Dartry Mountains Sligo - Leitrim, Ireland

The Dartry Mountains are a range in the North West of Ireland, where I live. Yesterday I walked part of them. The best know peaks of the them are Benbulben, Benwhisken and Truskmore. They border the counties of Letrim and Sligo.  The range is a large dissected limestone plateau. Glaciation has given it its distinctive shape.

This is not a photographic record of the range, but I will add to it on an ongoing basis. This is just a few photographs from yesterday. I started at Luke's Bridge walked on to the plateau then turned slightly in the direction of Benwhisken to pick up the top of the Gleniff Horseshoe. A lot of the walk was on a natural balcony giving amazing views. From there towards the old Barytes Mines then over in the direction of Kings Mountain overlooking Glencar Lake then back to Largandoon and back down the Bog Road to Glencar Lake. A nice four hour walk.

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I now have a website where you can view my work. Click on the link below.

                                                             

www.caminogallery.com

I hope you will use and enjoy this new website. I will still continue with my blog as normal. Dermot 21 February 2015

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Shadows, looking towards Inishmurray Island and Mullaghmore Head

Gleniff Horseshoe with the amazing old tracks,used for the Barytes Mines.

Overlooking the Gleniff Horseshoe towards Diarmiud and Gráinne Cave

Glencar Lake, taken from the Sligo end looking towards Leitrim

Benbulben Head taken from Bundoran Road North of Drmcliff Sligo

Benbulben  towards Gowlaun and Cloyragh

From Benulben Head

Towards Benwhisken

Benbulben

Whitethorn

Via de la Plata 2014

As promised I said I would post some photographs of my recent walk. It will take a number of days more before this section is complete. Note for reasons I have no control over the photographs are not in date/time sequence.
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Stork 1

Stork 2

Stork 3

Stork 4

 Some more shots of the first section of the route from Seville. I may group them later by category, ie People, Flowers, The Way etc. But for the moment enjoy these as you see them.

 Light playing in a tunnel at Italicia, birthplace of  Emperor Hadrian

Wildflower 1

Pilar Hospitaliaro of the lovely Albergue Luz del Camino in Guillena

Pilgrim Francoise, using I Pad to photograph flowers.

Wildflower 2

 Cistus albidus these are very plentiful.

 Snake on roadside near Castilblanco de los Arroys (I would normally have a huge fear of snakes, but my fist instinct on seeing this was to photograph it)

Church Steeple Castilblanco de los Arroyse 

  Swallow nests over Church door  Castilblanco de los Arroys

Amigo Francoise

No Overtakeing allowed, Pilgrims not obeying the sign. See the field of wildflowers on the left.

Very tall heather. It is like a large bush, never saw this at home.

Pilgrim climbing to Almaden de la Plata

Pilgrim among the flowers of the mountain.

Large bunch of wild Asparagus  (You see people picking this everywhere in the Countryside).

Proud owner of a large bunch.

Wild Rosemary. Lambs to follow.

Pilgrims ahead, on the way to Almaden de la Plata

On the way to Almaden de la Plata

On the way to Almaden de la Plata The trees look like topiary.

Cat on a hot tiled roof.

Camino morning light

Cycling Pilgrim. Had dinner with him and his friend the evening before, really nice people.

Morning Mists

Perfection

"Ermita de San Isidro, near Venta del Culebrín, on the way to Monesterio"

Famous local dried Sausage.

Famous local dried Sausage.

Local dried and cured Ham. Very good.

Typical Spring colour Andulicia

Typical Spring colour Andulicia

My morning break, some of the ham photographed above.

Ham and Cheese Spanish style.

The long road, near  Castilblanco de los Arroys

Beauty (The botanical name for this flower) Bet most of you thought it was something else.

 On the way to Fuente de Cantos

Italian Amigo crossing stream.

What are Panniers!!

May the road rise before you. "Go n'eirigh on bother romhat".

Window display in Castilblanco de los Arroys

Strong White in the early morning light Castilblanco de los Arroys.

Olive Trees amid abundant wild flowers.

Olive Trees and wildflowers on a sunny Sunday morning in March.

For ever and ever  and ever into the distance,Vines.

Circle me with Spring colour.

Dutch Amigo

French Amigo.

Think this is Villafranca de los Barros.

It is March and this is a Hare.

The Lone Tree.

Work to make you smile or was he laughing at the daft Pilgrim.

Keep going straight ahead and you'l be grand.

Wild Lavender.

Albergue Luz del Camino Guillena

Catalonian Amigo.

Cross on hilltop near Almadén de la Plata

Prickley Pears

The cliched shot.

Bartender Fuente de Cantos

Fuente de Cantos

Norwegian Pilgrim

Hospitaliaro Zafra as I was leaving before first light for a 46km day

I would think that these are very old Olive Trees

Similar to another shot of wildflowers but this time showing Merida in the background. It is amazing the proximity of the wilderness and industry. 

Birds a Graveyard and Sunset in Aldea del Cano

Breakfast at Truckstop Cafe Aldea del Cano , with coffee e 2.60

Misty Morning  near Aldea del Cano

A stream and pond full of those little white flowers, this has to be seen to be fully appreciated.

This is a very flat wide open plane before Valdesalor just after an old airstrip, in morning fog.

This is a very flat wide open plane before Valdesalor just after an old airstrip, in morning fog.

Sheep not following the arrows.

Beautiful Camino sign in Cáceres

Stefano my Italian h friend at the end of a long day.

Stefano in Cáceres

With the fragrance of wildflowers. between Cáceres and Casar de Cáceres

A Field of colour on the entry into Merida.

Entrance to Casar de Cáceres

Stefano relaxing outside Aulbergue at Casar de Cáceres

The angled gate and big stone

The hillside was full of this wild Lavender.

Feel free to name it. Unknown A

The start of many pictures of Embalse de Alcántara

This has to some class of a Rose

The Way, Camino, Path.

Embalse de Alcántara, the overhead lines are annoying in the picture, but the dam is used to generate electricity, so therefore I would not photoshop them out.

Look at the colour of the water, I have noticed this before with dam's.

Looks a bit like a wild sweet pea, but probably isn't.

I photograph things, I am not a botanist.

I include 4 of these same flower, each have their own merit. The one on the left looks like Tommy Coopers hat.

Busy Bee.

Interesting looking insects.

Embalse de Alcántara

Construction work near Embalse de Alcántara 

Embalse de Alcántara

Fishing lines, there were many locals that Saturday having a picnic.

The clouds, the lack of leaves, the fact it is the water, I like it. 

A Yellow flower on a Cactus.

The lovely Albergue at Embalse de Alcántra, try to stay there if you can.

The Moon just after leaving the Embalse de AlcántaraAlbergue on Sunday morning, nice way to start a day.

Now is a series of those Ahhh! shots.

Cute.

I know someone with ears like this, but they are a bit older.

Running looking for Mammy.

Seperated. 

Myself and this French Couple were caught up in this Sunday morning traffic jam.

This place has WI-FI. We did have a lovely conversation (with each other) later.

Broom, look a bit like the Gorse we get in Ireland without the thorns.

These shrubs and horses go well together.

Cork Oak

The lovely path.

Near Grimaldo

Near Grimaldo

Grassy Path.

The bare trees on a barren hillside.

Interesting looking tracks in the distance.

Peace.

A young foal in glorious sunshine.

I found this pond and wildflowers amazing. The entire rim of the little lake has a perfect circle of these delicate flowers.

If you take the old route to Galisteo you will miss this. It is just after the turnoff towards Riolobos.

Rolling hills of sculptured trees.

Strange looking Church near Riolobos.

A bird of prey, but which one. I would need a stronger lens to get closer. Near Riolobos

I think it is Almond  blossom.

The ancient walls of Galisteo with a moving Italian (slow exposure shot). In the very early morning light.

The open top red sports car is missing. The road to Carcoboso.

Saying goodbye to Italian Amigo. In Carcaboso, my walking over for this trip.

Man in Carcaboso, he has seen many Pilgrims in recent years.

The lovely Elana of Albergue Elana Carcaboso.

Seville Amigos. 

In Casa del Jamón Plasencia 

In Casa del Jamón Plasencia

At Madrid Airport - Who is, must be Real Madrid player people were getting his autograph.

Open air market Plasencia

 Bacalao - salted dried fish. Open air market Plasencia 

Window display Plasencia

The man behind the counter at Restaurante  Caparra Carcaboso, nice place.

Open air market Plasencia

Open air market Plasencia

Open air market Plasencia

Open air market Plasencia

Another nice Flower.

Coming in to land.

The new bridge Merida.

Poppy.

The streams are full of these wonderful small white flowers.

Broom, Broom, Broom.

Yet to be named.

This is a stream completely full of dainty white flowers complete with Stork. That was a lovely day (just outside Merida)

What a walk!

Now nearly finished with this section, it is has taken an incredible amount of work, both in taking , editing and posting so you might now help me and bring this to a wider audience. Please feel free to link this to Facebook or other sites (I myself am not on Facebook)If you are a "Camino" visitor, I would advise you to have a look at some of my other work by going to older posts. It includes some Camino shots and lots more, including the beautiful Sligo - Leitrim area of the West of Ireland where I live. 

Dermot