Spotted this little flower in the Cooleys today coming around the Foxes Rock on our way back to the car park at the Long Woman’s Grave. Appearances can be deceiving…apparently this delicate looking little plant is carnivorous!!
The light green leaves are in a basal rosette, consisting of several sticky, oblong, almost pointed leaves with their margins rolled inwards. When an insect lands on a leaf it sticks fast, the leaf margins roll in further and the leaf exudes an enzyme that aids digestion of the insect. In this way the plant supplements its diet.
It blooms from May to August and grows on nitrogen deficient bogs, wet rocks and mountain heaths. It is a native plant belonging to the Lentibulariaceae family
Our next walk, this Sunday the 24th of June is Slieve Binnian, at 747m the third highest mountain in Northern Ireland. With some amazing rocky tors situated around the top of the mountain, its well worth the climb and effort to see them!!!
Interestingly a tunnel, built in the late 1940’s underneath the mountain, transports water from the Annalong Valley to the Silent Valley. It took four years to construct, two tunneling teams started from opposite ends, and when they met in the middle they were only two inches off course!
As always we will have two groups out a B and C, routes and pace will vary between the two groups, but all walkers new to our club, must walk with the C group for their first outing with us.
Leaders on every walk have group safety as their number 1 priority we operate a front man / back man policy which must be adhered to at all times. Pace is set by the leaders to suit the group of walkers present on the day and no one should try to push this pace.
Be prepared for all weather conditions, keep an eye on the forecast, but as always the must haves are: proper waterproof deep tread hiking boots, and a waterproof jacket, gaiters and walking poles are always recommended.
Bring a packed lunch and plenty of water.
A bus has been organised, at the moment there are seats available only seats which are paid for are secured, otherwise they are filled on a, “first come, first served” basis on Sunday! The bus will pull out at 10.15 am sharp on Sunday so be on time, we expect both walks to be around 4.5+ hours and with a hours travel time in each direction it will be a long day!
The views over Carlingford Lough should be spectacular on our “Blue Cross Walk”, this Sunday the 26th of April, especially if the current spell of good weather keeps up!
Our B and C Group scouting teams have been out checking routes and both teams report that “a strenuous walk”, is planned, (just what we’ll all need after “Strictly” the night before!) We may have to rename the walk though, as the teams report that the“Blue Cross” has been taken down!!
All walkers should meet at the Gap O’ the North Pub, Jonesboro’ at 10 am for registration and a safety briefing. We will then be driving to our starting point along the Omeath Road, looped walks are planned for both groups.
New walkers are very welcome to come along, a basic level of fitness is all that is needed, (a rough guide is if you can walk from the Courtyard car park to the top of Slieve Gullion and down again in around 3 hours you are fit for our lowest level group, the C Group). Check out the FAQ section of our website www.gaponorth.co.uk for further information.
All walkers must have, walking boots and a water/wind proof jacket, bring a packed lunch. Tea and coffee are available before we set off and a hearty bowl of Mary’s now legendary stew when we return. Both walks will be around 4 hours.
A reminder to all members membership is now due!!!
Happy Easter from all at The Gap O’ the North Hill Walking Club, we hope the weather holds up and you can all get out into the hills tomorrow to roll your eggs.
We are not walking this weekend our next walk is Sunday 12th of April when we will be in the Mournes. Our C group will be taking on Bernagh, whilst the B’s will throw in a few more peaks before catching up with the C’s. Both groups will be out around 4/ 4.5 hours, (add an hours travelling time in each direction).
Hopefully, we will also have a Beginner’s walk if you are interested in joining our Beginner’s Group, on their shorter 2/2.5 hour walk, send us a message either through Facebook or the website, we would like to have around 6 walkers to make it worthwhile.
A bus has been organised price £5 per person, there are still places available and these will be filled on a first come, first served basis, (only payment in full secures a place). There is limited parking in the area we will be walking in and the B Walk in all probability will be a linear walk, with starting and finishing points at some distance a part.
All Groups meet at the Gap O’ the North Pub, Jonesboro, at 10 am for registration, as with all Mournes’ walks please be on time so that we can be on the bus ready to pull out for 10.15!!!
All members please note membership fees are now due if you want to keep your membership number please get your payment in asap!
The view from Slieve Gullion looking towards this Sunday’s, 29th of March walk, Sliabh Breac/Shean/Croslieve Mountain. A local Ring of Gullion walk taking in: the Slieve Breac ridge, the Mass Rock, and then onto the summit of Croslieve.
We will have 2 groups out our B and C Groups, (please notethere we will be no Beginner’s walk this Sunday), we expect both groups to be out for around 3/3.5+ hours. New walkers are most welcome, but must join our C Group for their first walk with us. All walkers must be properly kitted out with walking boots and a water/wind proof jacket, no jeans allowed! Bring a packed lunch. The forecast at the moment is giving light rain for Sunday, but this could change closer to the time.
Meet at the Gap O’ the North, Pub Jonesboro’ for registration and safety briefing at 10 am.
Members please note the Club’s A.G.M will take place on our return on Sunday. All fully paid up members are eligible to attend. Membership is now open for the year 2015-16, application forms will be available on Sunday from the secretary, membership remains £20 or 25 euro for the year.
