Spelga to Slievenamiskan, Cock and Hen Mountain (and Pigeon Rock)
Sunday April 2010 01:37 PM
Eighteen of us,
including several newcomers, met at the Spelga Dam car
park on a very warm spring day. As David had planned
two walks, both linear, cars were shifted about to the
two final destinations. Then it was all go!
We walked down past the dam following the River Bann as it tumbled down the valley below, and crossed a bridge to climb the only steep ascent of the day, Slievenamiskan, which roughly translated means, “Butter Container Mountain”, a reference to the storing of butter in the coolness of mountain when the Deer's Meadows below were used for summer cattle grazing. At the top of Slievenamiskan, we paused to admire the views all round and take on water before making the short and easy ascent to the first of the twin summits of Cock Mountain. This mountain has flat granite rocks on which to sit or bask. It was a perfect place for our lunch break and to get to know our new walkers.
To the north below us was Hen Mountain with its four giant tors; to the East, Spelga Dam and the head of the Bann; to the south, Pigeon Rock, Slievemochanmore and the distinctive steep slopes of Eagle Mountain. Many of these mountains have been named after birds, Eagle, Pigeon, Cock and Hen. Most of us walked the short distance to the second summit. Incidentally, without being too crude, the two summits with their cairns on top look like a woman’s breasts when viewed from the foot of the mountain. We descended the north slopes of Cock to reach the foot of Hen. It’s an easy climb on to this mountain and to explore its great tors. The sun was beating down on them and it was tempting to linger, but David was determined that we should clamber over the other tors.
David was now ready for something tougher, and about half of our company left with him to walk up the Rowan Tree Valley to the foot of Pigeon Rock Mountain and back toward the source of the Bann while Colin lead the rest down the track from the Batt Estate to the cars.
This had been a most enjoyable day, made so much better by the perfect conditions and the great company.
We walked down past the dam following the River Bann as it tumbled down the valley below, and crossed a bridge to climb the only steep ascent of the day, Slievenamiskan, which roughly translated means, “Butter Container Mountain”, a reference to the storing of butter in the coolness of mountain when the Deer's Meadows below were used for summer cattle grazing. At the top of Slievenamiskan, we paused to admire the views all round and take on water before making the short and easy ascent to the first of the twin summits of Cock Mountain. This mountain has flat granite rocks on which to sit or bask. It was a perfect place for our lunch break and to get to know our new walkers.
To the north below us was Hen Mountain with its four giant tors; to the East, Spelga Dam and the head of the Bann; to the south, Pigeon Rock, Slievemochanmore and the distinctive steep slopes of Eagle Mountain. Many of these mountains have been named after birds, Eagle, Pigeon, Cock and Hen. Most of us walked the short distance to the second summit. Incidentally, without being too crude, the two summits with their cairns on top look like a woman’s breasts when viewed from the foot of the mountain. We descended the north slopes of Cock to reach the foot of Hen. It’s an easy climb on to this mountain and to explore its great tors. The sun was beating down on them and it was tempting to linger, but David was determined that we should clamber over the other tors.
David was now ready for something tougher, and about half of our company left with him to walk up the Rowan Tree Valley to the foot of Pigeon Rock Mountain and back toward the source of the Bann while Colin lead the rest down the track from the Batt Estate to the cars.
This had been a most enjoyable day, made so much better by the perfect conditions and the great company.
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!
“Now you see them, now you don’t”
Sunday July 2009 02:15 PM
Walk
Report – Sun 28th
Jun 2009.
Commedagh and the Castles
After all the promises of peerless skies, the day, though warm and humid, began with low cloud, shrouding even the forest at Donard Park. I’m always on the lookout when I reach Temple, for there one gets the first glimpse of the Mournes; on this day there was no sign of them!
11 of us gathered at Donard Park to start the ascent to the Saddle through Donard Park along the side of the Glen River. It seemed to take very little time to reach the Saddle through a thick mist with the occasional period of drizzle. Once up at the Saddle, the day started to get brighter, and our lunch break there meant that once we were ready to start walking again, we had made up our minds to take advantage of the improving conditions to do the longer planned walk along the Brandy Pad below the Commedagh Castles to reach the Devil’s Coachroad on Slieve Beg. A debate between David and Ian on whether to descend the Coachroad, ended with a decision not to, wise in view of the slippery conditions.
The conditions were improving all the while; one minute you would see the Castles, the next minute not! The tors on Bearnagh would suddenly appear unexpectantly and just as quickly disappear again.
Soon we were climbing Commedagh to get a view of the Castles from above, having already viewed them from below on our way along the Brandy Pad. This is an easy mountain to climb, a good 400ft lower than Donard with gentler slopes. From the Saddle, it can be climbed within 20 minutes, but we were rather circumnavigating it. Once at the top, some of us went down to the spring just below the summit to refill bottles with clear cold water. After a break, we were off over the wall beside the summit hut to walk the short distance to the real summit, and then down to the carpark, crossing Shanslieve and Slievenmaddy on the way.
Commedagh and the Castles
After all the promises of peerless skies, the day, though warm and humid, began with low cloud, shrouding even the forest at Donard Park. I’m always on the lookout when I reach Temple, for there one gets the first glimpse of the Mournes; on this day there was no sign of them!
11 of us gathered at Donard Park to start the ascent to the Saddle through Donard Park along the side of the Glen River. It seemed to take very little time to reach the Saddle through a thick mist with the occasional period of drizzle. Once up at the Saddle, the day started to get brighter, and our lunch break there meant that once we were ready to start walking again, we had made up our minds to take advantage of the improving conditions to do the longer planned walk along the Brandy Pad below the Commedagh Castles to reach the Devil’s Coachroad on Slieve Beg. A debate between David and Ian on whether to descend the Coachroad, ended with a decision not to, wise in view of the slippery conditions.
The conditions were improving all the while; one minute you would see the Castles, the next minute not! The tors on Bearnagh would suddenly appear unexpectantly and just as quickly disappear again.
Soon we were climbing Commedagh to get a view of the Castles from above, having already viewed them from below on our way along the Brandy Pad. This is an easy mountain to climb, a good 400ft lower than Donard with gentler slopes. From the Saddle, it can be climbed within 20 minutes, but we were rather circumnavigating it. Once at the top, some of us went down to the spring just below the summit to refill bottles with clear cold water. After a break, we were off over the wall beside the summit hut to walk the short distance to the real summit, and then down to the carpark, crossing Shanslieve and Slievenmaddy on the way.
Update Coming Soon
Saturday January 2009 08:17 PM
I aim to have
all the walk reports and a selection of the photographs
that have been sent to me published on the site in the
very near future. Watch this space!
iP
iP
New Photos Added
Sunday August 2008 12:54 PM
I'm in the
process of adding the Pride Walk photographs to the
album - should be in place in a few minutes 