Tag Archives: castletownbere

Beara Best Peninsula

Friday 11/07/2014 Richie

Beara Best Peninsula ? is the question that springs to mind. Recently there have been a spate of articles on the internet about which is the best peninsula to go to and why. But what is the reason that more and more articles are voicing an opinion in favour of the Beara. Is it because of the rugged natural beauty of the Beara, or maybe simply that the peninsula is so isolated. Not really : the Sheeps head is just as rugged and in some ways more isolated. Is it because it has enough small villages with accommodation options to cater for the intrepid traveler? Again not really.

The Beara is the number one peninsula to visit due to the reason that it has some spectacular roads that allow the visitor all the way to the end of the peninsula but also give or take a few miles an option to circumnavigate the peninsula without having to back track. Apart from if the visitor wants to visit the Dursey Sound, there are a few miles off the circuit to drive along to get to the famous (Ireland’s only) cable car. So, ultimately, it’s a war of the “Ring of’s”… Only the Ring of Beara or the Ring of Kerry really enable the visitor to do a circuit of a peninsula and it seems when one looks at the ROK that this is what people are really looking for, the adventure of a spin around a peninsula to enjoy the scenery and not have to back track.

The jewel in the Beara peninsula is peace and quiet, simply that, it is impossible to drive around the Beara Peninsula in a coach and this is it’s saving grace. And the reason that it is not possible to drive a coach around the Beara is due to the bend signalled in the following picture.

Beara Best Peninsula

So there is the answer, if you want to be an adventurer and only have one peninsula to do, Beara is the one… If you want to be a sheep following the madding crowd, go to Kerry, you’ll meet loads of people and their coaches and probably want to forget them.

One of the nicest pieces of road in Ireland, on the Beara Peninsula maybe the best peninsula as no coaches can get around it.

The best recommendation however is to take your time and do all of them, right to their very ends, and if you have the choice stay in the smaller villages towards the end of the peninsulas to get to meet real people and enjoy the craic.

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Cycling, Sport

Beara Charity Cycle 2014

Sunday 01/06/2014 Richie 2 Comments

Beara Charity Cycle 2014 was a fun weekend with fantastic weather. We cycled from Castletownbere to Dingle taking in Molls gap which comes out to 146 KM on a scorching day. That is apart from the five lads who decided to do the ring of Kerry too which made their day a 220 KM day. Of course I was cycling so only have a few shots on day one of the start in Town and the food stop at Kenmare and Castlemaine. There was plenty of food too so nobody bonked…

Beara Charity Cycle 2014

Hard Man…

Puncture man…

Hard man number two

End of day man

Garnish men

The Young ones

Paul O’Shea “main man” and John Joe “the legend”

Matt and Mary

Three of the long distance men

Food loading

Lets go

Breda

John and Susan

Food

Stop number two Castlemaine

The Ozzie

Kevin feeling it…

Rodney

If I lie down I may never get up again

Pat phone home

Shaun

Thanks Paul

Fuel for the end

Lisa

Jane

Anne Marie and Carl

On day two after a few pints the night before we headed back but went a slighter longer route through Kilgarvin making it 156 KM and I think most people were happy with their fitness levels as we all felt good riding again, at least after the first few KM.

Bike N Beara helped all the way as well as many others who will go unnamed (they know who they are) There are more photos on the bikenbeara website

Stole this picture from Vera at Bike N Beara visit their facebook page here

And this one Team West from Pat Kelly

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Allihies, Castletownbere

Dr Strangely Strange High Tide Club

Saturday 17/05/2014 Richie

Dr Strangely Strange High Tide Club on Friday the 17th of May a good show by the lads in Sarah Walkers gallery also known as the High Tide Club. They had the audience in the palm of their hands. Unsurprising as they have been playing together for a number of years….The new group “The Bunties” played before as support act and sang a good half dozen songs to warm up the crowd..