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.

Ramblers Trip to the Antrim Coast and Glens~~~Day One~~~Cranny Falls and Ballintoy Harbour

Back in 2009 I'd suggested a trip to the coast and glens of Antrim in Northern Ireland.After a recce in March, Recce I found a few interested parties amongst the Wigtownshire Ramblers,so I went ahead organising the trip.
The time has now come and thirteen of us are on the way to Sheep Island Hostel in Ballintoy for four nights.

(Between Scoop,Billy the Honda Kid and myself we took a lot of great pictures.All the pictures shown from this trip will be from one of us.Thanks to the others for allowing me to use them)

It's Monday the 11th of October.
I've checked the minibus over and I'm on the move.
I'll drive today and on the way home.'Cabby' who's got his own wheelchair access taxi firm will do the bulk of the driving.
After picking up all the bus passenger,we meet up with the car and it's five occupants and head for Cairnryan and the boat.
It's a great morning to travel.

Loch Ryan is wonderfully calm as we watch our boat coming in.

We'll have plenty of group pictures as the week goes on.

The notice above this seat states 'It is illegal to throw garbage overboard'.Is this a cryptic message to arguing couples or dysfunctional families.We certainly had a good laugh.
A quiz question in the above picture as well...who's silhouette is that?

The cafe service on the boat wasn't very good,but we weren't too bothered.
I took quite a few pictures on board,but nothing out of the ordinary.


A two hour sailing sees us reaching the port of Larne and we're soon disembarking.

A scenic drive north on the coast road takes us through Ballygalley and Glenarm.Reaching Carnlough we park up for refreshments where some of us eat at the Harbour Lights restaurant.
It's still a beautiful day.

Looks like they're getting ready for halloween in the Harbour Lights.
I've a walk planned here.I've never done it before,but talking to a few locals we learn the route and find it's well waymarked.

We're walking from the harbour to the Cranny Falls.Walk NI

A well defined path takes us up to Gortin Quarry.This is known as the Old Mineral Railway Path as the information board tells us.

It's a nice steady gradient and we're soon investigating the quarry.There are nice views back along the coast.

We soon reach the falls. Certainly worth the walk.I've just done a google image search and find it's been well photographed.

Following Scoop through a small opening in the safety fence got me a dirty shirt,she got a laugh.Spot the difference in the hue and tone of two different cameras on the waterfall.

Time to retrace our steps and continue our journey.
These two ladies aren't part of our group.I just liked the symmetry of the scene.

These two ladies are though and there's not much the matter with their symmetry either.

Back in the vehicles we continue along the coast road detouring round Garron Tower,passing through Waterfoot and Cushendall.

Continuing on over the moors above Cushendun and passing Loughareema, the vanishing lake, we made our way to Ballycastle where we stopped for provisions.

Five more miles gets us to Ballintoy and Sheep Island View.

The view is not only Sheep Island,but Rathlin beyond,and on clearer days Islay and Jura.
Hostel

After we're all settled into our respective rooms and dorms we've still time to take a walk down to Ballintoy Harbour.
Ballintoy
My kids used to love this place.It looks like these grown ups feel the same.

This house is known as Bendhu and it's history can be found here.
Bendhu

The sun's going down quickly,but the views are still magnificent.The high cliffs of Fair Head are standing proud to the east.

We talk to some fishermen.They've arrived this late for the sea bass.It's the best time to catch them we're told.

As the sun goes down on this tranquil setting,I've been talking to a local man about coastal paths.
Tomorrows walk is sorted.
Back up in the village we head for the Fullerton Arms for some splendid fare.Coffee and tea later at the hostel we reflect on the day.
It's gone well.