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Cruit
Island is joined by a bridge to the mainland.
It is approximately 3 miles (5km) long
by 1 mile (1.6km) wide. All of the following
challenges/activities
are based on Cruit Island, within easy walking distance of the cottages.
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Click on image to enlarge |
| 1 |
Leave your footprints on the twelve sandy beaches of Cruit Island bearing in mind that a number of them are hidden away in secret places.
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| 2 |
Walk all the winding sideroads of Cruit and wend your way back to the Cottages by beaten track and spectacular cliff pathways.
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| 3 |
On
your various walks keep a lookout for the
larva of the very rare and very beautiful "deathshead
moth".
These larvae will be 4-6 inches (10-15cms)
long and multicoloured. The moth herself
has a wingspan of 6 inches (15 cms) and the
likeness of a small skull and crossbones
on each wing.
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| 4 |
Get
close to a rare and protected Chough (pronounced "chuffe")
and see the red beak and red legs which
distinguish it from crow, raven and jackdaw.
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| 5 |
Listen
for the distinctive "cook-ku" of
the Cuckoo in late spring/early summer. You
will not be disappointed.
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Cuckoo |
| 6 |
Waken
to the warbling of a Sky Lark and take
an early morning stroll on a deserted beach.
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| 7 |
As
you walk past the "Corncrake Field" on
your way down to the golf course you just
might be lucky enough to hear the hoarse
cry of the corncrake.
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| 8 |
Don't
miss the deep "grunt" of an adult
Raven as he flies overhead.
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| 9 |
As
dusk approaches listen carefully for a "bleating" sound
of the Jack Snipe as the drums his tail
feathers together. In Irish he is called "meigilín
an aeir" - the little goat of the air.
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| 10 |
Crown
it all by turning your binoculars on a
majestic peregrine Falcon as he soars inland
from the sheer cliffs of Owey Island.
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| 11 |
Harvest
your own dulce (dilisk) and carraigeen
from the rocks when the tide is out, and
whet your palate on the wild sea-food flavour.
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| 12 |
Stand
at the mouth of the shallow river, heels
together, feet apart, and use this time
honoured method to catch silver sandeels
- delicious when pan-fried.
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| 13 |
Look
for sea-cress on a grassy shore beside
Monument Island, and savour the wonderful
aroma as you toss them on a pan with loads
of garlic. Remember too that this same sea-cress
would cost you a small fortune in the best
Parisian restaurants !
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| 14 |
Dig
a bucketful of fresh cockles at Monument
Island and see can you spot a mis-spelled
word !
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| 15 |
At
the very ebb of spring tide try digging
for elusive razor-fish. You will find that
it is not so easy !
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| 16 |
Pick
black periwinkles from the rocks on the
west side of Cruit and steam them in their
own juices.
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| 17 |
Use
lugworm or Limpet to catch specimen wrasse
from rocky ledges over deep water. Turn
of tide is best.
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| 18 |
Spin
from the rocks for Mackerel and Pollock,
and try out the sizzling taste of freshly
caught pan-fried mackerel.
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| 19 |
Beach-cast
for excellent Flounder, Dab and Dogfish.
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| 20 |
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Pick
a really calm day and become the first
person in the world (apart from me!) to
canoe all the way around Cruit Island.
If
it's blowing from the west you could try canoeing
around Seagull Island in the sheltered Kincasslagh
Bay. Be most careful and take all due precautions. |
| 21 |
How
about jumping off the pedestrian bridge
leading into Cruit Island ??
There's plenty of depth even at low tide ! Perhaps you
might like to wear a
wetsuit.
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| 22 |
Bring
a book on wild flowers and see how many
species of wild
flower you can identify. There are over two hundred different
species on Cruit Island including a profusion of wild orchids,
primroses, sea-pinks, harebells, seaholly and juniper.
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Wild
Orchid |
| 23 |
Take
up the challenge of the stunningly beautiful
Cruit Island
9-hole golf course, and try for a hole-in-one at the truly
spectacular par three sixth hole.
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| 24 |
Walk
across the strand to the village of Kincasslagh
and savour a pint
in Iggy's Pub.
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| 25 |
After
your pint stroll down the winding road
towards Kincasslagh Pier.
The fourth house on the right hand side
is Daniell O’ Donnell’s
former house. Look out for his new home on Cruit Island.
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| 26 |
Continue
on towards Kincasslagh Pier till you come
to a sandy beach.
Now walk back across the strand to Cruit Island and your
cozy thatched
cottage. Make sure that the tide is still out !!!
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| 27 |
Fancy
your skill on a sailboard ? Stroll down
to Iomaire Buí, the tiny
slipway just beside the cottages, and test your mettle
among the
many small islands in Kincasslagh Bay.
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| 28 |
Sit
out on the rocks at the cottages and marvel
at the glory of
God's creation as the red sun sets over Arranmore Island.
Capture it all on camera. |
| 29 |
Feel
how small and insignificant you are as
a storm gathers and the powerful
waves pound the rocks, and balls of sea-foam float over
the cottages like giant
snowflakes.
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| 30 |
Master
the art of lighting a turf fire and renew
your relationship with your loved
ones, as the driving rain pelts against the window panes
and you sip a hot
whiskey in front of your blazing turf fire.
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| 31 |
Take
a last walk down the winding road from
the cottages to the golf course.
Stand with your back to the new clubhouse and gaze across
the narrow strip of
water to the deserted village on Owey Island. Feel the
tug of mixed emotions
as you see a way of life that has passed and will never
be again.
Think of the poignant quotation from "The Islander" "Ní bheidh ár
léitheíd arís
ann" - "The likes of us will never
be again".
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| 32 |
Bring
back a bunch of wild honeysuckle, meadowsweet,
purple loosestrife,
and present the sweet-smelling bouquet to a loved one.
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| 33 |
Return
home from Cruit Island refreshed in mind
and heart and soul and body.
"Beir Bua" !! |
