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Valentia Island in General

Newest Review: ... line every road but walking your senses are assaulted by the colours and scents of a myriad of wild flowers. Honeysuck le, foxgloves, heather and golden furze abound and tumble in and out of blackberries and stone walls. The smell of peat fires wafts from the small white cottages dotted around and the sounds of sheep, cows and birds accompanies you everywhere. My first walk covered the Grotto, the tetrapod track, the lighthouse, Glanleam woods and Knightstown. The Grotto is at the famous slate quarry which was opened in 1816 and provided work on the island. The... more

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Valentia Island in General: Valentia Island - As Far West as You Can Go in Europe (1277 words)
by - written on 15/09/00 (Very useful, 179 readings)
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Valentia Island is a small island located to the south of the 'Ring of Kerry' on the Iveraugh Peninsula in County Kerry. The name Valentia is an English corruption of Beal Inse, which means mouth of the Island but its true name is the far more romantic Oilean Dairbhre, Island of the oaks. Valentia's main claim to fame is that it was the home of the first ever transatlantic cable which was laid in 1857 - the details and history of this may be seen at the heritage centre in Knightstown- but it is also the most westerly point of western Europe and surely deserves a mention simply for its location. The main tourist season in Valentia is short, ... Read the complete review