Lugnaquilla 2021

In that quiet time between Christmas and New Year, it is always good to get out for a walk. My sister and I have developed what is now almost an annual routine of going up a local mountain, Lugnaquilla, immediately after Christmas.  It is a way, not so much of undoing the excesses of Christmas, but perhaps mitigating them a little.

We choose to do this the day after Christmas itself. The day goes by various names. It is called Boxing Day in the English tradition, because that was the day that the charity boxes were opened in local churches and the contents distributed among the poor of the parish. But in Ireland it is called St. Stephen’s Day, named after the first Christian martyr, even before the followers of Christ even called themselves Christians.

Out last two Christmas outings on Lugnaquilla were not so pleasant: rain and heavy mist in 2019, and freezing wind and biting cold in 2020. But 2021 was different. It had rained heavily in Christmas Day itself, but the next day dawned brightly. Approaching the mountain, there was still plenty of surface water, but the sky looked promising. And so we went on upwards.

On the way up, at one point the clouds around the summit cleared completely, showing the mountain in sunshine (heading photo). But that did not last. As we went higher, the clouds came back, and by the time we reached the summit, the mist was around us. But it was still pleasant, and we were able to enjoy refreshments at the summit

Then it was down again. There are multiple tracks of both humans and sheep on the mountain and one has to be careful to find the right path. Because the mist was light, we didn’t bother to take a compass bearing, and soon found ourselves south of the route we were meant to be on. But we realised the error in time, and soon got back on the proper route. As we emerged from the mist, there were great views of the Glen of Imaal below.

And then we were down. A short day’s walking, but a refreshing break from indoors at this time of year.

The total step count for the day was 23,474.