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Posted by The Walking Sketchbook on November 11, 2017

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Follow my adventures @thewalkingsketchbook on Instagram

On my walk this evening the early purple orchids greeted me amongst the bluebells. The birds were calling and the air was full of scent from the hawthorns in bloom. The wheat field rattled in the wind as I walked by and the sun lit up the opposite side of the valley and pointed my way home. The day is not complete without encouraging a little tree climbing. #thewalkingsketchbook #connectingwithnature #noticethelittlethings #walks #earlypurpleorchid

My wandering brought me to the edge of the River Boyne in County Meath, to Knowth & Newgrange prehistoric tombs settled on a hillside. If you love rock carving, this is the place to come. With only an hour’s tour at each site, my speed sketching with rain was tested to the full. First off was Newgrange, the best known Irish passage tomb surrounded by 97 kerb stones, the most impressive being the highly decorated entrance kerb stone. With the rain I decided to sketch this one from a distance and didn’t stay with the tour. Sometimes choices have to be made when sketching and time is limited. There were many decorated kerb stones around the edge. Onwards to Knowth, and this site blew me away. This site has a great mound and 18 smaller or satellite mounds. The large mound has 127 massive kerbstones, most of which are decorated with Rock Art. In the rain I started sketching one of the large kerb stones to capture the pattern mostly. It was very rushed and I only had 15 minutes this time. I was able to take photographs of all the kerb stones which had a pattern, so I definitely plan to do something with them. It was such an inspiring place to visit, ending our Irish Adventure. This has been the beginnings of new adventures here. #thewalkingsketchbook #newgrange #knowth #sketching #pleinair #ancientrockcarvings #rockart #mixedmedia #irishadventure #ancientsites #sketchingintherain #fieldsketching #watercolor

The Tolkien-like wizardy trees lined the road through Killarney National Park. I’m sure these trees wake at night and move around this fine area. It’s a feast for tree-inspired eyes. The Ladies View provided a spectacular viewpoint and the perfect spot for lunch, whilst listening to the cuckoo. Too busy to sketch here today, but down the mountain and through the enchanted wood, we discovered a nook by the shore of the Upper Lake to sketch. An amazing quiet viewpoint at the waters edge. It was like walking into a film set. I sat on a jet black rock and sketched my view of Rocky islands, mountains and water before me. The cuckoo was still calling and other birds too. A fish plopped in the water and apparently salmon are found here. They would be more welcome to see than the midge visitors who came to see what I was doing. So the bobble hat was back on and my coat zipped up to my chin, as the sun was shinning down on me. So lucky with the weather. I think this spot was in a pocket of good weather as the road showed clues of rain showers Kenmare way, where we discovered the Kenmare Stone Circle, the largest in the South West. However, I still hold Drombeg Stone Circle dear to my heart. Another exciting adventure on the Wild Atlantic Way. #thewalkingsketchbook #discoveringnature #wildatlanticway #killarneynationalpark #ladiesviewkillarney #wildthornewatercolors #carandache #sketching #killarney #pleinair #mixedmedia #exploringireland #exploring #watercolor #kenmarestonecircle #lake

On my adventures along the Wild Atlantic Way, I gathered amazing nature treasures #pockethitchhikers from Goleen on Mizen Head and the Colourful shells from Westcove on the Ring of Kerry. They will be coming homeward bound with me, to create something from our West Coast Adventure. #thewalkingsketchbook #wildatlanticway #pockethitchhikers #discoveringnature #naturestreasures

I’m enchanted by the Ring of Kerry. Ancient forts, beautiful beaches, seascape views and the most incredible cliffs I’ve every seen, the Cliffs of Kerry looking onto Puffin Island. Today my first discovery was West Cove, a beautiful beach with colourful shells spread like bread crumbs waiting for me to discover. Colours everywhere when you start looking, I was in my element. Onwards along the route the view from Derrynane, looking out to Scariff Island was incredible, unfortunately too busy for me to Sketch here today. The Coomakesta Pass delivered another amazing view point. I found a spot on what they call the Hog’s Head, with an accordion-playing man this time. You really couldn’t make it up! I was looking out towards Lamb’s Head, with a lovely collection of islands, which captured my imagination. I had many visitors at this viewpoint, which I’ve discovered pulls me away from my sketch experience. I would prefer to nestle into a nook on a hillside and take in the view. It was the coldest day painting pleinair today. The bobble hat was out, and I was frozen to the spot. Bring back the sunshine. The Cliffs of Kerry before Portmagee were so inspiring and I will hold this dramatic landscape in my mind forever. If you get a chance, add it to your list. #thewalkingsketchbook #ringofkerryireland #coomakestapass #pleinair #mixedmedia #irishadventure #wildthornewatercolors #wildatlanticway #handbookjournalco

It’s been a Dingle adventure day. With a small clamber up a boulder Mountain to see an amazing Glacial Corrie lake, with a spectacular view down the valley on Connors Path. Ancient ogham stones with a secret message and stone beehive huts, like igloos looking out to sea. I found the most amazing sketch spot sat on Slea Head whilst a man above played Irish tunes on his flute to passers by. I sketched Dunmore Head cliffs as it points towards Great Blasket island. Another day, the sun is shining whilst I sketch and my one eye is looking out for whales. Still no whales... A lady asked if she could come over to see what I was doing. She was super impressed I was sat there sketching my view, wishing she could too. I said I really take in a place when I Sketch it, you give it more time and you absorb the landscape before you. Such a stronger connection compared to a click of the camera. The Dingle has so many amazing mountains, sea-scapes, long beaches (Inch) that go on for miles. I feel as though I’ve captured a little of the Dingle in my sketchbook today. . . . #thewalkingsketchbook #pleinair #wildatlanticway #irishadventure #mixedmedia #carandache #wildthornewatercolors #windsorandnewton @wildthorne #handbookjournalco

Wow, I’m in love with the Beara Peninsula. What an Amazing day, Ancient Stone Circles in remote locations where I was taken back to 1000BC, a place to gather and to worship. With the cuckoo and skylarks calling to me. I’ve seen the most incredible geology in Southern Ireland so far. Whilst exploring we went over a mountain top, along a narrow road with stone walls, to reveal an amazing sight before us. We were looking towards Cod’s Head. We had to stop in our tracks. Then whilst sat on top of a glacial stone, placed perfectly for me. I had time to admire and sketch my view, whilst keeping one eye out for whales. I loved how the green fields dropped down to the sea for a drink whilst the roads wiggled across the hillsides. Onwards from here, you can discover amazing rocks. A feast for a geologist’s eyes. To top it off drive from Adrgole to Lauragh along the Healy Pass over the Caha Mountains, where you will enter another world. It’s truly magical. . . . #thewalkingsketchbook @wildthorne #wildthornewatercolors #healypass #wildatlanticway #irishadventure #pleinair #bearapeninsula #mixedmedia #carandache #handbookjournalco #exploringnature #exploring

Hello Sea, Choughs flying out of their cave home and Mr Seal lapping around the coast, looking for breakfast, I’m sure. I’m nestled back on the rocks, a Stonechat is being very chatty. I’m sketching and painting my view towards Toe Head. Oh, what a beautiful view. My new @wildthorne ocean paints are back out and perfect for capturing the seascapes on my travels. The grittiness of the paints, I love. It’s windy, so I’m clamping down my pages with the bull dog clip and making sure my materials don’t blow away. I do love the sea so much. #thewalkingsketchbook #atlanticway #pleinair #painting #irishadventure #carandache #windsorandnewton #handbookjournalco #mixedmedia

The Wild Atlantic Way! This evening I sat on the rocks and breathed in the Irish sea air. Listened to the crashing waves, saw a pair of choughs come out from their sea cave home, to feed. The pink sea thrifts cloaked the cliff tops celebrating my arrival and I marked the occasion by painting my cliff, sea view as the sun was going down. Loving this sea location. #thewalkingsketchbook #wildatlanticway #painting #pleinair #irishadventure #wildthornewatercolors #handbookjournalco #carandache #windsorandnewton

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