We started at the Wallis Arms, up Liscahane, across to The Lodge on Macroom Road, rested at the ancesteral home of the Leaders (Mount Leader House). Through mature woodland to the viewing point of Musheramore mountain Coomatrush and Millstreet in general. Great day for the walk and we had a group of 30 with us.

(With thanks to Mary O’Mahony who allowed us to use the photos)

See the details of the Millstreet Walking Festival (September 2011)

The enthusiastic walkers who participated in the Clara Loop Walk pictured outside the Wallis Arms Hotel on Saturday, 24th Sept. 2011 before they began their walk at 12 noon today. This was the second Walk of three. We shall include a full feature on the inspiring event (which was blessed with glorious weather) within the next few days. (S.R)

Our ‘B’ & ‘C’ Walks are similarly rewarding with no less a personage than Minister for Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar stating that our ‘B’ Walk (The Claragh Loop) is his ‘ favourite festival walk of 2011′ .

Our ‘ C’ Walk reflects the historical influence of landlords in Millstreet. Commencing at the Wallis Arms Hotel and taking us past the ruins of the once magnificent Mount Leader Estate to a viewing point on Claragh Mountain overlooking Millstreet and the Blackwater Valley.

Full restaurant facilities are provided by the Wallis Arms Hotel which is Base Camp for the Festival.

Looking forward to you joining us for what is certain to be a memorable walking experience.

Read the full details on the Festival Brochure.

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Millstreet Autumn Walking Festival Details

Date: 24th September 2011
Contact 086 – 380 94 24

The O’Sullivan Beara March. “A” Walk (strenuous)
Ballyvourney, Beara Briefne Way.
Following in the footsteps of the epic O’Sullivan Beara march of 1603. You walk from ballyvourney via glendav, mullaghanish and clara mountain, to arrive in Millstreet.
Start time: 09:00am • duration: 6 hours • registration:wallis arms hotel

The Claragh Loop. “B” Walk (moderate)
Claragh Loop walk starting from the Wallis Arms Hotel in Millstreet ascending to the summit of claragh mountain to enjoy the views of the magnificent Blackwater Valley to the north and the peaks of Derrynasaggart to the south.
Confirmed by the Minister for Tourism Mr. Leo Varadkar as his favourite Festival walk of 2011.
Starttime: 12:00pm • duration: 3 to 4 hours • registration: Wallis Arms Hotel

The Mountleader Trail. “C” Walk (easy)
The Mountleader, Claraghatlea loop walk. Starting from the wallis arms hotel in millstreet via the ancestral home of the leader’s. Ascending through mature woodland to emerge at the panoramic viewing point of Musheramore mountain, Coomatrush Waterfall & the hinterland of Millstreet.
Start time: 1:00pm • duration: 2 to 3 hours • Registration:Wallis Arms Hotel
All walkers to return to hotel for deregistration and afternoon entertainment
All walks €5.00 per person or €10.00 per family payable on registration.

In association with Millstreet Tidy Town and Tourism Association

Minister Leo Varadkar is presented with a portrait of Tubrid by Áine Collins, T.D. as he meets at Millstreet Museum premises a group interested in the promotion of Walking Tourism.

The Minister discussed the O’Sullivan Beara National Walkway with Michael O’Sullivan and others.   He gave a brief interview to LTV2 with further contributions from local people.   He indicated that he is especially interested in the promotion of such scenic walkways as the newly developed Clara Loop.  I presented him with the “Millstreet Passport”  (local postcard!) and that particular photograph illustrates the long and the short of it!   I really must grow more!!  Gordon O’Keeffe especially praised the many achievements within a short few months which the Minister had brought about in the world of Haulage Transport and in Transport generally.  Leo then had a cup of coffee while Michael Thornton provided more appropriate footwear for the Minister who with a number of other walking enthusiasts set off down picturesque and colourful Clara Road on the Clara Loop and very soon reached the summit of Clara Mountain.    Many thanks to Cllr. Noel Buckley for alerting us to the Minister’s visit this Saturday morning.  (Seán Radley)

The wonderful smiles say it all! What a truly heartfelt sincere Irish welcome was accorded when Margaret Kelleher (on left) and I visited the very lovely home of Eileen O'Mahony at Kilmeedy, Millstreet on Wednesday afternoon. The splendid tea and refreshmnents added further to the great conversation.

It really was a magnificent trip down memory lane when Margaret and I went for a walk up the avenue (near Eileen’s home) on the direction of Clara Mountain which afforded some remarkably beautiful panoramic views – especially of Adrivale where my late mother (Mary Ellen O’Leary) was born.   So many of the plants to which I was introduced as a child are here in abundance including of course the “fairy thimble” or foxglove.   This memorable visit was so wonderfully uplifting and I wish to extend sincere thanks to both Margaret and Eileen for making it possible.   (Seán Radley)

This is the truly inspiring James Gillespie from Strabane in Northern Ireland who on this 21st June, the longest day of the year, arrived in Millstreet with some three days of his wonderful marathon All-Ireland Walk left when he will reach Mizen.

We thank Margaret Crean for alerting us to James as he arrived in Millstreet this evening.   He is undertaking this amazing walk in aid of Childline.  James was presented with the “Millstreet Passport” at the Wallis Arms where members of the Red Cross and Friends who were having a meeting, extended a royal welcome.  One can obtain extra information on his overall walk on http://www.justgiving.com/malin2mizen .   He left Malin head on Saturday June 11th, tonight he is staying in the home of the Crean Family, tomorrow he continues his journey to Inchigeelagh, and further to Durrus and Mizen the following days. We’ve also interviewed James for LTV2  and this will be seen in our Autumn schedule.   Sincere congratulations to the very courageous, friendly and inspiring James.   You are an Ambassador Supreme for Northern Ireland, James.   (S.R.)

Contact James through his Facebook page

Alerted by the recent "Irish Times" feature on the Clara Walk these wonderfully energetic members of a Cork City Walking Group (many of whom are members of a Cork Tennis Club) enjoyed not only a superb walk this evening (Sunday, 29th May 2011) but also a splendid picnic upon Clara Mountain. Meeting with the very fit Group at Mount Leader, LTV2's Brendan Murphy (on video camera) and I arranged to interview the sincerely friendly and very cheerful people for the Autumn Schedule of LTV2. They accorded much praise regarding the excellent Clara walkway. It's wonderfully uplifting noting the visit of such interesting people to our area who promote the advantages of such healthy outdoor pursuits. (Picture by Seán Radley for website and LTV2)

THE GHOSTS of old estates with their haunting reminders of the Anglo-Irish ascendancy always provide a compelling attraction and I can mooch around them for hours, especially if they are not well frequented. Such is the case with the Mount Leader Estate through which the Duhallow Way provides access to Claragh Mountain (452m) whose profile provides such a fine backdrop to the town of Millstreet.

Inside the now gateless portals the stream-eroded remnants of the old avenue lead to a broad expanse of open parkland beyond which stands Mount Leader.

Built in 1834, this fine Georgian mansion was lived in until the 1970s. The speed of dereliction has been so rapid it gives the impression that it was abandoned at a far earlier date and only the shell remains but the interior and exterior walls seem solid enough. Cut into the side of Claragh, the site looks out over the Finnow Valley to the Boggeragh Mountains beyond.

Read the full article on the Irish Times