Waterfalls, Loughs and Woodlands.

Now that we are retired we are able to get out and about to see the natural beauty that surrounds us. When we had the farm to even get half a day off together had to be planned like a military operation.

Now we have no such restrictions we are able to explore or revisit places of interest to us.

Last weekend we revisited the Glencar waterfalls on the border of Sligo and Co. Leitrim. We had been once before with visitors, but if I recall correctly it was a very damp day ( Irish for raining cats and dogs). Sunday was a nice dry day although not too much sunshine.

These waterfalls are well worth visiting, I  love anywhere that has water, to me it is so calming.

The noise from the cascade is deafening, the power of the water is incredible. Clearly Sligo council has woken up to the fact that these falls are a great visitor attraction and have allowed a cafe to be built.

Even this late in the year there were lots of people around and the cafe was well patronized.

From the falls we then went on to Hazelwood on the lake shore of Lough Gill, it is many years since we last visited these woods and unfortunately the beautiful wood carvings that had been there had not been maintained and are now, no more.

However the woods are still a beautiful place to visit, with lots of old trees,

many growing in unusual shapes,

and lots of fungi, most of which are not edible, but are still beautiful.

Beautiful mosses.

A grotto.

These woods are also well used, it was lovely to see so many families there with children climbing trees and generally having a good time, and feeding the water birds.

Feeding frenzy.

Fishing for trout.

Mute swan.

Common gull.

Lough Gill has the isle of Innishfree, made famous by W.B Yeats.

WB. Yeats, 1865 - 1939. 

 I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee;

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping
     slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket
     sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey, 

I hear it in the deep heart’s core.'And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

From the woods we then made a quick visit to

Sligo Abbey, which in fact was a Friary, built in 1253,

we didn't have time to go in, besides which it is one of the few places that charge, however we will probably return and pay to go in but not just as they are closing.

Although the fungi that we saw in Hazelwood were mainly inedible, on Saturday we did find a beautiful horse mushroom, it weighed in at just over six ounces, just right to have half each as a starter  before dinner.