Saturday 2 May
5.30am: The Dawn Chorus Walk; assemble at the Top of the Rock. Led by Lesley Lewis. Tea served afterwards in the Pod Pairc.

10.00am: Mullaghmesha Hill Walk; assemble at Castledonovan Car Park.

4pm – 6pm: Guided Tours of Castledonovan Castle

Sunday 3 May
10.30am: Hill Walk – Castledonovan to Loch Bofinna; assemble at Castledonovan Car Park, return bus transfer available if required.

Monday 4 May
10.00am: Hilll Walk to Nowen Hill; assemble at Cullinagh, Dunmanway.

For more information on all the Feile Beag events click here

From the Top of the Rock, Drimoleague to Gougane Barra.

In West Cork and South Kerry the practise of walking pilgrim paths to St Finbarr’s hermitage in Gougane Barra has been in place for many centuries. In one such place, Drimoleague, local tradition recalls that St Finbarr arrived at the Top of the Rock in the sixth century and admonished the people to return to Christ, after which he made his way to Gougane Barra. The practise of walking this ancient route has been revived since 2008. Groups as large as fifty and as small as three or four are regularly found walking the 37km route. The route itself has been opened up to the public with the goodwill of landowners along the route, who maintain the walks under the Walks Scheme.

The order of events for the Pilgrim Paths Easter Walk is as follows:

Good Friday 3rd April : 8pm onwards Complimentary light supper at the Top of the Rock Pod Páirc & Walking Centre with time to meet, prepare and orientate to the Pilgrim Walk. A short reflection will be given on the challenge ahead.

Saturday 4th April: 9am Depart from the Top of the Rock, heading for Castledonovan, Mullaghmesha and the Mealagh Valley. (See map https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=z_jl1YteN8cU.krcwY-WGSh2Q ) 2pm Lunch. 5pm Arrival in Kealkil having completed the first 19km of the walk.

At this point those staying in Gougane Barra will be taken by bus to the Gougane Barra Hotel for dinner. Those staying in Drimoleague will have a Bus transfer to Drimoleague via Bantry. A special deal will be in place at the Willie Pa’s restaurant for dinner. This is not included in the price below. Then return to the Pod Páirc by minibus.

Sunday 5th April: Bus transfers from Gougane and Drimoleague will enable a 10am start from Carriganass Castle in Kealkil for the 16km walk over the mountain to Gougane Barra. Sandwich lunch at a stop near Lackavaun before the steep ascent. A bus will be available for those who wish to take a less strenuous route to walk into Gougane by road. Arrival in Gougane at approx. 4pm with a short time of reflection and prayer. The Gougane Barra hotel will host tea and sandwiches for the walkers.

Cost is divided into two components:
1. Cost of walk: €40/person. This includes lunches both days, bus transfers and cost of guides.
2. Cost of Accommodation: The Gougane Barra Hotel and the Top of the Rock Pod Páirc offer packages:

GOUGANE BARRA HOTEL Two night bed, breakfast and I dinner at € 125.00 per person
Three night B&B plus 2 dinners at € 199.00 per person
See http://www.gouganebarrahotel.com

TOP OF THE ROCK POD PÁIRC
Two night bed and breakfast: standard pod: €55/person sharing. Luxury pod: €70 /person sharing.
Three night bed and breakfast: standard pod: €80/person sharing Luxury pod €110/person sharing
Note: Accommodation rate does not include dinner.
See http://www.topoftherock.ie for details of pods and facilities.
We hope you can join us for Pilgrim Path weekend. Spaces are limited…Book early. A non-returnable booking fee of €25 per person will be required to secure a place.
For further details and to book a package please contact Neil Lucey at the Gougane Barra Hotel 026 47069 Or David and Elizabeth Ross (028 31547) at the Top of the Rock Pod Páirc. david@topoftherock.ie

For more information about Pilgrim Paths of Ireland go to http://www.pilgrimpath.ie/about/

The Walk will be scheduled as follows:

Saturday 15th August: You can park your car for the day in at the Top of the Rock Pod Páirc and Walking Centre. At 9am we depart from the Top of the Rock, heading for Castledonovan, Mullaghmesha and the Mealagh Valley. Lunch will be served in the Mealagh Valley community hall at approx. 2.30pm. Arrival in Kealkil having completed the first 12.5 miles of the walk at approx. 5.30pm.
A bus will convey you back to Drimoleague for around 6.30pm.
Sunday 16th August: Park your car at Carriganass Castle in Kealkil for a 9am start from Carriganass Castle in Kealkil for the 9.5 mile walk over the mountain to Gougane Barra. There will be a sandwich lunch at a stop near Lackavaun before the steep ascent. An alternative will be available for those who wish to take a less strenuous route to walk into Gougane by road. Arrival in Gougane at approx. 4pm with a short time of reflection.

REFLECTION: On the contemplative walk we stop about every hour or so at places where St Finbarr might have stopped, eg An tobair Ur, the Glanaclohy rock, the stone circle etc. We reflect on the life and message of St Finbarr and then resume our path.

COST: The lunch and bus costs €8 and €6 respectively each day. This year we are requesting an extra €4 each day to extend a gratuity to extra guides who will lead us. We expect between 40 and 50 walkers.

LEVEL of FITNESS: We have had people in their seventies do the pilgrim walk but they need to be extraordinarily fit . Particularly on Sunday the gradient can be steep and demanding over an extended period. The area is subject to dense fog and we have to stay together at all times. The path is well marked and discernible at all times.

The contemplative talks will be led by David Ross.

For more information and to book contact David and Elizabeth Ross (028 31547) at the Top of the Rock Pod Páirc. david@topoftherock.ie

For more information about Pilgrim Paths of Ireland go to http://www.pilgrimpath.ie/about/

This two-day walk – 37km in distance –  has become a popular event for participants over the past six years.

At 9am on Saturday, the group will leave Top of the Rock, Drimoleague, for Kealkil. After the day’s walk a bus will be arranged for a return to Drimoleague from Kealkil and back again the following morning to Carriganass Castle in Kealkil, where the group will resume the walk for the final stretch over the mountain to Gougane.

This walk is not for the faint-hearted, but the sense of camarderie and support makes the whole experience an enjoyable and unforgettable one.

Everyone is welcome!

For more details contact Mike on mobile:  087 7641420, or email: liz_dromusta@yahoo.co.uk

So if you always wanted to get out there and try Drimoleague Heritage Walkways but just needed a little push, then come along to the Railway Yard Car Park in Drimoleague Village for a 6.30pm start. Each Tuesday walk may take a different Walkway and will last between 1 – 2 hours. All walks will suit most abilities and all walks are free. But, most importantly, everyone is welcome! For more information ring Mike O’Sullivan on: 087 7641420.

This high quality video commissioned by West Cork Development Partnership, highlights the unique walkways and landscape of Drimoleague, and how the Drimoleague Community Development Association have brought their village to the attention of a much wider audience worldwide.