SHEEP'S+HEAD+and+BANTRY

=SHEEP'S HEAD= Its quite an isolated area which is popular with walkers - there's a 120km walk around the peninsular and many shorter loop walks. The scenery is simply wonderful with sheer cliffs, lush meadows, the obligatory dry-stone walls, inquisitive sheep and numerous Bay and ocean views.
 * Sheep's Head is the name given to the long, narrow peninsular shown here --->

We drove out on the southern side and returned on the northern or Bantry Bay side. The roads on both sides were narrow and quite windy but, once you get used to backing up to let the (not very many) other cars pass, its really OK and quite relaxing.

According to our map there are numerous stone rings and forts to be found but, as is starting to be the accepted case, tourist signage is not a priority here and we only managed to locate one (and that with the help of a local). || ||


 * [[image:sheep1.jpg caption="climbing over stiles is easy with practice"]] || [[image:sheep7.jpg caption="Just another dry-stone wall"]] ||
 * [[image:sheep2.jpg align="center" caption="pathway to Sheep's Head point"]] || [[image:sheep3.jpg caption="Almost at the end of the peninsular - close enough for us!"]] ||
 * [[image:sheep6.jpg caption="note the stone walled paddocks"]] || [[image:sheep4.jpg caption="a couple of tramps on the route"]] ||
 * [[image:sheep8.jpg caption="great scenery, narrow road"]] || [[image:sheep11.jpg caption="Bantry Bay views"]] ||
 * [[image:sheep.jpg caption="the road winds around the waterway past quaint house and very small villages"]] || [[image:sheep5.jpg caption="small wildflowers were everywhere"]] ||
 * [[image:sheep10.jpg caption="no, not dancing, just trying to stand up in the wind (yes, I know, a lot of people think my dancing looks like I'm just trying to stay on my feet)"]] || [[image:sheep9.jpg caption="Stone Ring Fort in distance"]] ||

BANTRY
After completing the loop we had a picnic lunch in Bantry and wandered the streets where a market was just finishing up. Similar to our markets really - some farm produce and a lot of stuff you see at every market. Nice looking town although like many of the seaside towns the tide is quite big so at low tide the smelly mud flats are exposed - probably looks even better when the tide is in!
 * [[image:sheep13.jpg caption="Cork were playing Down in the All Ireland Football Final (Gaelic) last weekend and every town, village and many houses carry flags and banners encouraging them - esp the "local" lads in the team. They won!"]] || [[image:sheep12.jpg caption="Bantry"]] ||