Hard to resist the call of the wild: Cloheen Marsh

CLOHEEN MARSH WALK, WEST CORK

OUR route is straight inland, walking away from the bay, keeping the marsh on our left. Before starting, the stream that issues from the marsh under a small stone bridge is worth a look. Fingerling brown trout swim in the shallows. In summer, swallows and martins hawk the clouds of midges over the surface, and a pair of grey wagtails is almost always resident, possibly nesting under the bridge.

As we set off, groups of mallard, widgeon and teal may be seen on the lagoons in the marsh. Now, on these Spring evenings, our quiet road is brimful with bird song — thrushes carolling, blackbirds fluting, robins singing. Wayside ditches are splashed with celandine, primroses and dog violets. We ignore an uphill road to the right and, going slightly downhill, come to Carhoo Cross Road, signposted Dooneen, Red Strand, etc. We turn left.