Out and about in colourful Newton Stewart

Late October and early November 2010

Having missed my walk with the ramblers at the weekend I took a walk around my town of Newton Stewart.
My plan was to take a few pictures of what was aesthetically pleasing or different to my eye.
Below are the results.

















Added the 4th of November 2010

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 Four~~~Binevenagh,Mussenden Temple,Downhill and Castlerock

It's Thursday the 14th of October 2010,and today we're travelling a little further west.
As I mentioned in the last post,our guest at the Fullerton last night was a lovely lady who a couple of us had met at the Newton Stewart walking festival.
I hope Iris doesn't mind me using her christian name.When I'd told her of our trip over here and asked if she'd like to walk with us,she'd agreed to help me with walks.

Being a baby sitting grandmother,as well as walking and often leading walks with the Ballymena Health group,she's a busy lady.
However today she's all ours,and is taking us over to Downhill and Castlerock west of Coleraine.

She's waiting in her car on the east side of Coleraine and we form a convoy as she takes us round the city and on to Downhill.

We continue on to a parking place on the Leighry road in the Binevenagh Forest for our first walk.

This from Wikipedia.

Binevenagh or Benevenagh (from Irish: Binn Fhoibhne meaning "Foibhne's peak") marks the western extent of the Antrim Plateau formed around 60 million years ago by molten lava. The plateau and steep cliffs extend for over 6 miles across the peninsula of Magilligan and dominating the skyline over the villages of Bellarena, Downhill, Castlerock and Benone beach. The area has been classified as both an Area of Special Scientific Interest and as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

I've had problems with the pronunciation,but finally have it.
It's 'Ben' as in Ben Nevis,followed by 'Even' as in seven,and 'Agh' as in a frustrated outburst.'BENEVENA'

There's a lot of mist around as we begin the walk.We're hopeful of it clearing.
There's a BBC Northern Ireland page called 'Off the beaten track' showing Binevenagh.
It's worth a look.
BBC
There's also a very good comprehensive PDF of teachers notes on a government environment page at
NI.Gov.Uk

We begin by climbing up through the forest.As usual when it comes to climbing I'm near the back.We'll get plenty of mini breaks today.

We're soon a good height up,and when the mist occasionally clears we're looking down on Lough Foyle and over to Donegal.
Below us somewhere is Limavady,and I'd been trying to remember a well known connection.I was back in Scotland before finally remembering.It's where the Londonderry Air originated.There's so much stuff been written about this and the Danny Boy lyrics,that I wont even go into it.

We're still gaining height and although the grass looks long,the path is well defined.There's a lovely church below.

It's a good thing we have Iris leading us today.The mist comes and goes,but when it does clear we get the most fabulous views.

Some of us ignore the warning signs !
Of course on good days, the Ulster Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club take no notice at all.

Below us we see the mouth of the River Roe as it flows into Lough Foyle.

At the viewpoint,photo opportunities are rare,but we make the best of the occasional lift of the mist.

Now we turn away from the cliffs to come to Binevenagh Lake.It's an artificial volume of water created for the fishing.
I like the line in an Explore Northern Ireland page,it says "The fishery can be very exposed in inclement weather and anglers should be appropriately dressed.".This fisherman certainly looks surprised to see us.



It gets a little wetter as we leave the lake.More waterproofs are donned.


A little more gentle climbing gets us to the 385 metres summit...

...while me and the 'Weaver' claim another Flush Bracket.

Forest tracks now take us back to the start point and lunch.
The Honda Kid draws on a rolled up cigarette.He wants to give up he says.

Once we're refreshed we're back in the vehicles and make our way to the north coast and the beach at Castlerock.

A popular place in the summer,but a little quieter at this time of year.We make use of the loos which are open,(Take heed Wigtownshire!) then begin walking westwards.


It's a lovely view behind us.Castlerock has it's own community website at
Coastline Castlerock
It's very informative.

We round the railway tunnels on the Coleraine to Londonderry line.Reportedly the longest railway tunnels in Ireland.
Now we're in the National Trust park of the Downhill Demesne and Mussenden Temple.
The NT are doing weddings here now.
Weddings at Mussenden Temple

What a lovely place this is.

"Suave mari magno, turbantibus aequora ventis, E terra magnum alterius spectare laborem"

"Tis pleasant, safely to behold from shore, The rolling ship, and hear the tempest roar."
Whilst looking for the translation of the above roman text,I was quite amazed at how many different ones there are.


The cameras are fairly clicking now.Just a couple of hundred yards gets us to the ruins of Downhill House.Here's Wikipedias page.
Downhill House

What a great place to take pictures.It's hard to believe that as recent as WW2,this was used as a billet for RAF servicemen and women.

The mist has lifted,but it's still quite overcast as we leave the house...

....we're now looking at the Mausoleum.In 1839 the 'Big Wind' demolished the rotunda and statue on the top.

Now we head for the park entrance.

This apparently has always been known as the Lion Gate entrance.In fact the newly restored cats are Ounces or Snow Leopards.

A short stretch of road walking now.This takes us to the Downhill Forest for a pleasant short circular walk through the woods.Two very large trees were the subject of some discussion as to their species.
I think someone mentioned Spruce.They'd be right since they are Sitca Spruce.We'd have known straight away if Shorty had been with us.

Now directly across the road is the Bishops Gate Gardens.

Such brilliant colours for October.
Is that someone peeking through the bushes ?


Harder to find in the above collage.Bottom left ?...

...here's a close up clue.

What a fabulously colourful spot.It's soon time to move on though,and we'll head along part of Black Glen towards the town.

We get a look into one of the above houses.The owner's busy with interior work,and kindly allows some of the group to look it over.It's a nice spot for a holiday home.

Iris tells us of an apparent suicide around here,that 17 years later, due to a troubled conscience, turns into a murder trial.The delayed trial will start in November 2010.
Getting away with murder must weigh heavy on the mind.
Mind you, the paltry sentences passed by judges these days almost make murder worthwhile.What's happened to our society ?


Now we're back into Castlerock via the Tunnel Brae viewpoint.Even the nicest places suffer though.Wreaths and flowers outside holiday apartments signify another tragedy.
Three bright young men,A-level students from Glengormley High School were enjoying a short break at the seaside.Two of them died tragically from carbon monoxide poisoning.The third although unconscious was found just in time.Fumes leaking into the flat from below were blamed.Such a sad loss of life.


The sun's not quite made it out today,but it's certainly much brighter now.The shoreline's a picture of tranquility.

It's time to say goodbye to Iris. Everyone's had a great time.
We thanks you for a wonderful day,and for the excellent local biscuits which were soon consumed back at the hostel.
We look forward to seeing you again at the walking festival.Keep them healthy in Ballymena.

A quick stop for a bit of shopping in Bushmills gets me this picture of Finn MacCools.Now it's back to Ballintoy.We're all ready to eat.


It's our last night in the Fullerton,and William is on top form seeing to our needs.Above is the beer garden out the back.I'll keep it in mind for the next visit.
Today was another very good day.