Torc waterfall and the surrounding mountains

We escaped from the manicured gardens of Muckross house and went seeking Torc waterfall.

We walked through open fields and then into a forest.

crossed under a bridge

and the stream came into view

it was a quite lovely waterfall as well. Even if it was a bit crowded (observe the corner of somebody's blue umbrella on the left).

But almost everybody turned around at the waterfall and went back, not bothering to go up these really beautiful steps.

We climbed the steps and ended up above the waterfall in a sort of cleft between two mountains.

There was a marked loop, but there was also a different trail through a wildlife preserve. We left the loop and headed off into a mossy forest.

It was pretty. The stream ran right next to the path and everything (including us) was covered in a light rain.

Then suddenly the trees just stopped. It was as if they couldn't cross some invisible line. We left the forest and walked out onto the open mountainside.

It was still raining. But it matched the scenery.

The trail went on forever. We hiked over a few hills of the mountain and still the line of the path went on and on into the distance. We could see it on the mountainside far in front of us.

Eventually we turned back. Muckross closes it's gates at 7:00 and charges a 37euro fee if you want to get your car out after they've closed.

Too bad. I would've liked to see where the endless path led.