The Irish hare Lepus timidus hibernicus is a distinct subspecies of the mountain hares found all over the northern latitudes of the northern hemisphere. All Lepus timidus except hibernicus change their coats of fur to white in winter to match with typical winter conditions of snow at such northerly latitudes. But due to Ireland's mild climate and lack of white snow covering the landscape, the local hares keep a brown coat all winter long - an evolutionary change that makes the Irish hare unique.

I have written about green roads and rural lanes here on Panoramic Ireland before. Here is one from a walk in the Irish countryside earlier this year, 2019: https://panoramicireland.com/blog-ireland-guide/irish-summer-green-rural-lane-trees-exploring

Here, stopping along the back roads of the Irish countryside - in the west we went exploring and photographed one of the most scenic lanes in the country.

The Irish countryside in summer is a fine place, with green in abundance.

Many sights are full, overcrowded with tourists who come to see the famous places such as the Cliffs of Moher and the Giant's Causeway.

Exploring in the Irish countryside can be a fine and rewarding experience.

Here, I found an old stone bridge dating from the 1840s over a small river surrounded by green trees, its stony riverbed shallow with long grasses sculpted by the low summer flow.

We stood in the water here, no need for wellies, to photograph this scene.

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