CONTENTS
EPPING FOREST OUTDOOR GROUP
On 28th August we drove to Baltimore for the ferry to Cape Clear Island, Ireland's most southerly island. We walked a good few miles on the island, enjoying the remote feel, the scattered houses and distant views of the mainland across a blue sea. Derelict crofts, holy wells, palm trees and a sign that said that we were 356 nautical miles from London. And it felt it.
Cape Clear Island, Ireland, 28th August 2007
We sailed to Cape Clear Island from Baltimore on the ferry "Cailín Óir" (Golden Girl), looking for whales on the way. We didn't see any, unfortunately - but of course they'd been spotted "the day before - to be sure". However, the weather was lovely, and the commentary on the islands we were passing good. The island is lovely, and we walked a good part of it, along quiet roads, amongst the gorse and heather, and down by the sea-shore. From where we rested on a hill-top for a while, we could see the Fastnet Rock out in the Atlantic, and Mizen Head where we had been the previous day. We couldn't see America, though, nor Tír na nÓg.
From the Clear Island ferry "Cailín Óir"
(Golden Girl)
Leaving Baltimore for Cape Clear Island, 28 August 2007
Our first look at Cape Clear Island - Eileen studies the map 
This helps our whereabouts - Paul, Val, Eileen, Ken, Fred, Steve and Susan, 356 (nautical) miles from home 
By the sea shore 
Fred, Eileen, Val and Susan near the youth hostel at Ard na Gaoithe (The Hill of the Wind) 
Eileen on the rocks...
- maybe searching for sea anemones?
steep uphill slopes through gorse and heather...
- to rest - reading a book and listening to the sky...
- with views of the Fastnet Rock
A quiet road on Cape Clear Island
There were some tumble-down buildings -
- but also some beautifully situated nice houses
The island has numerous Holy Wells, and is in a Gaeltacht area (Gaelic speaking) - although we didn't hear much of it. We did hear Ravens - and thought at one time a Corn-crake (Crex crex) - but were told they hadn't been on the island for some years. They should've been. It was the sort of place you felt you ought to live in for a while, at least.
One of the island's holy wells
Fred making an offering --- but to what?
Leaving Cape Clear Island for Baltimore
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