Go Walk: Rossbeigh Hill, Glenbeigh, Co Kerry

During the recent storms, people were warned not to go to near the coast for fear of being swept away.

One place where such a catastrophe is unlikely to happen to you is on the summit of Rossbeigh Hill (261 metres), whose steep northern slopes allow you to look down on Rossbeigh Spit, one of Kerry’s most glorious beaches, which has been ravaged by powerful plunging breakers which tossed thousands of boulders on to the access road

The outer end of the spit has been foreshortened too, thus exposing the settlements which rely on this section of coastline with its extensive sand dune system for protection from storm surges.

When we talk about the physical landscape it is generally to describe processes which occurred thousands of years ago, so it is a rare occurrence to have the opportunity to look down on the dramatic changes which take place in a few short hours when the forces of nature unleash their fury on us.

But don’t just come to rubberneck; a circuit of Rossbeigh Hill provides a short and pleasant stroll. Leave the car at the park just above the beach, unless there is a storm a-brewing; you don’t want to come back to find a boulder on your bonnet. Walk back the road towards Glenbeigh until you come to a picnic area with a “Kerry Way” signpost pointing the way to a track that contours around the lower slopes of the steep forested north face of the hill.

For many years it was the practice to cut straight uphill through the forest but as the area has many fallen trees, it is better to stick to the path. This will bring you out on to a narrow country road with delightful views of the 19 tops of the Glenbeigh Horseshoe scalloped at its southern head by great cooms carved out during the Ice Age.

When you reach a crossroads, turn right and then right again on to a track which leads to the summit. To the right of the summit, you will notice a prominent brow which will give you the best view of the spit.

Don’t go too near the edge or you will find yourself rolling in the back door of the Rossbeigh Inn sooner than you expected. Backtrack to the road and have a most scenic stroll downhill.

If you have time take a walk along the beach to see the wreck of the Sunbeam which ran aground in a storm in January 1903 and remained buried in the sand until this latest storm uncovered it. Sadly Kerry County Council is going to have to rebury it as people have been taking pieces as souvenirs.