Glendalough

The Gleneolo River flows softly in Glendalough, a valley famous for its monastic city

which grew up in the 11th Century, its buildings and 30m tower a popular film location today. But we are heading from here up past waterfalls and through a wood to gain the high ground

from where can be seen the two lakes that give the valley its name, Glendalough, or the 'glen of the two lakes'.

Walking further up and along the ridge on the boardwalk which in this area of high rainfall helps one over the mire although as we were here in June, and in the middle of a heatwave, the ground was dry(ish).

Eventually reaching the head of the valley and crossing the stream that will become the Glenealo River which will flow down the valley to keep the lakes full but only the higher lake can be seen at this point, the lower lake hidden in the bend of the valley.   As we come down to the valley floor we come to the remains of an old mining village

which grew up in the 1800s when lead, zinc and silver were discovered here and thousands of miners worked in this remote location which they called Van Diemen's Land (after the distant colony in Australia) because it seemed so far from civilization.  Today

the area and its lakes is a popular leisure destination. This is the lower lake with its little beaches.

An entry to ABC Wednesday, a journey through the alphabet, this week sojourning at G here