Saturday 17 Dec 2011

      12 of us set out from Belfast Castle in blizzard conditions. The weather steadily improved and we were rewarded on top of Cave Hill by glorious sunshine and gleaming snow. We took a detour to the north to Collinward aerial to a view of Slieve Mish and the snow-covered hill of Scotland before dropping down. 
      The backtracked through deeper snow (with a few wire covered fences to challenge us) to MacArt's fort and then dropped out of the snow and back on the mud again. We got back to cars within 3 hours to find that the castle cafe was full - but that wasnt enough to dampen our spirits.

      Gerard

Saturday 12 Nov 2011
and
Saturday 19th Nov 2011

Hi folks
       I just thought that I'd send a short walk report for the past two Saturdays (it's a way of avoiding doing what I should be doing!!).
       On Saturday 12 Nov Davy Wiggins led around 15 walkers from a sunny and busy Kilbroney Park, Rostrevor up the tracks through Fiddlers Green and to the Cloughmore Stone - sentinel to Carlingford Lough and it's environs. The views were clear and pleasant all around. We took a route up along the side of Slieve Meen and had a pleasant lunch at the summit of Slieve Martin. We then left the sunshine and views for the darkness of the trees in the nearby Rowans - eventually coming onto the tracks that lead us back to the still busy Kilbroney Park. The little cafe had a good stock of drinks and eateries to end our walk on. 
      On Saturday 19th Nov Leslie Gregg led around 15 walkers who met at the entrance to Dunnywater Forest and ascended Round Seefin and Long Seefin before immersing ourselves in the mist!! We crossed Spences river and climbed Blaeberry Mountain and lunched on top of Chimney. Although quite a 
thick mist enveloped us and it was quite windy on the top, we found a sheltered spot and during the entire walk, it was never cold. We descened to the Bog of Donard and along the Brandy Pad for a while before turning south, along the top of the Annalong Buttress until we reached Hares Castle, shortly after which we descended again from the mist and made our way finally along the tarmaced road of Dunnywater Wood and back to our starting point.
Two very different Saturdays and two enjoyable walks. Thanks to both our leaders - Davy and Leslie.
      (oh well... now back to what I should be doing!!!). nigel

Saturday 11th June 2011
Cushendun to Ballycastle

      Nine of us joined Jack on his walk from Cushendun, meeting in the carpark there under the threat of a shower. The forecast for the day was mixed with the chance of at least one good soaking - but as luck would have it, after that first soft shower, we never encountered rain afterwards and indeed the day was bright and sunny and with fresh breezes and magnificent views along the north coast and to the western side of Scotland, we have a fantastic day and made great time but still had great lunch stops with breathtaking views of sail boats and bays, buzzards and the sheer drops of Fairhead and it's rock-climbing worshippers.
      It was still a long trek from the top of Fairhead to Ballycastle itself, but we were there in plenty of time for the fish supper.

An enjoyable walk for all - Thanks Jack.

Saturday 4th June 2011
Glens of Antrim

      A group of 16 inmates, selected for their apparently previous good behaviour, were released on licence for the day and met up at the village of Cargan.
      It quickly became apparent that they did not understand that they were not there to enjoy themselves (see photos). All failed to take the exercise with appropriate seriousness. This was evidenced by the whoops of laughter (guess who!), the telling of jokes and conversational references to ‘women on the verge....’,as we walked along the side of the road.
      We left Cargan and headed down towards the Dungonnell dam with the road taking us through green pastures populated with multitudinous sheep and lambs.
      We took a coffee break beside the still(ish) waters of the dam before heading down Glenravel to the Glenariff forest park. Our route took us past banks of buttercups, daisies and as the road meandered through marshier terrain, plenty of bog cotton  and bull rushes were to be seen. The soundtrack was provided by the wide variety of birds in the area, including the increasingly rare skylark.
      We walked through Glenariff forest and had lunch there before exiting on to the A43 road. It was then down the road and back into the forest park for a visit to the Teahouse for tea, coffee ice-creams, lemon meringues etc.
      The last leg of the hike took us through Parkmore forest and along the rarely used Skerry Road East with its views of expansive, broad sunny uplands. Having walked some 13 miles we returned to the carpark at Cargan. Six inmates stopped off at the local pub for a cool libation.
      Finally, I have to report a medical emergency. Teresa cut her hand on a thorn from a fallen tree. The Spartan field surgical team moved in swiftly to deal with the incident. Anaesthetist, Elaine, administered 
laughing gas to the patient whilst surgical registrar, Barbara, used antiseptic wipes to cleanse the wound. Surgical lead, moi, then applied a sticking plaster.
      Although Teresa made a rapid recovery, she was threatening to consult her solicitors, Sue, Grabbit and Runne, specialists in compensation litigation.
 
Kind regards,
Eamonn.

Saturday 19th February 2011
Mournes

      The heavy rain from Friday night was moving off towards the east as we drove to the mournes and witnessed the cloud lifting from the hills on our arrival at Trassey carpark, the starting point of todays walk. Peter had a group of 24 in total.
      We took the Trassey track towards the Hares Gap turning off below the quarry and heading to the gap between Bearnagh and Meelmore. The day was warming up with blue skies and white clouds above and evidence of the overnight rains in the glistening rock faces of Spellack and the gushing noise of the nearby river. 
      After a rest at the gap we walked below Bearnagh and then turned in the direction of Ben Crom. It was a walk over the peat hacks and a river crossing before climbing the slopes of Ben Crom and lunching on the summit with 
a wonderful view all around. Binnian accross the dam to the south, Doan to the west and Bearnagh to the north.
      Our return walk was accross to the gap between Meelbeg and Meelmore and down the 
Happy Valley and along the wall to our starting point. Refreshment in the Meelmore Lodge sent us on our way home. 

Thanks, Peter.