Ramblers Trip to the Antrim Coast and Glens~~~Day Five~~~Carrick-a-Rede to Ballintoy Harbour

It's Friday the 15th of October.We go home today.
We've time for a little walk though.
After we've had breakfast and packed the vehicles, we're out walking through the village heading for the rope bridge.

The Carrick a Rede Lounge and Bar only opened for food at the weekends,hence our patronage of the Fullerton.

Out towards Sheep Island,the sea seems a bit choppy today.We did get to see much of our native Scotland today though.

It's only half a mile or so to the Visitors Centre,and we've arrived ten minutes before the opening time of 10am.

There's information galore all over the internet about the rope bridge.The one I'm putting on here gives you pictures to drag around for 36o degree all round views.
It's pretty impressive.
Virtual Visit

The hunk of rock known as Stackaboy at Larrybane Head,complete with concrete walkway and salmon net winch.

The sign says it's a kilometre to the bridge.Those with their National Trust card don't have to pay a thing.The rest of us have paid our £4.90.They make it less of a challenge with more ropes,and then charge you a fortune.I ask you !
I suppose with the amount of visitors they get nowadays It's justified.

We reach the bridge.
There's a man on duty checking tickets.We're paying his wages too I guess.
Earlier this year a woman visiting the island fell and broke her leg.She had to be rescued by helicopter.

There was also a rescue by the coastguard down below on the Larrybane Cliffs.
A father and his ten year old daughter got stuck about 60 feet up.

The majority of the group have walked over and appear to be enjoying themselves.
We had a good walk around.It was too windy to attempt to get on to the more northerly rocks today.

The last time I was over here,you could walk down to the salmon hut and winch.The steps have been dismantled now...another case of the Health & Safety department taking no chances I suppose.


It's a fantastic place when the puffins are nesting.I've got some old pictures of puffins,but I don't know what the blazes I've done with them.

Time to move on...

...here's another I took earlier.Not so many ropes then eh !

From the bridge,we take the short scenic loop before rejoining the path back to the visitors centre.

Now we head along the cliff walk towards Ballintoy.While some of us are going straight there...

... others take a look at the old quarrying works down the shore.

Here's a passage from the following link.
Importance:
Between Dunnaglea and Larry Bane Bay one of the most complete sequences of the Ulster White Limestone Formation is well exposed. The site includes the type sections for the Boheeshane Chalk, Larry Bane Chalk and Ballintoy Chalk members. The site is therefore of national interest and should be conserved.
Habitas

Now we continue along the cliff top to Ballintoy.
There's some sort of long distance rally taking place today.I think the guy mentioned the 'Scally Rally',don't know if that's right.

In all the times I've visited Ballintoy,I've never really looked at the Bendoo Plug (In the above collage,bottom left picture,it's the dark volcanic mass to the right of the beach),I must take a look next time.

Here's a nice memorial to Billy Yeaman who died on the 26th of June 2008.
I never got around to talking to him.My loss I'm afraid.

The Harbour Cafe Ballintoy, also called Roarks Kitchen, has been run for years by three lovely ladies.The fare is excellent,and a number of us sampled some of their delightful food.
The Ulster Fry that some of us had,would see us right till we got home.

Back up the lane to the hostel we stopped at the Half Door gift shop.I got the above calendar.


We take our last look at the village before heading for the boat.I hope I've timed it right.

A steady run to Larne,and we've timed it almost to perfection.
The boat is about to dock so we aren't hanging about too long.

It's a fairly uneventful crossing.One side of the outside decks are closed due to high winds,but the boat's almost on schedule.

We're almost last off the boat,but everyone gets safely dropped off.We'll nearly all meet up again for tomorrows walk and dinner at Stoneykirk.

I'll drop the Minibus off in the morning and the Stationmaster will give me a lift home.

It seems to have been an enjoyable and successful trip.

Ramblers Trip to the Antrim Coast and Glens~~~Day Three~~~Glenariff and Cushendun

Day Three Wednesday the 13th of October.
After yesterdays walk everyone had a good sleep,a good breakfast and we're ready for more of Antrims delights.
Today we're heading back east.We pile into the vehicles and head to Ballycastle where we stop at a Eurospar for provisions.
There's still no water in the vanishing lake.We continue on through Cushendall and on to Waterfoot where we make for Glenariff Forest Park.
For a virtual tour take a look at Glenariff


The car park attendants box is closed down for the winter.The parking machine is also wrapped up in plastic,so we're parking for free.

The exhibition room is open as is the cafe.Because we're a big group,we're unlikely to see any of the above,so we'll have to make do with these inanimate specimens.

The lady in the cafe tells us she's only open because of a pre-arranged group booking,but she'll stay open if we get back at a reasonable time.That'll do us.

Off we go then.We're doing what is called the 'Scenic' walk.It's a circular 5.5 miles around mature woodland and river gorges.Like yesterday we'll do it in reverse.

A few hundred metres of tarmac back towards the entrance of the Forest park gets us on the trail proper.

It's quite a misty morning down on the coast,so we wont get to see the Mull of Kintyre today.

A disused quarry hopper is investigated.

We're about a mile and a half into the walk following the upper reaches of the Inver river.

This will be as far south as we go.

I've no worries about those in front getting lost.Once they come to a junction they have to stop to make sure of the route.Only I know where we're going ha ha.

This waterfall isn't as spectacular as when it's in spate...

...but it's still perfect for photographs.

Now on the other side of the river we begin a gradual climb where at the highest point we'll be at 260 metres.Waterfoot at the bottom of the glen is still in a haze.

From here we're looking back towards the visitors centre,our start point.

We take a little time out here.We won't be having a lunch break since we're hoping to get back before the cafe closes.


After reaching the highest point we begin to descend,almost doubling back on ourselves by means of lots of steps taking us closer to the river.

We eventually reach the wider track alongside the Inver.We follow this for about a mile before stopping again for this photo opportunity.

Here at the Ess-Na-Crub Waterfall we'll take a coffee break.

It's quite spectacular when in full flow,but it's just as picturesque with a different aspect when the flow is lighter.

Look and listen.

I'm being self indulgent in todays post,there's more of me to come.
Where we are now is just next to Laragh Lodge.I can recommend it.
Laragh Lodge

Now we take the path which follows the Glenariff River upstream.

Of all the trails in the Forest Park,the waterfall trail is the most popular.

And the Ess-Na-Larach has the longest drop.

Is this what's known as a 'Pastiche',or is it just a jumble of pictures.

Here's one of Ess-Na-Larach I took earlier.(Quite some time earlier by the looks of these young ladies.The hut with the coloured windows isn't there anymore girls)

Scoop gets her picture taken.


We continue on up steep steps and past tumbling and swirling water,till finally we leave the river to head back to the visitors centre.

The cafe has stayed open and many of us sample the excellent fare on offer.My soup went down a treat.
Everyone enjoyed the walk.

CUSHENDUN
It's still early as we return to the vehicles,so we'll take a run down to the village of Cushendun on our way home.I've family connections in the village,and it was nice to bump into my niece albeit fleetingly.Anyone visiting the area couldn't ask for nicer accomodation than her holiday apartments close by.
Mullarts Holiday Apartments

The village never changes much,although McBrides has long since ceased to be the smallest pub in Ireland.

The middle left picture above has changed somewhat though.The next picture shows how.
Nice to see a goat along here again.
2008 Visit

These lassies look a little older than they were at Ess-Na-Larach,I wonder were they old enough to visit the Bay Hotel behind them.

The group had a good wander around...

...and some had a look at the tunnels leading to Cave House.

Soon we're on our way again.
After a short stop in Ballycastle for more provisions,we're back at the hostel.
Everyone's going to the Fullerton tonight.

We've a guest for dinner tonight.At the last Newton Stewart Walking Festival,a couple of us met a walker from over here and she's kindly agreed to lead our walking tomorrow.She's involved with the Ballymena Walking for health group and we're delighted she's showing us new pastures.

We're all here.We'll have an enjoyable evening.


I'm not sure if this is the right way to end this post.These are the respective doors to the Ladies and Gents at the Fullerton.


They've certainly capped another enjoyable day.