Pride Walk - Sunday 27th July 2008
Sunday August 2008 12:49 PM
Thanks to
Colin for this walk report:
The day of our annual Pride walk was dry, sunny and warm, encouraging 32 walkers and 3 dogs out for a relaxed walk along the Lagan Valley.
We met at Barnett's Park and set off towards the beautiful setting for the Mary Peters Track and then through the woods to the river bank and the Gilchrist Bridge, just short of the old linen workers village of Edenderry. Time now to pause and describe the history of this village and the now demolished Edenderry House occupied by successive members of the mill owning Russell and Brown families. The village had been built in 1900 to accommodate the workers, but the houses did not have bathrooms, so an arrangement was made that workers and their families could book facilities in the factory!
There is a right of way up the side of the village mission hall on to the fields adjoining the Giants Ring, our destination for lunch below a tree on the side of this interesting prehistoric feature. We must have spent about an hour here. Ken has a new camera, and Geraldine, an experienced photographer, was giving him tips on how to use it.
We returned to the river along the rights of way and Minnowburn Wood. John and Gerry suggested going to “the Secret Garden”. This turned out to be a discarded (and now restored) portion of the grounds of Terrace Hill, built by the linen merchant Robinson family of Robinson and Cleaver. The National Trust have restored it; it is elevated above the Lagan Valley with extensive views all round. It was well worth the detour. We resumed our walk over the Minnowburn and on to Shaws Bridge and ice cream, before walking through the wild flower meadows and woods below Malone House.
We were so lucky with the weather. The company had been great and everyone seemed to have enjoyed the walk.
The day of our annual Pride walk was dry, sunny and warm, encouraging 32 walkers and 3 dogs out for a relaxed walk along the Lagan Valley.
We met at Barnett's Park and set off towards the beautiful setting for the Mary Peters Track and then through the woods to the river bank and the Gilchrist Bridge, just short of the old linen workers village of Edenderry. Time now to pause and describe the history of this village and the now demolished Edenderry House occupied by successive members of the mill owning Russell and Brown families. The village had been built in 1900 to accommodate the workers, but the houses did not have bathrooms, so an arrangement was made that workers and their families could book facilities in the factory!
There is a right of way up the side of the village mission hall on to the fields adjoining the Giants Ring, our destination for lunch below a tree on the side of this interesting prehistoric feature. We must have spent about an hour here. Ken has a new camera, and Geraldine, an experienced photographer, was giving him tips on how to use it.
We returned to the river along the rights of way and Minnowburn Wood. John and Gerry suggested going to “the Secret Garden”. This turned out to be a discarded (and now restored) portion of the grounds of Terrace Hill, built by the linen merchant Robinson family of Robinson and Cleaver. The National Trust have restored it; it is elevated above the Lagan Valley with extensive views all round. It was well worth the detour. We resumed our walk over the Minnowburn and on to Shaws Bridge and ice cream, before walking through the wild flower meadows and woods below Malone House.
We were so lucky with the weather. The company had been great and everyone seemed to have enjoyed the walk.