Off for a walk
After a few weeks getting settled into the new house and finishing off a few design projects it was time to head out and stretch my legs.
The most obvious choice of destination was Errisbeg Hill, which I look upon from my study.
At only 300m high it isn't a huge climb but it would certainly test my 'desk bound' legs and prepare me for the tougher challenges of the Twelve Bens.
It's a great time of the year for wildlife with most animals nursing their young. I have often spotted a small pod of Seals, also with young, basking in the morning sun in a bay just outside Clifden.
Errisbeg is located just north of Roundstone, with the route starting to the side of O'Dowds pub. It was tempting, but I only had a coffee and a brief rest to check my guide.
The clouds over the Twelve Bens looked rather menacing and I was glad I had some waterproofs in my rucksack.
I was keen to get to the top of Errisbeg as I wanted a birds eye view of Roundstone bog and the mountain ranges. Maps and guides can only bring the area to life in a limiting way. Getting height and a clear view can really add perspective and make the distances real.
At about 200m (about an hour into the walk) the view to the North East opens up and the Twelve bens come into view.
It looks like a good location to capture a sunrise over the mountains and will probably be where I try out time-lapse photography. Despite being 200m up the ground is still fairly boggy but there are places to pitch a tent, which will be a must when setting up for a night-time to day-time shoot.
A further 50m of climbing and the summit of Errisbeg East is reached
There is a short descent after Errisbeg East before making the final ascent up Errisbeg to reach its 300m summit. The views from the top are fantastic. To the West is the Atlantic Ocean with the beaches of Dogs Bay and Gorteen Bay.
It was a good walk up and provided me with a number of potential locations. It was also great to be able to bring the area to life and understand the geography a bit more.
The descent was fairly easy and much quicker then the climb, not least because I wasn't looking for locations! The route took three hours but could be done in two with a focussed mind and steady step.
I've a few days in Dublin catching up with family and watching the rugby. On my return I shall be back up Errisbeg to capture the sunrise and make a start with the timelapse project. I will share those images with you soon.
In the meantime I think a little reward is in order after all that fresh air...