In my second Comeragh post, I shared photographs of the road that crosses the mountains from Clonmel to Ballymacarbry. It is how we are going to drive ( or walk) to the Nire Valley.
I have never hiked in this area, but I know that there are several trails and loops, and beautiful lakes. An annual Nire Valley Walking Festival page might help you make your choice, and there is an information board at the car park from where I took most of pictures for this blog. Some of the trails start from the car park, but if you want to start with a hike to Coumfea and Coumalocha, and see a beautiful stream falling from the Coumfea Plateau, you have to walk back to this gate and start from here.
In the picture below, car park is on your left, and several trails start here. If you hike up the hill to the left, you will reach the south slope of beautiful Knockanaffrin ( the pyramid-shaped mountain in my previous post), and if you turn to the right, at least four spectacular glacial lakes – coums are waiting for you. These coums were formed during the Ice Age. I don’t know if I ever hike to see Nire lakes – the shortest trail will take 4-5 hours roundtrip, and I don’t know if I am ready for that, but you can visit Get Lost Mountaineering blog to have an idea. It features both ridges – Knockanaffrin and Coumfea.
Curraghduff with Fauscoum in background. You don’t necessarily have to start your hike from the Nire Valley side to get here. There is a track that starts on the other side, over the Gap of the Knockanaffrin Ridge ( featured in my second Comeragh blog). All the trails vary from 5 to 25km. Some loops may require an overnight camping in the mountains. There are also cliffs and gullies for the experienced mountain climbers.
Nire Valley photographs taken over the years.
Ruins of the old farm and spectacular stone wall attract photographers.
I am glad that you visited this beautiful part of Comeragh mountains. I know that I failed to take you to the Nire Lakes, but I have visited some other mountain lakes, and hope to share them with you in my future posts. This time we didn’t hike, but please be fit for the next weekend’s two mile long round trip, some climbing, and magic 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend!
Making memories 
The landscape so reminds me of the time we lived near to Dartmoor.
Must be very similar. I only know the roads from Holyhead and Fishguard, both in Wales, and the scenery does look similar.
Simply stunning!
Thank you Lelia 🙂
Beautiful views, and I love the sheep close-up 🙂
Thank you 🙂
These are simply stunning. You frame the landscape so well.
Thank you so much 🙂 This landscape frames itself – too beautiful 🙂
This place on earth is a delicious beauty. TY, Inese!
Thank you Resa! Due to the shortage of murals, I relocated to the mountains 😉
LOL!!!!
Amazing photos! The sheep! Oh, the sheep!
Innocent face 🙂
Always grand to see your photos, Inese.
Thank you so much, Kathy!
Very joyful views from your guide. I do like a little surprise from wide view scenes and then a sudden see that close up cute sheep looking right at you. A lovely surprise. I think the whole place attracts photographers. Looking to the next trip and magic.
Thank you so much! Next trip is officially magic 🙂
Wow! I’d love to go for a stroll here. That lamb is checking you out. Cute. Great images, my friend. Cheers
Thank you! I have been there three times, and never seen a single soul 🙂 Great place to meditate.
As ever… beautiful, beautiful photos:).
Thank you so much! 🙂
A nice and green place to hike. Lots of sheep too. 🙂
Peace and tranquility.
🙂
Thank you for stopping by 🙂
My pleasure. I wish I could do so more often, but I’m having slight organizational problems at the moment. 🙂
How is your daughter? How are you? (Both better?)
Same here, busy January.
Everything settled, more or less, I have an op in April. Will be all right. Best of luck with your organisational activities 🙂
April? Ok. Will try to bear that in mind. Cheers.
Thanks xx
Reblogged this on Janet’s thread and commented:
A taste of Ireland for hikers.
Thank you Janet! xx
Another delightful trip. You sure know how to take photographs. The young sheep adorable and the ruins always hearken me with its calling of yesteryear almost like I have been there before. I liked the tree that looked wind bent which added character to the landscape.
Thank you Joseph! That tree does look peculiar. I wonder if it was broken once, or it is wind bent. It does add drama. And can you believe – most of my Comeragh photographs were taken in complete serenity without a soul in sight.
That is amazing not to have people in sight. Only sheep. Eagle Beach, tree bent by the wind, Aruba, Caribbean.
This tree looks amazing, but the most amazing is the fact that it grew up and survived in such a place!
yes
It speaks to the resiliency of life
True. And I also think about people who protected the tree so that it could grow. This tree must be a century old.
Unfortunately they are left unprotected and what you see is the wind’s sculpture
Still amazing – someone could step on the seedling and the tree would never happen.
Yes it is so
thank you for taking
me to this
atmospheric beauty 🙂
Thank you for joining the trip 🙂
Your post are akin to a fine magazine…they really should be a magazine available within the waiting room, or for purchase in newsagents and railway stations, and in this instance to take a toothache suffer to a better place. I look forward to then that much (true).
I should have a chat with the local dentists 😉 Thank you for all the compliments, Mike!
Deserved.
Wow, what a great comment from Mike Steeden. A magazine with your words and photographs would certainly make waiting at the dentist or doctors less painful. Even 15 minutes of reading medical magazines seems like an hour! Love the black and white photographs, the rock wall looks more intense in black and white. Gorgeous. P.S. Please send lamb…I need her for a pet, she is the sweetest.
Cheers, Ginene. Inese certainly writes gentle, well thought words; posts sublime photographs that make the dullard ‘me’ feel a tad better about the world.
Don’t give up on the world. Most of people are better than they seem xx
I shan’t be giving up just yet. Spring is around the corner, so the sun should soon shine again.
That for sure 🙂
She is a positive addition to this world, Mike!
For sure, Ginene.
Beautiful countryside and so nice of the lamb to pose for you!!
Thank you! That lamb was a good sitter 🙂
Go hálann at fad
Go raibh maith agat, sásta mian leat é seo. Glad you like the pictures.
Dear Inese, thank you for this lovely, relaxing drive through the country. The photos, of course, are gorgeous. That happy little lamb is a treasure. Who could see that face and not smile? And the rich yellows and greens… you know how I love colors. Such a treat. Wishing you a wonder-filled, hug-filled weekend. ❤ 🙂
Thank you so much, Teagan! Green and yellow are the colors of early spring in Ireland. In February – March the hills are yellow, in May they are pink, and in the middle of summer purple.
Have a wonderful weekend, hope all is well ❤
Oh, a yellow February sounds wonderful! More hugs
It’s nice to be able to offer a choice of lengths, isn’t it? Not everyone can hike longer distances but might still want to share the joy of being outdoors.
Another lovely post, Inese. 🙂 If you’re walking next week I’d like to include it in my Monday walks, if that’s ok with you?
Thank you! 🙂 Next friday I will post another Comeragh story. I didn’t hike the Nire Valley. I am not familiar with the trail, and it is too difficult for me, but my next blog is about a more accessible place.
Beautiful Photos. Love the landscape! I am assuming this is Wales! Dwight
No, this is Ireland 🙂 Thank you for stopping by!
Thank You, I wasn’t sure!