Walking and using sticks go hand in hand

West Cork woodland takes on the appearance of a jungle in the Chilean highlands with Orange-bark myrtles growing to 50 or more feet in height, and wild-seeding themselves on the forest floor. Introduced in the mid-19th century, this elegant species has become naturalised in the mild climate of the south west.

I AM not a walking-stick walker. A straight, stout hazel makes a good companion and last year a friend delivered four fine specimens of Connemara hazel to our door. A stick is a great help when ascending or descending steep slopes, but I’m generally carrying a bag with camera, binoculars and map; if I’m ‘writing-up’ a trail for the Monday’s Examiner, then I have a dictaphone machine in one hand and am delivering a walking — as opposed to a running — commentary as I ramble. Freeing one hand to take a stick would be mighty awkward.