Island 360 - Hop Island, Rochestown, County Cork

Hop Island is located on the south side of Lough Mahon half a mile to the west of the village of Rochestown and 5 miles south east of the centre of the City of Cork.  It is linked to the mainland by a causeway and is about 400 metres from north to south by 200 metres from east to west. There are 3 or 4 houses on the island and the Hop Island Horse Riding and Equestrian Centre.  The equestrian centre has both indoor and outdoor arenas and a schooling cross-country course.

I visited at low tide when a lot of rather unattractive mud and flotsam and jetsam was exposed. It isn't the world's most exciting island. I walked up the road as far as the entrance to the equestrian centre.  There were a couple of loose ponies wandering around but thankfully they showed no interest in me.

Here endeth my 2016 island collecting campaign - it started with a goat and ended with a hop!  I managed to visit 58 "new" islands.

Hop Island Causeway at low tide

 

Entrance to Hop Island Equestrian Centre

 

Hop Island Riding and Equestrian Centre

 

House on Hop Island

 

Horses and Riders returning from their ride