12. Banna Strand

This was to be a day of gently drifting south, exploring Banna Strand and the dunes as we went.

We started off in sunshine, but once again into the wind, heading down the R551 Tralee road from Ballyheige.

In Scotland we have been encouraged to talk modestly of hills rather than mountains. Mountains are to be found in faraway places and not at home. Here, there is no such reticence. We turned onto a minor road leading to the dunes, past the improbably-named Banna Mountain, whose spot-height is all of 3 metres.

We headed straight for the dunes and ditched our bikes. The strand was empty as far as the eye could see. To the north, Kerry Head reached out into the blue. South, the mountains of Dingle merged into the sky. There were few sea birds. The wind had dropped; just a gentle breeze disturbed the air. All was still, but for the waves rolling up the sand.

A last look from the garden
at Mira View.

One of the many fishing signs.

Continuing south on the minor track that skirted the dunes, we found for a hundred metres that the surface became sand.

This brought us to the Casement Memorial, and Ned.

Kerry Head to the northwest.

Marie with an empty strand and the Atlantic.

Gareth at the edge of the dunes. Brandon Mountain in the distance.