Baring down on another world

BERE ISLAND WALK

BERE ISLAND is close to shore, but it has the same feeling of apart-ness from the mainland as the further flung islands of West Cork. Looking at it from the sea front of Castletown berehaven, it seems little different in character from the beautiful and rugged coast to east or west but one seems to be entering another world the moment one steps off the ferry.

We begin the walk at the West Pier and set off uphill. Some of the cars are falling to pieces where they stand and these, along with a couple of wrecked boats, somehow make the scene picturesque and distinctly not ‘mainland’.