Comment on the Knockmealdown Crossing 2008(Accommodation available at Kilmaneen Farmhouse. See www.kilmaneen.com for details)
It would be to a gentle drizzle that I would arrive to Newcastle on the banks of the river Suir for the first annual Knockmealdowns Challenge and yet straight away there was a warm welcome from the organisers – Peaks Mountaineering Club.
Not ten minutes into the proceedings of the challenge and a battering rain shower would lash in from the south. No real grief here I hear you say only that I was insistent on staying in my shorts. “Build it and they will come” would be my theme for the day which loosely translated means “Wear the shorts and the sun would quite simply have to shine!”
Over the course of the day the sun would try its best but for the most part overcast conditions would predominate. This would not deter a handful of “Mad Hatters” though, who being gluttons for punishment would take-in the odd extra summit or two as they saw fit over the route. As such this all too emphatically proved just how welcome this new walk is to the Challenge Walks Calendar.
It only took a little clearance to allow incredible and panoramic views to open up to the delight of all and thus showing just how beautiful the meandering ridge of the Knockmealdown Mountains truly is.
Peaks Mountaineering Club can no doubt be very proud of an excellent job well done. With over seventy walkers on the challenge walk, over forty on the ”B” walk and a good representation on the “C” walk, I can see no reason as to why the challenge will not continue to be the great success it was in its inaugural year.
With a wonderful stew and friendly chat at the finish, all agreed that a return visit to the Knockmealdowns can not come soon enough.
I know I’ll be wearing my shorts next year as well!
J.H.
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