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 
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.
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.
May Photos added to gallery
Monday June 2008 10:30 PM
Some dramatic
pics on a sunny but really windy day. Lesson learned:
DON'T PEE INTO THE WIND.
April's photos(!)
Monday May 2008 05:59 PM
I've uploaded
some snapshots of out April walk (courtesy of Gareth)
to the Photo Album. See? I can do "motivated".