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Walkers Dine at the
Robbers’ Table
Gortin Glen Forest Park was
the starting point for the Mid-Ulster Walking Club’s late May outing, a
Sperrin stroll taking in the high ground known as the Robbers Table.
There was another strong turnout, a feature of the year so far, with
some thirty walkers present, pleasingly including many newcomers.
Before the walk began some time was taken to remember Marie Campbell,
whose recent and untimely death had shocked and saddened everyone. She
was held in great affection and esteem by the Club and her absence will
be keenly felt.
From the Forest Car Park the walkers followed the quiet Lisnaharney Road
west, passing the remains of Castleroddy Old National School, before
eventually turning up a good waymarked track leading up onto the western
slopes of Curraghchosaly Mountain.
It was a beautiful day to be out in the hills, bright and clear with a
welcome breeze to offset the heat of a strong sun. The views stretched
out across a landscape of lushly green fields and hedges and down over
village and town. Bright yellow gorse and the blossoming whitethorn
added bursts of additional colour. The high Sperrin peaks above the
Glenelly Valley lay to the north with the hills and mountains of Donegal
rolling away to the west.
Having dropped down the northern side of the mountain a short road
section followed before the group commenced the return climb of their
walk. This led them up onto Ballynatubbrit Mountain and to the Robbers’
Table. In the seventeenth century local ‘rapparees’ are said to have met
at this lonely spot to divide the spoils of their nefarious activities.
A leisurely lunch was taken here before proceeding downhill once again,
enjoying the views a final time before picking up their outward route
for the last two kilometres back to the car park.
Urris Hills 15-06-08 |
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Inishowen on a clear
day(15-06-08)
Seventeen members
from Mid-Ulster Walking Club made the journey
to north Donegal on Sunday 15
June to trek in the Urris Hills. The forecast was for sunny spells, light
winds and excellent visibility-perfect weather for Donegal.
The walkers gathered at picturesque Crummie’s Bay
just below Dunree Head,
and divided themselves into two groups. The
more adventurous team set off immediately on a tough nine mile trek
across the Urris Hills reaching the road at
Mamore Gap, before climbing two higher hills Raghtin
Beg and Raghtin More and finally dropping down at “ The Rusty Nail”
close to Tullagh Bay. The second group left five minutes later to walk
the Urris Hills and finish at
Mamore Gap.
The scenery in Donegal cannot be surpassed on a good day with clear air.
The main group climbed
onto Crockfadda and had a first break to
admire the panoramic view towards the Derryveagh
Mountains to the southwest. The
distinctive outlines of Errigal, the
Aghla’s and Muckish were sharp in the distance
beyond the blue waters of lough Swilly. To the east,
the blades of the turbines on Bulbin Wind
Farm turned slowly and
peacefully.
The group continued across the
rugged switchback landscape of the
Urris Hills climbing and descending one peak
after another. The weather continued mostly
fair, although a couple of light showers with
cold winds drifted across from the north
Atlantic. There are eight hills in this section, the
highest is 417m, but with the other seven of
almost equal height everyone was glad
to reach Mamore Gap for lunch.
Twenty minutes of a break was enough, there were harder and higher hills
to finish. A steady climb to the top of
Mamore Hill was rewarded with
excellent views to the north. Lehan Bay was
an arc of golden sand below, with Dunaff Head
behind and further north.
Raghtin More
( 502m) and
its 4m high cairn of white quartzite lay
ahead. Some of the group climbed Crockmain on
the way, others contoured around it-could
they have been a little older, or a little less fit? The group came
together again at the top of Raghtin More . From here the
coast of Scotland and its islands
were clear across the sea to the east beyond
Tullagh Bay with its graceful semicircle of sandy beach. The
distinctive Paps of Jura could be seen clearly from
here. After a photograph,the final hill, Raghtin Beg was
soon scaled (416m), “The
Rusty Nail” could be seen far below. The rest of the
walk was downwards through some thick heather and bracken before
reaching a track which finished at the road.
Aideen’s group had arrived
earlier. They were enjoying a cup of tea when we
arrived.Time to share experiences of an exhilarating
day in the hills. |
