Today’s 13 mile hike from Ballyvaughan to Carran was so much EASIER than yesterday’s trek from Fanore to Ballyvaughan!  Not only did the weather, although overcast, stay dry and mild, but also the climbs and trail were so much smoother than yesterday’s.

The scenery was rocky at times with lots of big boulders

Abundant limestone

Limestone landscape dotted with windswept trees

The reason I take off my boots before entering my hotel and put them on just before exiting

“Bog road” with black shale rock in the trail

Peat, a scarce commodity in the Burren, is dried and used as heating material

The lush green slopes of the small valley of Lissylisheen

A much less muddy trail – rock walls on the sides

6,000-year-old Poulnabrone Portal Tomb, the most famous dolmen in Ireland

Flags at the entrance to Caherconnell Stone Fort – no British or Northern Ireland flag…

Sheepdog demonstration at Caherconnell Stone Fort – four border collies each responding to her own voice commands and whistles – I can see why border collies need work to do – it’s bred into them

A ewe and her twin lambs – same pregnancy with the same ram

Caherconnell Stone Fort, one of three ringforts on today’s expedition