Author: admin

This Sunday 14th of September we will have 3 groups out, all walking on Slieve Gullion.

The preparation for our Away Trip to Kerry continues for B and C Groups with tougher than normal walks planned. Our new Training Group will also be in the area but will have a shorter, more leisurely stroll!!

New walkers are welcome to come join our training group walk, you will need deep tread boots and a waterproof jacket, a packed lunch and a drink. Walking poles are always recommended to save the knees!! Please note all walkers must be over 18.

Meet at 10 am in the Gap Pub Jonesboro’ .

Members please note the following walk Sunday 28th of September is a Mournes walk, Slieve Donard, a bus is organised for B and C Group walkers, the cost is the usual £5 per person, everyone intending to climb Carrantoughill in October should be on this walk.

Money for the bus will be collected this Sunday, 14th of September..

All members please note that a meeting has been called for Wednesday 3rd September at 7.30 pm in the Gap. It is important that as many members as possible attend, to address issues around safety on the mountain.

All our walks this Sunday 31^st of August will be in the Ravensdale area.  B and C Groups can expect a tough new, “Ravensdale Ridge” walk, whilst our new “Beginner’s walk”, will be a much more leisurely affair, on mostly good tracks and lasting about 3 hours. All new walkers are welcome to come along and give it a go, your first walk with us is free, after that if you want to join up membership is a very reasonable £20 for the year!

All walkers should meet at the Gap O’ the North Pub, Jonesboro’ for 10 am. Deep tread walking boots, a waterproof jacket and lunch are a must for all walkers. Gaiters and walking poles are advised for C and B walks.

The training for Carrantuohill in October stepped up a gear yesterday with both C and B Groups completing the Spelga Skyline walk, taking in 6 peaks: Slievenamiskian, Cock Mountain, Pigeon Rock, Slieve Muck, Carn Mountain and last but not least Slievenamuck! In total we climbed about 800 m not quite Carrantuohill but a great achievement for those who haven’t been out on the hills for awhile. Remember Carrantuohill will be more demanding and with only about 6/7 weeks to go, those legs need to take in some serious hills between now and then!

We are on tour this Sunday August 3rd, and are heading to the Causeway Coast, where we will take in 2 stages of the Causeway Coast Way. In all we will walk just over 17 km, from the Causeway Visitor Centre to Ballintoy Harbour.

The Giant’s Causeway is Ireland’s only natural World Heritage site. Some 40,000 hexagonal columns were created here during a period of intense volcanic activity some 60 million years ago and we will be allowing time for everyone to explore these phenomenal features.

Then we will be following the cliff path eastwards along the sea, passing above a series of precipitous coves. The second of these is known as Port na Spaniagh and contains the wreck of the Girona, one of the ships from the ill-fated Spanish Armada. The Girona was one of 24 ships from the 1588 Spanish Armada that were wrecked along the Irish coast. Of the estimated 1300 people on board, less than 10 survived. In the 1960’s a team of divers investigated the wreck and salvaged the greatest haul of Armada treasure ever recovered, which is now on display in Belfast’s Ulster Museum.

Following a  steady descent south-eastwards, we will pass above Port Moon to reach Dunseverick Castle. Little remains of this ancient promontory fort, which is reputed to have been at the end of one of the five roads emanating from Tara. Later St Patrick was to bless the castle, although it was eventually sacked by Vikings and fell into ruin, before being replaced by Dunluce as the local strong hold.

From Dunseverick we will drop onto the rocky shore and turn right towards White Park Bay. Access to the bay is protected by limestone cliffs that rise from a jumble of slippery boulders. At high tide these boulders may be impassable, but if the tide is in our favour then a few minutes of careful boulder hopping will carry us onto the 2 km sweep of golden sand. From here we will walk to Ballintoy Harbour where the bus will pick us up and take us to Ballycastle for dinner at the Marine Hotel.

Everyone with their name on the list for Sunday please note the bus is leaving from the Gap car park at 7.30 am. It will be a long day so bring plenty of snacks along with your normal lunch. Whilst most of the walk is on paths in a couple of places you would need boots. Forecast is for sunshine and showers so bring a waterproof jacket. Any member wishing a place there are 3 left if you get in contact with asap!