Capestorm rain jacket attracts cows

The castle at Caherciveen on the Ring of Kerry
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This is an abbreviated version of an article entitled "12 things in 12 days by public transport out of season" by Karen Watkins

The woman in the Information Office in Killarney was very unwelcoming and tried to put me off trying to get to the islands of Skellig Michael, but I decided to go there and try. I had wanted to visit the Skellig Islands, 12km southwest of Co. Kerry but the sea was too rough. They are renowned for their scenery, rich underwater life, early monastic architecture and seabird colonies.The 179km stretch of road known as the Ring of Kerry took my breath away with its impressive mountainous landscape. The route goes around the Macgillicuddy Reeks on the Iveragh Peninsula, with Dingle Bay to the north and Kenmare Bay to the south.

Waterville, the place where Charlie Chaplin lived

Statue of Charlie Chaplin in Waterville on the Ring of Kerry
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I spent the night in Caherciveen having put out the word that I wanted to go to Skellig Michael and in between April showers I  hiked to a castle on a promontory above the lake. The field was full of cows, between me and the castle, so I carefully crossed the sodden turf trying to avoid them. One 'huge bull' took a shine to me and followed me getting far too personal sniffing my bright pink Capestorm rain jacket. I only just made it and hid behind a wall as he tried to find me.

There were no buses from Caherciveen on the southwestern part of the coast, so I hitchhiked. When I was telling the driver of one of the lifts about the cow, he laughed.

"They are hand fed in winter," he said with glee!

Waterville, in Ballinskelligs Bay, is famous as the place where Charlie Chaplin lived and there is a statue of him on the seafront. From here, it was a steep climb to Caherdaniel and the island spotted bay where I noticed cyclists struggling against the wind.