The Octagon
iven that it looked like being our first proper spring Saturday in quite a while, 
Max and I decided April 16th, 2016 was the perfect day to go on one of our Dirty Big Walks…
iven that it looked like being our first proper spring Saturday in quite a while, 
Max and I decided April 16th, 2016 was the perfect day to go on one of our Dirty Big Walks…Heading up through Kenmare, on up through The Dromont Ditch, cutting a slice off the Kindlestown Woods before hitting the tradesman’s entrance into Bellevue Woods, swinging by the Octagon and cutting off again 
before the car park, to hit Barry’s Bridge.
before the car park, to hit Barry’s Bridge. Just over the halfway mark now, we then on up through Blackberry Lane, down the The Blind Lane, through The Glebe, past Killincarrig, Castle Villas and then home again, home again, jiggity jig.
Naturally, that beautiful early morning sun didn’t last. By the time we hit the Octagon ruin, there were hailstones. 
Hailstones! Thankfully, although they tried their darndest for hour or so, spitting feathers in the hope of starting a real storm, the hailstones didn’t stick around, or on the ground.
Hailstones! Thankfully, although they tried their darndest for hour or so, spitting feathers in the hope of starting a real storm, the hailstones didn’t stick around, or on the ground.In Greystones, we pretty much live in a wonky washing machine, as the weather jumps randomly from dry, to wash, to 
spin, to rinse, and, occasionally, white suds all over the floor.
spin, to rinse, and, occasionally, white suds all over the floor.Still, it turned out to be a beautiful walk. Despite the hailstones. And the litter. And the fact that some Scumbagus Maximus Fuckus Twatius had partied hard in 
the old Octagon ruin last night, leaving fairy lights a-glowing and bottles, cans, popper capsules and empty cigarette packets a-flowing. Also cruising for a bruising is the WCC idiot who designed the pedestrian walkway that runs parallel to the N11, taking you between Barry’s Bridge flyover and the Blackberry Lane entrance. 
The latter end of this ugly, noisy walkway is a death-trap, a mud rink just waiting for a Teresa Wall to happen.
the old Octagon ruin last night, leaving fairy lights a-glowing and bottles, cans, popper capsules and empty cigarette packets a-flowing. Also cruising for a bruising is the WCC idiot who designed the pedestrian walkway that runs parallel to the N11, taking you between Barry’s Bridge flyover and the Blackberry Lane entrance. 
Still, in truth, nothing could really dampen such a walk on such a day. Hopefully, we’ll see you up there sometime. Bring snacks. And a helmet.
And so it begins…
Take this handy turn into Kindlestown Wood
And then take an immediate left…
Coming out here, you take a left…
Down through the car park…
And straight across the main road…
Past the Bad Toupée Wall…
Love is all around…
Gets us every time…
Like a warning flag for the party leftovers down in the basement…
It takes a special breed of asshole…
Seriously considered taking shelter here as the hailstones came…
Will have to find out what purpose this served for the rich folk…
Turns out it was an early holding pen for the Bradshaw clan…
Take a left here rather than follow right to the car park.
Always loved this zig-zag path as a kid…
Again, will have to check what this old building was originally for…
Now, that’s what I call a hollow tree.
And that’s what I call the inside of a hollow tree.
You can take the high path or the low path to the left…
We’re taking the low path…
Nearing the end of the woods now. Take the right at this fork in the path…
Barry’s Bridge beckons…
Take the left here, up the hill…
This is the WCC path – avoid. It’s bollox.
The Blackberry Lane turn…
Slip Slidin’ Away – why don’t they have ridges here…?
The beginning of Blackberry Lane Estate…?
Beautiful Cherry’s Brow – unfortunately, a local witch wants more and more planning permission…
Known locally as The Big Tree. Mainly because it’s big. And it’s a tree.
Take the right here, for The Blind Lane
On past the often litter-strewn settlement…
Scott’s Wood to the right is tiny, but worth exploring. If you’re also tiny.
Ah, The Mark of Saddo
Take the left at the end of The Blind Lane
The Glebe entrance…
I’m sure that guy was in Labyrinth…
2 comments
Quote “Will have to find out what purpose this served for the rich folk…”
This used to be The Turkish Tent. That stretch of path leading towards The Octagon was known as Turkish Road back in the La Touche days.
Quote “Again, will have to check what this old building was originally for…”
This used to be the Bradshaw Cottage,the home of the famous golfing Bradshaws. In the early 70’s, when the OPW turned the Glen O’Downs into a nature reserve, the cottage was converted into a rain shelter with picnic area. But the rain shelter has been destroyed by constant vandalism, and the 4 walls is all that’s left now.
Thanks for that, young Michael…