Pride Walk Report Sunday 26th July 2009: Lagan Valley and the Giants Ring
Monday August 2009 09:42 PM
It was with
some relief that a wet morning had given way to a
warm and mostly sunny afternoon for our annual Pride
walk. This time we were walking in aid of Diabetes UK
and the Belfast Volunteer Group in support of the
charity chaired by Clara Adams, Brian’s mum had
provided lunch for us 20 minutes into our walk.
20 of us, soon to be joined by Claire of the Pride Committee, set off from Malone House, past Shaw’s Bridge into Clement Wilson Park and along the Burmah Road to reach New Forge and the offices of Diabetes UK for a lovely lunch provided by Mrs Adams and her volunteers. Many of their volunteers and their families joined us in the lunch preceded by a few words of welcome from Mrs Adams and thanks from Colin, our secretary. Everyone was so comfortable that it was hard to call “time”! The sun was out and after a group photograph, we walked over the Lagan to the Lock Keeper’s Cottage and Lock No3 which is in the process of restoration. Following a short section of the old disused canal, we soon reached Shaw’s Bridge, continuing by the side of the river to cross the Minnowburn. A new path has been opened which enables walkers to access the secret garden of the Robinsons (Robinson & Cleaver) not far from the house they built at Terrace Hill. This garden became “detached”, maybe “lost” at some stage, and the National Trust have taken it over and replanted it. The view from here is lovely with Malone House and The Weir, another house belonging to a linen baron, in the mid distance and the Belfast Hills in the distance: another photo opportunity among many that day. There were pleas to tarry a little longer! We were soon descending “Freddy’s Steps”, constructed by Fred Russell, a mill owner and owner of the previous house on the site of the present one.
As we walked through Minnowburn Wood, the sky was getting darker, and sure enough, the rain came down, but only for a short time, thus permitting us to walk along various rights of way to reach the Giants Ring. This was a sheltered spot for our picnic, and with the sun out, no-one was in a rush to move on, and David was heard to snore!
We retraced our steps to walk over the fields to the mill village of Edenderry, now a fashionable and convenient place to live. The mill has gone and so has the mill owner’s great mansion to be replaced by modern housing.
We soon reached the Gilchrist Bridge, named in honour of the first Chairman of the Lagan Valley Regional Park, and for the first time walked along the tow path on the other side of the river, veering off to join the path up to the Mary Peter’s Track, and Barnetts Park.
It had been a very enjoyable walk with £365 raised for this year’s good cause, Diabetes UK.
Thanks to Brian for the idea, and for the opportunity to put our feet to a profitable cause!
Thanks to all our sponsors and to our walkers for making this such a successful Pride event!
20 of us, soon to be joined by Claire of the Pride Committee, set off from Malone House, past Shaw’s Bridge into Clement Wilson Park and along the Burmah Road to reach New Forge and the offices of Diabetes UK for a lovely lunch provided by Mrs Adams and her volunteers. Many of their volunteers and their families joined us in the lunch preceded by a few words of welcome from Mrs Adams and thanks from Colin, our secretary. Everyone was so comfortable that it was hard to call “time”! The sun was out and after a group photograph, we walked over the Lagan to the Lock Keeper’s Cottage and Lock No3 which is in the process of restoration. Following a short section of the old disused canal, we soon reached Shaw’s Bridge, continuing by the side of the river to cross the Minnowburn. A new path has been opened which enables walkers to access the secret garden of the Robinsons (Robinson & Cleaver) not far from the house they built at Terrace Hill. This garden became “detached”, maybe “lost” at some stage, and the National Trust have taken it over and replanted it. The view from here is lovely with Malone House and The Weir, another house belonging to a linen baron, in the mid distance and the Belfast Hills in the distance: another photo opportunity among many that day. There were pleas to tarry a little longer! We were soon descending “Freddy’s Steps”, constructed by Fred Russell, a mill owner and owner of the previous house on the site of the present one.
As we walked through Minnowburn Wood, the sky was getting darker, and sure enough, the rain came down, but only for a short time, thus permitting us to walk along various rights of way to reach the Giants Ring. This was a sheltered spot for our picnic, and with the sun out, no-one was in a rush to move on, and David was heard to snore!
We retraced our steps to walk over the fields to the mill village of Edenderry, now a fashionable and convenient place to live. The mill has gone and so has the mill owner’s great mansion to be replaced by modern housing.
We soon reached the Gilchrist Bridge, named in honour of the first Chairman of the Lagan Valley Regional Park, and for the first time walked along the tow path on the other side of the river, veering off to join the path up to the Mary Peter’s Track, and Barnetts Park.
It had been a very enjoyable walk with £365 raised for this year’s good cause, Diabetes UK.
Thanks to Brian for the idea, and for the opportunity to put our feet to a profitable cause!
Thanks to all our sponsors and to our walkers for making this such a successful Pride event!