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The cache is located near the summit of Mount Brandon, Co. Kerry. There are two main paths up - an easy one from the west and a difficult one from the east.
Mount Brandon, at 958m, is the highest peak in the Sliabh Mish range of mountains, which run the entire length of the Dingle peninsula in County Kerry. It is named after Saint Brendan “The Navigator” who was born near Tralee in 484AD. Legend suggests that in 530AD he climbed to the summit to see the Americas before setting sail on his legendary journey in search of “The Land of Promise”.
“The Voyage of St. Brendan” records how Brendan and 14 or more monks set sail in a boat consisting of a wooden frame covered with leather. On their journey across the Atlantic Ocean they recorded bizarre sights such as “pillars of crystal” (icebergs) and islands “spouting fire” (volcanoes).
One story goes that they landed on a small barren island at Easter to celebrate mass. When they lit a fire the island suddenly started moving. They quickly clambered aboard their boat and watched as the island sped away. They had landed on a sleeping whale!
After seven years, they finally reached their Paradise in the western Atlantic – a most beautiful land with luxurious vegetation. Debates continue as to whether or not this land was the continent of America. If so, then Brendan was the first European visitor to the New World – almost a millennium before Columbus!
Much of this narrative is fantasy but in 1976-77, explorer Tim Severin and a few colleagues built a large leather boat of the same type as Saint Brendan and made the journey from Ireland to Newfoundland, Canada – thereby proving such a voyage was possible.
On his return to Ireland, Saint Brendan established monasteries in Ireland and Scotland. He died in 578AD and was buried within the grounds of his most famous monastery in Clonfert, County Galway. His feast day is celebrated on 16th May.
Mount Brandon itself owes its features to the work of glaciers during the ice age. The western slope escaped from the ice, with the result that it presents an almost unbroken grassy slope all the way to the top. The eastern slope however took the full brunt of the glaciers, leaving the landscape scarred and rugged. Several hollows were carved out, later to be filled in with water. These form the Pater Noster (Latin for “Our Father”) lakes, resembling a series of rosary beads – hence their name.
The summit can be reached from both sides, but the tougher eastern side is the more popular. OS Discovery Series Map 70 covers the entire area and should be examined before the trip.
To reach the start of the ascent up the eastern side, take the N86 from Tralee towards Dingle/An Daingean but, after the Railway Tavern on the right hand side, continue straight onto the R560 towards the Connor Pass. Keep straight, following signs for the village of An Clochán. Pass through the village and take the left at Russell’s B & B. After passing a graveyard on the left, take the left at a T-junction. At the end of this road is the car park. Make sure to read the sign indicating the various potential hazards on the climb. Warm clothing, sturdy footwear, food, water and a mobile phone are advisable for the climb. The climb to the summit, which should take no more than three hours, can be divided into two stages.
Stage 1 is a moderately easy walk to one of the Paster Noster lakes. It is well marked out by stakes along the way. After setting out from the car park (closing the gate behind you), you may wish to pay a quick visit to the Grotto (N52º 14.398’ W10º 12.532’) to wish for clear weather and, more importantly, a safe trip. When you reach the lake (N52º 14.257’ W10º 14.806’), a bite of lunch may be necessary to provide the energy required for Stage 2!
Stage 2 is a steep climb, marked out by yellow arrows painted on rocks along the way. As you climb higher, make sure to look behind you to see the Pater Noster lakes in all their glory. At the top of the ascent is the main ridge to the summit. Reaching this ridge on a clear day is a truly memorable experience as the views across the western end of the Dingle Peninsula are among the best in Ireland.
Following this ridge to the summit is relatively easy – though watch out for strong crosswinds which can be unnerving at times. The summit (N52º 14.108’ W10º 15.266’) is marked by a timber cross. Until recently there was another cross made from the exhaust pipes of a WWII plane which crashed nearby.
To reach the summit from the easier western side, head north from Dingle/An Daingean using the OS Map as guidance. The walking route – shown by a red line in the OS Map – is marked out by Stations of the Cross along the Cosán na Naomh (“Footway of the Saints”). The climb is relatively simple though still bring the bare essentials – warm clothing, sturdy footwear, food, water and a mobile phone.
The cache itself is located approximately 150m from the summit – not far off the beaten track. It is a small plastic lunchbox with a logbook, a few trinkets and a disposable camera. Hopefully it will be a clear day and the views will be worth the trip. The very same views (bar a few houses!) as Saint Brendan “The Navigator” had almost 1,500 years ago.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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