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Recommended starting point: the Marine Bar (S7 on the
map).
We have now reached the nearest access point to the soure
of this extraordinary stream which has been the uisce
beatha (water of life) for countless generations of
people who have lived within the Lickey Valley catchment
area. It is streams like this that inspired Alfred Lord
Tennison to compose that great powm “The Brook” with the
immortal lines “For men may come and men may go, but I
go on forever”
A good starting point for this walk is at the
traditional thatched Pub at Pulla called “The Seanachai”.
Go south and turn left towards Gorteen by the
contrasting modern house with the ever slanting eves
fronted by a rock garden. The hedgerows here abound with
Furze, Bramble and Bracken under the occasional White
Thorn. The mature Sitka Spruce, Lodge Pole Pine Forest
on your left is protected from Windthrow by the weel
furnished peripheral Lawson Cypress.
Take the right fork down towards Faha Bridge and
encounter an experimental young plantation of Western
Cedar (Thuja Plilata) on your right. Beyond this Sitka
Spruce Forests rise up on both sides of the road and the
hedge row abounds with Heather both the Calluna and
Erica Species, a throwback to the time when this whole
area was covered with Blanket Peat.
At Faha Bridge you have reached the nearest point to the
source of the Lickey River, a half mile upstream. Near
the bridgemature specimens of Sitka Spruce can be seen.
Up the road where clear felling has taken place there is
almost a pure culture of Rosebay Willow Herb which is
spectacular in July and August.
Afforestation is very heavy in this area and at the top
of Scordaun mostly Sitka Spruce and Lodge Pole Pine will
be seen. At this point if you look to your left the
highest point is 213 metres above sea level and this
drains into the source of the Lickey. You will also get
the only view of the sea to the south in all the Lickey
Walks.
Turn right down Monambraher an uncharacteristic straight
road. Apart from some upland meadows, forestry at all
stages of growth will be encountered.
Turn right at Allens Cross and when you reach the top of
the Hill at Coolroe there is a marvellous panoramic view
of the Comeraghs to the East and the Lickey Valley to
the North and West. This is the pivotal spot to ponder
the wonderful power of nature where this small little
stream as it gathers momentum can carve out such a
wondrous valley.
At Coolroe Cross you meet the N25. Turn right and you
will soon cross the Lickey at Pulla Bridge. Observe how
much the River has gained in strength in the short
distance between the two bridges on this walk.
UP the road is the Marine Bar which gets its name from
the Marines who trained in Youghal before going to fight
in France during the first world war.
Turn right to complete walk No.7 and pause for a minute
at the top of the Hill and survey the area you have
traversed.
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