of the surrounding flat countryside.



The tower is as yet untouched by the quarrying operations and is still impressive in its own right.

 

Unfortunately at the base of the tower the brambles are too high to get any sort of panorama, and at the top, well you're hemmed in a bit. That's the disappointing thing.

Less nostalgia, more local treasures....

Weather was kinder to us today than has been of late. That might be the understatement of the year - the sun shone and I think the temperature might have hit 20 celsius... so somewhere outside for a wee walk was indicated. I know, Laois! Heywood gardens has been on the hitlist for a while since I saw it mentioned somewhere, so we struck out, as you do, in the car.

We hit Abbeyleix first, though, to see could we get a bit of lunch. A swift pie (I know, on a day like this?) in the Gallic Kitchen on Main St, which was delicious (one steak and guinness, one chicken and mushroom, both yummy) and in a lovely poky friendly café - highly recommended. Will hit this spot again on another day. Coffee and Brownie to finish!

On we went, heading in Ballinakill direction to Heywood Gardens. There's a school on the grounds, which is a bit strange and gives you that "did we take the right turn?" moment, but it was the right place. A lovely and unusual pair of gardens awaits the visitor, one set being very formal, set in circular form around a pond and a walled garden and the other more freeform and natural set around a much more natural pond with beautiful waterlilies and a woodland surround. The place was lovely for a walk on a warm day, and the trail takes you right into Ballinakill village, which we didn't quite go as far as - there was barbecuing to do!

Maybe some photos to come from the day - there's also a beer report (Beerdog Paradox, and Aecht Schenkerla) and some nostalgic reading to mention. And Vegas photos, don't forget those! Maybe it'll rain and I can get them typed up. Until then.....