Colin's walk report for Sunday 20th July 2008
Sunday August 2008 12:47 PM
For the
second of our three combined walks with the Dublin
group, we met at the Water Commissioners Gates above
Annalong on one of the few good days so far this
summer to walk over the eastern peaks of the Mournes.
There were 42 of us.
We set off up Rourke’s Park along the eastern side of Annalong Wood towards an old and very long disused cart track which in times past had been used for the transport of granite rocks from the appropriately named Rocky Mountain to the harbour at Annalong. The tracks extend almost to the top of this mountain. There was some amazement on the part of some of our walkers at how far these tracks went up the mountain. The ice age as it had retreated 10000 years ago leaving rocks exposed, making it easy to access the rocks. Many ended up on the streets of Liverpool and other English cities.
It’s quite a steep climb to the summit of Rocky, but the reward is the view from the top as all the High Mournes are in sight with Donard towering over the rest. Rocky has ergonomically shaped rocks for sitting out on, an ideal place for lunch. A pity about the wind then! Dermot from Dublin was getting his troops together for an ascent of Donard, while the rest of us were content to take it easier. Dermot set off with his posse and we could see him disappear along the Mourne Wall as the rest of gathered ourselves together to ascend Chimney Rock Mountain.
From Rocky, you can see why this next mountain got its name. It has a number of big granite tors which look for all the world like chimneys. The vegetation at this time of the year is lush with bilberries (known as blaeberrys in this part of the world) in full berry and the heather and other mountain vegetation in full bloom with a unique combined fragrance. This is quite a steep and sustained climb. When we reached one of the tors it was expedient to rest and shelter behind one of the tors. At the same time we were able to take in the views of all the mountains to the west and the north, in particular Donard towering above us. As we walked towards the summit of the mountain, we got views all round us from Strangford Lough to the North, the Isle of Man to the East and the Wicklow Mountains to the South.
The sun was warm and the wind was more pleasant as we walked towards Blaeberry Mountain. We soon descended the mountain side covered with heather and the blaeberries in full fruit to reach another cart track, Spences River and the Mourne Wall. From here we walked back to the cars via Long and Round Seefin to end a very pleasant days walking. Dermot’s posse were not far behind having climbed Donard, descended to the Saddle and back over the Wall to climb Chimney Rock and back down the same way. They must have been shifting! Some of us went over to the Downshire Arms, Hilltown for evening repast.
We set off up Rourke’s Park along the eastern side of Annalong Wood towards an old and very long disused cart track which in times past had been used for the transport of granite rocks from the appropriately named Rocky Mountain to the harbour at Annalong. The tracks extend almost to the top of this mountain. There was some amazement on the part of some of our walkers at how far these tracks went up the mountain. The ice age as it had retreated 10000 years ago leaving rocks exposed, making it easy to access the rocks. Many ended up on the streets of Liverpool and other English cities.
It’s quite a steep climb to the summit of Rocky, but the reward is the view from the top as all the High Mournes are in sight with Donard towering over the rest. Rocky has ergonomically shaped rocks for sitting out on, an ideal place for lunch. A pity about the wind then! Dermot from Dublin was getting his troops together for an ascent of Donard, while the rest of us were content to take it easier. Dermot set off with his posse and we could see him disappear along the Mourne Wall as the rest of gathered ourselves together to ascend Chimney Rock Mountain.
From Rocky, you can see why this next mountain got its name. It has a number of big granite tors which look for all the world like chimneys. The vegetation at this time of the year is lush with bilberries (known as blaeberrys in this part of the world) in full berry and the heather and other mountain vegetation in full bloom with a unique combined fragrance. This is quite a steep and sustained climb. When we reached one of the tors it was expedient to rest and shelter behind one of the tors. At the same time we were able to take in the views of all the mountains to the west and the north, in particular Donard towering above us. As we walked towards the summit of the mountain, we got views all round us from Strangford Lough to the North, the Isle of Man to the East and the Wicklow Mountains to the South.
The sun was warm and the wind was more pleasant as we walked towards Blaeberry Mountain. We soon descended the mountain side covered with heather and the blaeberries in full fruit to reach another cart track, Spences River and the Mourne Wall. From here we walked back to the cars via Long and Round Seefin to end a very pleasant days walking. Dermot’s posse were not far behind having climbed Donard, descended to the Saddle and back over the Wall to climb Chimney Rock and back down the same way. They must have been shifting! Some of us went over to the Downshire Arms, Hilltown for evening repast.