|
Perfect Winter Walking in the
Mournes
The Mid-Ulster Walking Club began 2008 with a walk on
Slieve Binnian, one of the best-loved peaks in the Mournes. The largest of
the range and, at 747 metres, the third highest, it commands exceptional
views from a mile-long summit ridge adorned with imposing and sometimes
curious tors.
Twenty-one walkers assembled on the southern side of the mountain and
found themselves blessed with a beautiful day, mild and still with clear
blue skies and a clean invigorating air. The little foothill of Wee
Binnian, with its bare granite crown, offered the walkers the early fun of
a brief scramble before the tough final haul up Binnian itself. Patiently
the walkers worked their way upwards, pausing occasionally to rest and
admire the view out to sea across the green stone walled fields of the
Kingdom of Mourne.
Patches of snow had given way to a much more substantial covering by the
time the summit ridge was reached. Continuing north by the summit tor the
walkers pressed on along the ridge and down towards the wrinkled tors of
the Back Castles. With great clarity the High Mournes were now spread out
before them in a wonderful panorama of mountains, valleys, loughs and
rivers. A snow-lined Mourne Wall skimmed from peak to peak along the
horizon.
With snow and icy patches the trek along the summit ridge was proving
rather tricky and even dangerous. But, fortunately, while several walkers
subsided in unseemly heaps, some domino fashion and one extremely
painfully, no one was seriously hurt.
Finally arriving at the bulky North Tor the walkers began a steady descent
all the way down to the top of the dam at the head of the Ben Crom
Reservoir. A flight of some 271 steps then led them down to the base of
the dam and they began the three-mile tramp along the road beside the
Silent Valley reservoir. Its waters were still and quiet as the afternoon
light now began to slowly fade. With a final glance back up the valley to
the mountains, where the conical peak of Doan now provided a proud and
striking centrepiece, the group left the Silent Valley behind and a little
wearily walked the last stretch back to their cars. A very rewarding and
enjoyable day was at an end.
Antrim Hills - Slemish
Circuit 27-01-08
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Mid-Ulster Walkers on Slemish Mountain
Eighteen walkers turned out when the
Mid-Ulster Walking Club travelled to the Antrim Hills in late January
to spend a little time on and around Slemish Mountain. Pleasingly the
group included five very welcome new faces as well as one valued and
sometime absent veteran.
Slemish, rising suddenly above the green fields of the Braid Valley,
is a distinctive and familiar landmark as well as reputedly being
where, for six years of his youth, St. Patrick worked as a shepherd
slave. It was formed as a result of volcanic activity, when magma
seeping to the surface slowly cooled to produce a dome of dolerite
rock.
From an unexpectedly chilly car park on the northwestern side of the
mountain the walkers made the brief but steep climb to the top, where
they paused to admire the view. Slemish is a mere 437 metres high but
it commands sweeping panoramas on all sides, including Lough Neagh and
the Sperrins to the west and the higher Antrim Hills and the coast to
the east and north. Dropping down off Slemish the walkers climbed
again to the top of neighbouring Carrigin. Their next hill, Douglas
Top, now lay just over three kilometres away to the south.
It was a rather overcast day but dry and at intervals the sun would
break through, bringing a grateful warmth and brightness to the
landscape. Underfoot the going was soft, exceedingly so at times, but
the walkers plunged on, finding a firmer footing on occasional
stretches of path or track.
After finally reaching Douglas Top (402 m), the group commenced the
homeward loop of their walk. Approximately four hours after first
setting out, all were back at the cars. It had been a slightly shorter
walk than usual but the pleasant weather, scenic surroundings and good
company had made it a very worthwhile one.
|
|
