Mizen Head, Ireland, gave us a good work-out

@JudyEv (325758)
Rockingham, Australia
June 5, 2019 1:27am CST
We’re staying in West Cork, Ireland for a week and our son has joined us for a few days. Yesterday we drove to Mizen Head then on to Sheep’s Head before returning home. These areas are incredibly picturesque; very rugged with narrow, winding roads. The Sheep’s Head area in particular is popular with walkers. A spectacular footbridge across a deep chasm on the tip of the Mizen Head peninsula allows access to the old signal station. Once through the Visitors Centre it was quite an effort to get to the various lookouts which gave different views of the bridge. We must have gone up and down dozens of steps including 99 at the finish which saved us a longer walk up the sloped pathway. We walked down to and across the bridge with several short detours along the way to other viewing points then continued on to the old signal station. Then, of course, we had to retrace our steps. When we got back to the café, we were pleased to seat for a while and have lunch. I had a delicious seafood chowder while the men had beef and Guinness pies.
23 people like this
25 responses
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
5 Jun 19
Lovely photo. It is a no brainer I am with the men Beef and Guinness pie for me please!
5 people like this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
They said it was delicious. It certainly looked good.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
6 Jun 19
@JudyEv I rarely eat meat pies although I had one on the QM2 oh boy was I in heaven!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
@garymarsh6 A good one is hard to beat, isn't it?
2 people like this
@youless (112113)
• Guangzhou, China
5 Jun 19
This scene is natural and beautiful. I hope it won't be so challenging to walk on that bridge
5 people like this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
The challenge was walking back up the hill after we'd been over the bridge to the signal station.
1 person likes this
@Torunn (8609)
• Norway
5 Jun 19
What a great place! Love the bridge, must have had some really good views there. Both seafood and beef are good, but in that place, definitly seafood. Goes well with the salty smell of the sea.
5 people like this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
There was fish and chips on offer but the beef and Guinness appealed to the 'boys'.
@Shavkat (137215)
• Philippines
5 Jun 19
I love the place. It seems that we can relax here.
4 people like this
@Shavkat (137215)
• Philippines
6 Jun 19
@JudyEv I am glad that you did.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
We had a very relaxing day out thanks.
1 person likes this
@rakski (112925)
• Philippines
5 Jun 19
that place is such a nice view and a very challenging pathways.
4 people like this
@rakski (112925)
• Philippines
6 Jun 19
@JudyEv I can understand that with that photo
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
My legs were a bit wobbly by the time we got back to the cafe.
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
5 Jun 19
Definitely not for me! I don't even want to look at the photo of the bridge.
4 people like this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
6 Jun 19
@JudyEv I know such lifts. I always stand with the back to the view and stare at the wall.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
I know there are many that it won't appeal to.
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
@MALUSE I wouldn't like that bridge either. I've stood on glass balconies and that was enough for me. Lifts (elevators) on the outside of buildings are another thing that Vince doesn't like although he manages with most things that are high up.
@wolfgirl569 (95185)
• Marion, Ohio
5 Jun 19
It looks wonderful.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
It is strikingly beautiful. The roads are very narrow and very winding.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (12597)
• Ireland
5 Jun 19
@judyev While you do our most southern bit we’ll be doing the most northern bit at Malin Head next week.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
We have friends with the surname 'Malin' and we visited Malin Head some years ago. There is a 24-hour bike ride scheduled from Malin to Mizen Heads. Sooner them than me.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (17849)
• London, England
5 Jun 19
Oh wow! Love that view. Makes want to get out my maps of Ireland and plan a route to that site, for the bike
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
@Ronrybs You couldn't cycle over the actual bridge. It led to a signal station but people had ridden bikes as far as the Visitors Centre.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
I'm sure you'd love it but it would seem quite a feat on a bike. But then, as you know, I'm not really a bike person. We did see a lot of people on bikes throughout the area.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (17849)
• London, England
6 Jun 19
@JudyEv Not sure about cycling over it, but just seeing it would be great
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
5 Jun 19
Oh my! I have been there in Mizen Head and Sheeps Head. I love those places. I have a lot of photos from those places. Thanks for reminding me those awesome moments in Ireland.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
I'm glad the photo revived memories for you. The scenery is certainly pretty awesome.
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
7 Jun 19
@JudyEv Yes, it is awesome. Enjoy your stay there.
1 person likes this
@JustBhem (70555)
• Davao, Philippines
5 Jun 19
Such a nice view. Did you went there?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
We were there just two days ago.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
@JustBhem Yes, I took the photo then we walked down over the bridge and out to the signal hut on the end of the promontery.
1 person likes this
@JustBhem (70555)
• Davao, Philippines
6 Jun 19
@JudyEv Are you the one who took that picture?
1 person likes this
@YesWay (3674)
5 Jun 19
What an absolutely stunning picture!
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
Thanks. The views were pretty spectacular.
@arunima25 (85305)
• Bangalore, India
5 Jun 19
Good that your son joined you for few days. The picture is so scenic. I am sure that the workout of climbing up and down those steps must be worth the view that you got. A good meal after a good workout is all that you ask for. Enjoy your time
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
I was pleased to sit down for a while after all those steps.
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
5 Jun 19
that looks like a great adventure!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
Although we didn't travel all that many miles, it took us most of the day. Travel is quite slow here once you get off the motorways.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
@DocAndersen Travelling in Australia is much less stressful in a way and you can cover miles and miles over the course of a day. It's very different here.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
6 Jun 19
@JudyEv one of the things I love about Ireland. a much better pace!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
5 Jun 19
I am not sure I would arrive to cross that bridge, but the view is wonderful. I feel the vertigo even simply looking at your photo.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
I knew you would find it confronting, as did some others.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
6 Jun 19
@JudyEv Sometimes I try to fight my fears, but I really cannot.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
@LadyDuck Some fears cannot be overcome no matter how hard you try.
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jun 19
what a beautiful place! i doubt i'd been able to've made such a trek 'n would need to either crawl 'r be carried, lol. so much beauty though that if'n i could'a made 't, i'd most like copped a squat'n stayed 's long's 'twas 'llowed. jest close my eyes 'n use all other senses. i marvel 't such sights'n try to envision how's folks managed such back'n early history?
1 person likes this
• United States
6 Jun 19
@JudyEv 'f that no doubt! i jest can't 'magine bein' out there when those seas're roarin' 'n winds rip 'cross such.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
It would have been very tough living there years ago. It is very, very rugged and I'm sure they have some incredible storms from time to time.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (29129)
• United Kingdom
5 Jun 19
Hope you had a pint of stout to restore your strength too!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
That would have been a good idea but I didn't think of it!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205753)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Jun 19
That looks both lovely and scary. I'd have to remove my trifocals to get across that bridge without getting vertigo.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205753)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Jun 19
@JudyEv Yeppers. I bought a pair of distance only glasses for sports. I'll try them out this Summer.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jun 19
Vince's glasses give him trouble going down stairs because of the different 'focals'.
1 person likes this
@parpande (1515)
• Bangalore, India
7 Jun 19
@JudyEv what should be the measure of the bridge in distance ?? You walked the same bridge and is that the pic you captured or you found on the internet ....
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Jun 19
@parpande Ireland is cooler, wetter and much greener. The houses are quite different too. There are no verandahs and no flyscreens for starters and they all have indoor heating.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Jun 19
The bridge itself is 52 metres long. I took the photo from the Visitors Centre. We then walked down and across the bridge and up to the signal station in the top left-hand corner of the photo. It was quite a long walk.
1 person likes this
@parpande (1515)
• Bangalore, India
7 Jun 19
@JudyEv Learnt from your profile that your son stays there. How do find Ireland different than Australia ....
1 person likes this
@Mulidi (1979)
• Cruz Bay, Virgin Islands (U.S.)
5 Jun 19
Wow it's so nicely but i can't use that bridge I'm so scare
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
I know the bridge would scare many people. Luckily they don't worry me.