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17th July 2019
10:03am BST
Connemara is a place that has captured the heart of many a visitor to this spectacular landscape, some say the most spectacular on earth, but I still favour my home county’s Burren for that title! The palette of colours, still waters, barren lands, the feeling of being nestled away in such a remote part of the planet means you feel worlds apart from the neighbouring hustle and bustle of Galway city. I’ve been lucky to join in with some Galway friends on a few big days out here. For some reason all but one day of our climb was in glorious weather, lucky timing I guess. One particular challenge here is to cover the Maamturks on foot, the little sister of the Twelve Bens at the other side of the Inagh valley. The route stretches for approximately 25km, with a vast number of summits along the way. We counted 16 but think we ended up doing a couple of them multiple times due to navigational disagreements! The key to this day is stamina, preparation and great navigation skills. Without all of those it’s one to leave behind. It was an early start, leaving my home in Ennis at about 4.30am for a start time I had hoped for of 6am. It ended up being closer to 7am by the time we kicked off, so we had to be very conscious of the timings ahead. There were a few exit points we had picked, and some of the group chose that option on the day. I was in great company, time was flying, and a quick stop on the top of every second or third summit ensured we got the photos to remember the day by. We soaked up the views all around us. It’s the closest thing I’ve experienced to being immersed in the wilderness of the Scottish Highlands. It feels like a world away from civilisation and mindfulness at its best with my phone well tucked away.
Around the middle of the day we came across a placed named ‘Mamean’ which is a site of pilgrimage dedicated to St. Patrick. It was surreal to stop there in the depths of the countryside and appreciate the work done by dedicated believers in preparing this alter and shrine, where I understand mass can take place on occasions. I hope they have an easier way to get to it than across the mountain. It’s a low point of the trail so access must be along a trail from a nearby road. We took a long break here as being a low point we knew we were facing another uphill immediately after eating. My lasting memory of this day was the final stretch as the lights of Leenane, famed for The Quiet Man movie, were shining in the distance. We were quiet men ourselves at this stage, well quieted by the route behind us! I think we were about 14 hours into the day, moving fast, but doubling up on some peaks. As we approached the village the sounds of people enjoying a nice evening in the local inns certainly built up our thirst. We could see the sympathy in their faces as they looked at us approaching like bedraggled Martians landing into their town. A phone call to a taxi, a cup of tea while waiting and it was back to our cars at the starting point close to Maam Cross. Make this a summer day, book an experienced guide, be very well prepared with equipment, skills, and fitness, and this is a day you won’t forget. NUIG Mountaineering Club organise the Maamturks challenge each year which is worth considering also. Shorter days I’ve enjoyed in Connemara included the Diamond Hill Trail, the Glencoaghan Horseshoe, both challenging and exhilarating also.There’s a MINI for every lifestyle. So to prove it, we are giving you 48 hours in a MINI to see just how versatile the range can be. Are you up for the challenge? Discover the range at www.mini.ie or book now right here. Brought to you by MINI Ireland
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