To visit the Black Valley is to have one of the finest scenic experiences in the world. See pure, rugged scenery with precipitous cliffs and overhanging boulders, sit on a rock and watch a pair of hawks sweeping and soaring overhead, and slake one's thirst in the clear, cool, sparkling water from the gurgling streams which cascade and twirl down the mountain sides.....Click on any of the links below for more information.
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| Beautiful Scenery | |||||||||||||||||
| The Valley has a wild, rugged and extreme beauty, yet also has calmness, friendliness and tranquility. It is a natural, untamed place that reflects the peoples' struggle to make a living throughout the ages. It is nature at it's fiercest and it's gentlest. Every rock and gully , stream and mountain has its own stories and secrets, some of which we will never know...yet on a mid-summer's starry night, if you listen very carefully, you can almost hear the gentle breeze whispering, revealing some of these secrets to you. |
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| The MacGillycuddy Reeks with their numerous peaks, many over 3000 feet, overshadow the Valley. They form part of a vast chain extending east into Co. Cork. They are mainly composed of old sandstone which is brown, red or purple in colour, with small patches of green or yellow. Although bare of vegetation today, up to the middle of the 17th century, they were covered with great woodlands – totally destroyed by a charcoal works by Sir William Petty for his ironworks at Glencar. What is striking is their ever-changing appearance – in the morning they form clear lines across a blue sky, but by the end of the day, they may form a dull brown shape or the tops may be covered by a fluffy cloak of cloud. |
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| The Weather | |||||||||||||||||
| Our weather is highly variable but even by late January, cold anticyclone spells give cold dry weather, perfect for walking. May tends to be the sunniest month, snow is rare, except on high ground. There are about 200-250 rainy days spread throughout the year, but rain rarely falls for more than a few hours and even the dullest day is suitable for low level walking. Remember to carry weatherproof gear just in case! |
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Flora and fauna It may have survived the ice-age by growing on the Reeks above 2000 feet where the glaciers could not reach.The large-flowered butterwort (Pinguicula gradiflora) grows in the very wet, marshy places on mountainsides. It has light-green leaves like a starfish and is about 4 inches in diameter. Its flower, rather like a parma violet, but an intense blue, or sometimes white or lilac, grows on a stem 6 to 9 inches tall. It flowers from late April to early July. Also common is the London Pride in flower from May to July. There are many varieties of ferns, liverworts and mosses. Very common is rhododendron ponticum, introduced about 1880 and now a major problem. It flowers in May. |
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| The Black Valley was once a great centre for eagles, the golden eagle and the osprey, both now vanished since the beginning of the 20th century. Bears once existed in the country but are now long gone and the wild boar was once very plentiful. The wolf, too, was once plentiful. It is said the last wolf was killed in the MacGillycuddy Reeks about 1710. The famous great Irish elk is long gone. The only surviving mammals are the red deer and Japanese or sika deer introduced over a century ago. |
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Where
to eat Lord Brandons cottage is a welcome refreshment site, open from March to September for sandwiches and snacks. It is the site of Lord Brandons shooting lodge and the stone tower, where he used to watch for poachers. The old house, once stables and grooms accommodation on the ground floor, still stands.
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Evening meals Several of the local ladies provide evening meals in their own homes. Please telephone to make a reservation. You can be assured of a warm welcome and some good home cooking!
Shop
at the Youth Hostel
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