Happy Place

Stepping through the woods

Across the white bridge

The River Dissour

A seat in the shade

My happy place is Glenbower Woods in Killeagh, County Cork. Even if it rains, the weather cannot put a damper on a walk through the trees and along the banks of the River Dissour. The name Glenbower  comes from the Gaelic ‘gleann-bodhar’ which means ‘deafening glen’ because of the noise of the river rushing through it in the winter.

There are picnic tables and benches dotted throughout the woods and even a couple of shelters in case of a heavy downpour. On hot, sunny days (we do get a few in Ireland) the open huts provide a nicely shaded seating area to rest and enjoy the pleasant surroundings. 

On my last uplifting visit to Glenbower the sun was shining as wild flowers put on a colourful display. Even the birds sounded happy, their singing drowning out the noise of the river. 

Shelter by the bridge

More wild flowers

A splash of colour

Foxgloves

Ivy covered log

After a long walk, there’s nothing better than a cold beer in summer or a hot chocolate in winter, in one of Ireland’s oldest pubs, The Old Thatch, situated near the entrance to the woods. If you’ve worked up an appetite, they serve delicious food there, too.

Glenbower was owned by the DeCapell family from 1182 until 1933, (seven hundred and fifty one years). You can read more about it’s history on Glenbower.com

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Happy Place.”