'Staigue Fort' : Stone Fort
Visit Notes
Sunday, 16th January 2005
This much-restored cashel or stone fort is in an amazing place. Wedged into the heart of a secluded valley with fine views to the south of the Dingle Peninsula it is extremely defendable. The only real approach would be up the vallet, where a deep gorge hampers your approach (there is a foot bridge across the stream now.)
The walls reach a height of 5m or so in some places and have a very distinct batter (i.e. their outer face slopes inwards.) There are no vertical seems in the walls.
Inside ranks of steps line the inner face of the wall in staggered inverted 'V's forming a pleasant pattern. There are two small chambers built into the walls.
Perhaps it was the dull weather, perhaps it was the fact that I was on my own or maybe because I've seen so many pictures of this much visited monument that caused me to be slightly disappointed with it. It is an incredible structure in a fabulous place, but just not my cup of tea.
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Tuesday, 11th August 2009
After recently visiting two very-restored cashels ( Cahergal (County Kerry) & Leacanabuaile (County Kerry)) this site is a bit of a let down. I've been here before, but I must admit that I'd remembered it to be in better condition.
This place is a bit halfway-house, in my opinion. It's not as over-restored as the sites just mentioned, but it's not a haunting ruin, either. The site's location is its saving grace. The views down the valley are terrific.
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About Coordinates Displayed
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This is an explanation of (and a bit of a disclaimer for) the coordinates I provide. Where a GPS figure is given this is the master for all other coordinates. According to my Garmin these are quite accurate. Where there is no GPS figure the 6 figure grid reference is master for the others. This may not be very accurate as it could have come from the OS maps and could have been read by eye. Consequently, all other cordinates are going to have inaccuracies. The calculation of Longitude and Latitude uses an algorithm that is not 100% accurate. The long/lat figures are used as a basis for calculating the UTM & ITM coordinates. Consequently, UTM & ITM coordinates are slightly out. UTM is a global coordinate system - Universal Transverse Mercator - that is at the core of the GPS system. ITM is the new coordinate system - Irish Transverse Mercator - that is more accurate and more GPS friendly than the Irish Grid Reference system. This will be used on the next generation of Irish OS maps. |
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