Mizen: One of the Ireland's top sites!
Back then to the main path and you cross that
very bridge with great views to the sea on your left, the tangle of massive
rocks to your right. At the end of the bridge take the long path to your right.
With the aid of the steps and well placed rails, you’ll soon see that magnificent
view of Dunlough Bay
What an Experience!
It has been five years since
I last visited the spectacular Mizen Head, Ireland’s furthest south westerly
point. In the meantime, many improvements have been made for visitors. The
highlight for me is not the award winning new bridge but the elevated platform
that gives visitors a fantastic close-up of the rugged cliffs that bite
into Dunlough Bay. A thing of great natural beauty, a gem of the Irish
coastline, though the drug smugglers than ran into trouble here a few years
back will hardly agree.
And the trip in from Skibbereen
is also a joy as you pass through Schull, Ballydehob, Goleen, Barleycove, with
an easy detour to Crookhaven also on offer, either going or coming. On arrival in Mizen,
park in the large car park at the Head and get your ticket (six euro for an
adult, well worth it!).
There are various exhibitions
in the main building and also at the lighthouse itself. Check them out here.
We were anxious though to explore the new pathways that were
constructed with the bridge in 2010. And they are all rewarding. The first one
on the right on the way down is a very short walk indeed to a point that
overlooks the new bridge.
I must say I thought it was fantastic, better even than the
Cliffs of Moher in the sense that the viewing platform takes you so close. It
was a brilliant day weather-wise when we visited but I’d love to go back when
the gales are blowing!
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| Dunlough Bay |
Take your time here before going back down the steps and
then turning right towards the Signal Station itself. After seeing the various exhibits,
including a former lightkeeper (model) enjoying his full Irish, you can get
right out to the edge with views all around. Brilliant, if breezy!
When we arrived at the Signal Station area, the guide there
told us that we had just missed a whale surfacing. He was expecting the giant
of the seas to breech again in five minutes. We waited. And waited. But the whale
didn’t oblige! Why should it? Still, I’d have loved to have seen the action.
We lingered awhile and then headed back. As we neared the
entrance, we saw a signed path down to our right, a long one, right down to the edge where
you have a smashing view of a sea arch. Enjoyed that and then slowly – a lot of
stiff walking had been done – we headed back up, getting another view of the
bridge and the lighthouse as we climbed.
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| Mizen is on the jet trail. |
After all that, a rest was called for and so we headed into
the onsite Mizen Cafe. This is quite a good cafe serving Soups, Chowders,
Sandwiches, BLTs, Toasties, Wraps, Paninis, Fish of the Day, Bantry Bay Mussels,
and lots of specials, plus a children’s menu.
We had dinner booked that evening so just a cuppa and a
slice of apple tart sufficed, €10.50 for the two of us. And yes that Apple Tart
was homemade, real apple and real pastry unlike the awful Rhubarb tart concoction
we got in a cafe at a Cork City tourist village earlier in the week. Very enjoyable this time.
Suitably refreshed, we headed back towards Skibbereen and
Liss Ard making all the stops and all the detours without a care about time and
with no wish to waste the afternoon sunshine watching Heineken Cup rugby which
was obviously drawing the punters to various pubs along the way. C’est la vie.
Free country. One way for you, another for me.
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