Natural car park, busy weekends

Arrived Sunday in the late afternoon, and the parking area was almost full. Once everyone had left, I parked at the flattest end. Very quiet night. I saw a fox coming and going, perhaps looking for leftover picnic food. Superb hikes nearby. One easy loop takes 1 hour 30 minutes. The one to the lake takes 3 hours: quite steep over the rocks at the end, but magnificent. Only 4 cars on Monday.

Very quiet on a Saturday night, arrived at 8pm and only one other van was there. Most spaces are at a slight slant, but some of the spaces at the end of car park are more or less level. No services or phone signal.

Stayed at the Lough Curra car park last night. Coillte car park is level. No signs to say no overnight parking. Had whole place to myself for about an hour after sunset. But cars kept on coming and going until 3 including a ‘boy racer’ with a modified exhaust. Pair of cars arrived to do a sunrise hike at 4.15. Car park full by 9am. Beautiful hiking options but not a place to get a night’s sleep.

Watch out! Thieves might break into your car! Be very careful.

Saturday night. After sunset the hikers had all gone. A quiet and calm night with no visiting cars etc. However, this parking area is not flat at all and really detracts from the otherwise great spot. This won’t stay on my favourites list, unfortunately.

I parked up on a Friday night just before dark. Luckily, at one end (entrance end) as a couple of cars arrived within minutes of one another quite late and hung around for an hour or so. Then, in the morning, a school of kids and then a coach load of teenagers arrived too. Dogs are not welcome from the signs. Good starting point for the hike, though. There were no services but i could get 4G.