THE CONTEMPLATIVE ST FINBARR’S PILGRIM WALK takes place on a weekend of 15th & 16th August 2015.
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/