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Wild & wonderful Nature nearby Oughterard

Posted on May 4th, 2009

Leading out of the village square, not far from the  junction with the N59 in Oughterard village centre, the main road which leads travellers to the ‘Gateway to Connemara’, Clifden and beyond is the Glann Road. Beyond the many beautiful stone built houses, The Glann Road eventually leaves the outskirts of Oughterard village behind and disappears under a continuous mantle of trees buzzing with bird song, becoming a country lane running parallel and close enough to clearly hear the waves lapping gently along the shoreline of the great and famous Lough Corrib. Wild by Nature and famed throughout the world for its great fishing, the Corrib is flanked by low lying rolling hills reminiscent of pastoral scenes.

Here too dotted throughout the green landscape is the sound of spring with the innocent appeal of newly born lambs. Lurking in the background are the awe inspiring mountains stretching beyond.  

Today the weather was very changeable, and during a series of alternating brief exchanges of warmed rain showers and joyful sunshine, the scenery takes on an almost momentous air of great grandeur. Throughout this area the sense of rising sap is overwhelming. Trees, shrubs, meadow flowers are on the verge of bursting forth with all the promise and colour of the new season. Trees of all types are bearing new  buds, rhododendrons heavy in bud are already showing early glimpses of iminent magical colourful displays, whilst the Fuchsia lined hedgerows full of leaf, are patiently waiting for their moment of magical display.  Here in this wild and wonderful corner of this famous region, Nature is putting on an early but stunning display of sunwashed bliss. Today however most travellers come well prepared. As soon as the sun takes shelter behind the clouds, the skyline quickly takes on a menacing look of deep foreboding, light levels drop, so too do the temperatures and suddenly sheets of rain are unleashed. Within minutes the rain has passed and the sunwashed scenery resumes with little visible evidence of any intermittent rain showers.  

Closer inspection reveals the gritty harsh realities of this wild, beautiful and natural landscape. All around are relics of the weather beaten environment, twisted trees some with incredible grotesque shapes, permanently disfigured are testament to all of how harsh and cruel nature can be. Here and there throughout the fields and hills are reminders of weak and poor draining soil conditions. 

Rocks protrude throughout the area, many reminders of the famous rock culture to be found throughout the wider region. Wind swept and weather beaten reminders can be found everywhere in this area which is an awe inspiring panorama of wild Nature. 

The small haphazard free standing walls used to divide the fields are built using the unearthed stones. Sheep graze between these iconic walls, reminders not just of man’s great resourcefulness but perhaps the greater strength  and power of nature. Here in abundance are many reminders of the beauty of wild by Nature.