The struggle to tame the Mourne Wall

Posted on July 7, 2010 @ 2:29 PM in

Paul O’ Connor makes a second attempt at the famous Mourne Wall Walk. Having learnt some valuable lessons from an initial aborted effort, Paul takes on one of the greatest mountain walks in ireland covering 35km and 3000 metres of ascent.

A wise man once told me that the definition of failure isn’t to fall down; it is not to get back up again. I had waited eight long months to get back up again, a time stretching from August 23rd 2009 to 6:20am on Monday, May 3rd 2010 when I found myself at the foot of the Mourne Mountains and the start of my second attempt at the Mourne Wall Walk.

I suppose you could say that the previous attempt had not gone well…  you would be pretty correct in saying that it had ended in something of abject failure and quite a bit of misery. On that occasion, the Mournes had quite simply chewed us up and spat us out again. We were the proverbial lambs to the slaughter; badly prepared, totally lacking the requisite fitness and arrogantly believing that we could triumph over whatever Nature could throw at us including the forecasted stormy weather.

Those arrogant presumptions were given fuel as we started out from Carrick Little car-park heading towards glistening peaks which were bathing in the warmest of autumnal sunshine. The first part of that particular walk had seen the Mournes effortlessly lull us into a false sense of security, so much so that we’d even had an extended lunch break down by Silent Valley reservoir all the while untroubled by our lack of progress and completely oblivious to the ominous gathering of a melee of dark clouds overhead.

Not even the discovery by one member of the party that he had left half his water supply in the car boot failed to lighten the mood. In our minds, we were Kings of the Mountains and anything that they could throw at us.

The prevailing mood began to change as we struggled up one side of Slievenaglogh and back down the other and by the time we reached the foot of Slieve Muck, the dark clouds had dropped down out of the sky and were rushing and dancing over the ground all around us.

 

 

Enjoying the views on Slieve Binnian during the first attempt

Crossing Silent Valley reservoir on the first attempt

Slieve Muck itself quite simply broke our spirit; our overfilled back-packs combined with a complete lack of visibility meant that each and every step became a mammoth task. It was only due to a now gale force wind at our backs that we managed to get to the top of Muck at all. The scene at the top was akin to Armageddon as menacing black clouds danced impetuously across its flat summit only occasionally giving way to reveal a glimpse of a forlorn looking trig pillar which appeared to be crying out for rescue.

Things went from bad to worse on the crossing from Muck to Carn. The last of the daylight ebbed away and the storm continued to pick up bringing heavy showers of rain with it. Murphy’s Law then kicked in to dictate that the walk spiraled even more in the direction of disaster; the heel of my walking boot splitting open as I tripped over a muddy rock and ended up on my backside.

 

Camped out during the first attempt

We spent a very uncomfortable night camped to one side of the wall taking whatever shelter we could from the raging storm, our tents fiercely battered by the winds and occasionally threatening to pull free from their stakes. The next morning saw the storm still raging leaving us with no option but to abandon the walk. We downheartedly descended off the mountains and spent the long and miserable walk back by road to the car-park at Carrick Little with the bitterest taste of failure in our mouths.

Failure…. Abject Failure! It didn’t sit well with me over the winter months. Spurred on by that failure, I took up jogging and spent much of the winter building up my fitness levels to tackle the Wall again when the weather got better and the days got longer. Several people accused me of succumbing to some kind of mountain-related madness and there was probably more than a bit of substance in those accusations.

And so, at 6:20 am on the morning of May 3rd, I found myself starting out again from Carrick Little car-park on the road to redemption.

This time I had packed light, a pair of Inov8 trail running shoes had been broken in on some shorter walks and on my back was a Camelbak Apline Explorer pack which has an integrated 3 litre hydration reservoir. Instead of doing the walk over two days and having to carry overnight gear, I decided to do it over one long day. The good people at Mapyx Quo had provided me with an electronic copy of the Mournes Maps and their software had proved invaluable in allowing me generate a very detailed route card to download to my GPS. What the route card showed was that the most difficult part of the walk was the initial section as far as Muck by which point almost 50% of the ascent would be complete over just 33% of the distance. Once more, Muck looked like being a focal point in the walk – after that, everything should be a lot simpler!

The walk itself is something of a classic, described by the author Paddy Dillon as ‘one of the greatest mountain walks in Ireland’ and it is hard to disagree with him. The walk covers close on 35 kilometres with a total ascent approaching 3000 metres and the route itself was followed as part of an organized walk which ran annually between 1957 and 1984 only to be cancelled as a result of its own popularity when fears were raised over erosion to the route due to the huge crowds participating.

The wall itself was built between 1904 and 1922 by the Belfast Water Commissioners to enclose the water catchments in the Mournes. Between Carn Mountain and Long Seefin where it is at its stoutest, you can’t help but be impressed by the wall and in awe of the huge effort that must have gone into building it.

 

Heading for Slieve Binnian from Carrick Little

There are a number of places from which to start the walk but I chose the car-park at Carrick Little. From there, a short walk along a track brings you to the wall itself which offers a sure guide almost to the summit of the mighty Slieve Binnian, halting only when it reaches the summit Tor where it is replaced for a stretch by a wire fence. With a height of 747 metres and a height-gain of around 580 metres from the car-park, Binnian represents the perfect pulse-raiser. The summit proper is atop the impressive Tor and you’ll need to grapple with some rock should you wish to reach it. At 7am, I had the summit all to myself but dwelt there just a short while to admire the magnificent views down onto Silent Valley below as well as North-West across to some of the mountains I would climb later in the day including Meelmore, Meelbeg and Loughshannagh.

 

A stile crosses the wall on Slieve Binnian

 

View from Slieve Binnian

 

Looking across to the challenge ahead

The descent down Binnian is over some very steep ground and you need to take care to avoid the slabs immediately below the Summit Tor. The wall passes over the summit of Wee Binnian but this can be bypassed through the notch to the left. The minor summit of Moolieve is next before you lose all of the height you gained by following the wall down to the reservoir at Silent Valley. As I crossed the reservoir and glimpsed up at Slievenaglogh towering over the water, apprehension set in. The stretch from Silent Valley to the summit of Muck had proved troublesome on my last effort albeit in more difficult conditions.

 

The wall running from Slieve Binnian to Wee Binnian. Doan is in the background.

On the far side of the reservoir, turn right at the shelter and follow a track uphill. At the bend, leave this track to follow a vague path uphill through some wet ground and thick vegetation. Cross the fence at the top of this path and follow it up to the wall. This section of the walk is particularly boggy but the wall avoids the worst of the bog by continuing uphill before taking a ninety degree right turn to head for the slopes of Slievenaglogh. Take it from me that you are best advised not to give into the temptation to take a short cut through the bog. The climb up Slievenaglogh is steep in places across some bouldery ground but with a bit of care, a decent path can be picked to the summit of the mountain at 445 metres which is marked by a summit cairn. From the cairn, the path across to Slieve Muck is clearly visible.

 

Summit cairn on Slievenaglogh. Slieve Muck in the background.

Cross the wall to descend Slievenaglogh over some more very steep ground. A track leads from the bottom of the mountain across Banns Road before veering away from the wall to pass through a gap in a subsidiary wall. Veer back towards the wall and follow it up the relentlessly steep and seemingly never-ending slopes of Slieve Muck. There are a couple of points where the ground becomes too steep even for the wall and it gives way to slabs. You will need to steer to the right of these sections.

It was towards the top of Muck that I felt the first slight twinges of cramp in my legs but these were eased somewhat when the steep slopes gave way to gentler ground leading to the trig pillar on the summit plateau. It was a huge relief to reach this point of the walk so early in the day and with already over half the total ascent done, I could now look forward to tackling the sections of the walk which were new to me in the knowledge that most of the hard work was now behind me.

 

Trig Pillar on Slieve Muck. The Cooleys are in the far background.

The section from Muck along Carn, Loughshannagh, Meelbeg and Meelmore is relatively straightforward with the height gain and loss between each mountain being small compared with that between Binnian and Muck. What I hadn’t anticipated was the cramp in my legs that was to arrive sharply and sporadically throughout the rest of the walk particularly during the ascents. The stone lookout tower on the whale-back bulk of Slieve Meelmore is an obvious landmark but the actual summit is marked around 100 metres away by a stone cairn. What is very striking along the stretch from Meelbeg to Meelmore is just how steep the section of the wall running up Slieve Bearnagh is – it really looks a preposterous and impossible angle from certain viewpoints.

 

The impressive bulk of Slieve Meelmore, the steep wall up Bearnagh to the right

The best method of climbing Bearnagh is to keep well to the right of the wall where the incline is somewhat gentler before picking your way upwards. I had by now adapted a pretty erratic zig-zag style of walking uphill, taking four or five lateral steps for each step upwards. By the time I reached the top of Bearnagh, I had adapted something of a ‘Basil Fawlty’ style funny walk and with quite a few people picnicking at the base of Bearnagh’s impressive summit Tor, I decided it would be best not to make an exhibit of myself by attempting to scramble up the rocks to the summit proper.

The wall continues across Bearnagh via a couple of smaller Tors which can be bypassed over a distinct path before dropping down to Hare’s gap. The gap was a hive of activity with people of various nationalities consulting maps and making plans for the day ahead. I on the other hand had the finish line in sight and only had eyes for the last stretch of mountains ahead running from Slievenaglogh across to Ulster’s highest point, Slieve Donard via Slieve Corragh and the mammoth bulk of Slieve Commedagh.

 

Commedagh, Donard and the Brandy Pad from the slopes of Slieve Bearnagh

The steps leading from Hare’s Gap up the initial steep section at the foot of Slievenaglogh were sheer torture and I was glad when a man and his son stopped briefly to discuss the black clouds that were approaching as well as the man’s deep-held physicological fear of Slieve Bearnagh after he had come to an abrupt stop halfway up it’s relentless slopes on a previous assault. I was that busy concentrating on not blowing-up myself that I completely missed the ‘Diamond Rocks’, a crystalline outcrop of granite on the ascent to the summit cairn on Slievenaglogh. By the time I had crossed to the unassuming Slieve Corragh, I reckon I probably looked much like an unwanted extra out of a low-budget 1950’s war-film. Luckily this section of the wall doesn’t attract much walker traffic so my continuous utterances about ‘only 2 more left’ went unheard. The views from Corragh are arguably amongst the best along the walk with Slieve Bearnagh towering over the impressive Ben Crom Reservoir providing a spectacular backdrop.

 

Looking from Slievenaglogh Cairn towards Commedagh

It was on the ascent of Slieve Commedagh that the heavy black clouds finally made their move, streaming across Commedagh before depositing a heavy shower of hailstones over the mountain. Surely, only the mountains can delivery all four seasons within the space of a couple of hours. My pace of ascent had slowed to a crawl up Commedagh and the digits on my GPS counting down the distance to the summit seemed to be moving with the same lethargy as myself. I had now taken on a ‘boom and burst’ method of walking, pushing myself hard for 10 of 15 seconds before stopping for a prolonged rest and to let the now constant cramps in my legs abate. When the lookout tower finally emerged from the clouds at the summit of Commedagh, I only had one more mountain to climb, albeit the highest of the day.

I dropped out of the cloud down to the broad gap between Commedagh and Donard. Again, groups of people were gathered at the gap whilst others were at varying stages of ascending and descending both mountains, those close to the top visible only as tiny dots. Buoyed on by the sight of my last summit, I made good progress upwards stopping occasionally to speak to people taking the ‘tourist trail’ up the mountain including one man in his fifties who lived within sight of Donard but who had only climbed the mountain for the first time that afternoon. Pumped full of adrenaline and delight, he told me that he had proudly phoned his son in Australia from top of Donard to break the news to him. Slieve Donard was the first mountain I ever climbed and I had been taken by the impressive views both out to sea and across the rest of the Mournes. On a clear day, views reputedly stretch to the Wicklow Mountains as well as across to the Isle of Man.

 

Below Slieve Donard, the final major ascent of the day

A ray of light catches the gap between Donard and Commedagh

If I had any feeling of completion when standing beside the huge cairn that marks the summit of Ulster’s at 850 metres, it was very much misplaced. I had not banked on the long and steep descent from the mountain down to and across the Bog of Donard and over to Long Seefin. This stretch of the wall seemed limitless, appearing to my tired mind and malfunctioning legs to stretch off into infinity. After what seemed like an eternity of walking combined with bits of sporadic running, I finally reached the curious little stone tower below Long Seefin at which point the wall loses its epic proportions.

A right turn at the strange tower takes you down the hill where you have a couple of options as to how to complete the walk. I opted to play fair and attempt to follow the course of the wall as closely as I could by following it down across the Annalong River and up the other side. This proved to be a bad choice; what looked like a short last stretch of the walk through Annalong Woods turned out to be something of a nightmare slog. The section of woods I passed through had been felled leaving thick grass and brambles which were knotted into the hidden remnants of the tree felling, all sitting atop uneven and boggy ground. The conditions underfoot and aching legs made for very slow and frustrating progress and it became very disconcerting on the couple of occassions that my legs stopped working completely. It was a feeling of immense relief that greeted the sight of the track leading back to the car-park at Carrick Little, so much so that I broke into a jog back to arrive at the car-park some 10 hours and 43 minutes after I had left.

 

Descending Donard and facing into the long walk back to Carrick Little

Looking back at Slieve Donard from the Bog of Donard

The overriding feeling was one of relief, relief that I was finished, relief that I could sit down for a while and most of all relief that I had laid to rest the ghost of eight months previous. I had hoped to complete the walk in sub 10 hours but the struggle through Annalong Woods on exhausted legs had greatly eaten into my time. Along the 35km, I had fallen out with the wall on numerous occassions as it stood idly by watching dispassionately as I was seized by cramp and rendered immboile. At several stages, I had vowed never to visit it again but deep down I was full of admiration for it and knew that sooner rather than later I’d be back again walking alongside it. Most of all, I spent my time in a state of wonder and amazement at the amount of human effort, sweat and tears that must have been expended in building this amazing, unprobable and magnificent structure.

The walk really is a superb way to experience the Mourne range. The wall itself makes the mountians very accessible and navigation very easy. The circuit of the wall should not however be underestimated, the height gain and section as far as Slieve Muck in particular representing a very tough challenge which requires more than a decent level of fitness.

For me the main thing was not that I had fallen, it was that I had got back up again!

Walk Information
Distance: 35km
Total Ascent: 2800 metres
Maps: OSNI Sheet 29. Mournes Activity Map

Selected Gear Used
Base Layer: Yew Clothing Everywhere Extreme 
Footwear: Inov8 Rocklite trail runners
Backpack: Camelbak Alpine Explorer

Please note: The popularity of the Mourne Wall challenge walk grew so much in the late 80's, early 90's that the route suffered from severe erosion and visitors to the Mournes were encouraged not to walk this route. Nowadays it is once again possible to roll back the years and walk this route in your own small groups (no more than 12 people). However, walkers are asked to be aware of and adhere to the principles of Leave No Trace. Visit www.leavenotraceireland.org for more information.

 

My First Hill Walk: "Binevenagh"

Posted on April 8, 2010 @ 11:10 AM in

by Kieron Gribbon

I remember stepping onto the platform at Castlerock one sunny weekday morning in June 1997.  As the train pulled out of the station to resume its journey towards Derry, I pulled OSNI Sheet 4 out of my rucksack.  It was the beginning of my very first hill walk, and I’d chosen Binevenagh as the day’s main objective.

 

After studying the map for a few minutes, I set off from Castlerock station to follow the coast westwards.  From memory, I was wearing a pair of black combat-style trousers and a rust-coloured Burtons t-shirt.  It was the first time I’d worn walking boots, and I was a little bit worried about getting blisters from them.  The Millet’s price tag had only recently been removed from my new Eurohike rucksack which contained a Peter Storm fleece, waterproof coat and over-trousers.  Lunch was in there too, along with two bottles of water.

 

I was on my own – I didn’t know any other hill walkers back then – but I felt reasonably confident about what lay ahead of me that day.  My fitness levels were adequate for the expedition and my map-reading skills were reasonably good.

The first section of the route passed Mussenden Temple – perched spectacularly on a cliff top overlooking the beaches of northernmost County Derry.  After passing through the nearby ruins of Downhill Palace, I continued along the main road towards the entrance to Downhill strand.  From there, a steep road led upwards to Gortmore viewpoint.

 

By that time it was getting hot, and there wasn’t even a breeze.  The back of my Burtons t-shirt was completed saturated with sweat and stuck to my back each time I removed my rucksack.  I should have invested in one of those “technical” t-shirts I’d seen in Millets when buying my other kit a few days earlier.

At Gortmore viewpoint, I stopped for a while to admire the scenery below.  Comparing the actual landscape to the map in hand, I identified the cliffs of Binevenagh a couple of miles to the south-west.  A faint rumbling sound drew my eyes towards the lower ground beneath the cliffs.  There I spotted the train on its return journey from Derry back towards Belfast via Ireland’s longest straight section of railway – which just happens to cross Ireland’s largest coastal plain.

 

When I arrived at the top of Binevenagh, it was time for lunch.  I ate my sandwiches close to the cliff edge and just admired the view for a while.  To the south-west, the meandering River Roe eventually found its way through crop fields before entering the sea at Lough Foyle.  To the north-west, the Magilligan peninsula stretched out across the mouth of the lough stopping less than a mile short of County Donegal.

Following the cliff top in a north-easterly direction along a grassy path, I descended through the forest to the base of the cliff.  Passing Saint Aidan’s church along the way, I finally arrived at the finish point – Bellarena railway station.  In the distance, perhaps two miles away, the approaching Belfast-bound train was just a dot on the flat horizon.  A few minutes later, it pulled up at the station.  No passengers got off, and I was the only one getting on.

Much of the route I walked that day followed the old Ulster Way, which has since been revised slightly for the new version launched in September 2009.  I’d enjoyed the walk so much that I decided to continue along the Ulster Way to Dungiven – a section I completed over my next two walks that same week.  Although my interest in hill walking has since taken me all over Northern Ireland, and beyond, Binevenagh is still one of my favourite walking locations.

 

Click here for details of the Dungiven to Castlerock section of the Ulster Way.

 

While some people regard hill walking as a never-ending peak-bagging challenge, others see it as a pleasant way to keep fit in the great outdoors.  For most, a view from a cloudless summit is the reward they hope to find at the end of every climb.  To me, hill walking is about all of these things – and more.  Sometimes it’s about the peace and tranquillity of an isolated valley, while other times, it’s about the social experience of being part of a walking club.  Most importantly, it’s about escaping the humdrum of everyday life and getting some fresh air into the lungs.

Top Walking/Picnic Destinations

Posted on February 8, 2010 @ 11:35 AM in

With the spring time just on the horizon I thought I might put forward some suggestions for weekend picnic destinations for all the family. I have tried to include a good mix from country estates to spectacular coastal landscapes. We are very fortunate here in Northern Ireland as we have a plethora of unique natural environments to explore. However, in my humble opinion, these locations should be top of your list!

Castle Coole Estate

This 18th century mansion located on the shores of Lower Lough Erne was designed by James Wyatt and completed in 1798 for the 1st Earl of Belmore. The interior was created by some of the leading craftsmen of the 18th and 19th century. Castle Coole is widely regarded as one of Ireland's finest Neo-classical houses. Beech Wood provides a stunning back drop to the mansion and there is a tranquil walk through this unspoilt wood. The wood was planted around 1709 with a mixed group of beech, oak and scots pine and still has oak trees dating back to the early 18th Century. There are some lovely places to stop here and have a picnic right in the middle of a natural paradise.To learn more about walks around Castle Coole click here...

 

Portmuck Harbour

This harbour bit of a hidden gem at the north eastern tip of Island Magee. The National Trust own and manage the coast on either side of Portmuck harbour and have provided excellent trails for visitors to enjoy the stunning coastal scenery and dramatic views out over to Scotland. This harbour is the perfect spot for a family day out with a number of walking trails to suit walkers of all ages and abilities. To find out about walks in and around Portmuck Harbour, click here

 

Mussenden Temple & Downhill Demesne

The former demesne of Frederick Augustus Hervey, Bishop of Derry and Earl of Bristol (or the Earl Bishop), as he is still affectionately known. His building ventures at Downhill spanned the 1770s to the mid 1780s. They include his house or ‘palace’, the Mussenden Temple, Mausoleum, the walled garden, ice house & dovecote, various fish ponds, massive pillared gates and gate lodges.

The most famous of these is Mussenden Temple and this is a great spot for a picnic perching dramatically on a 120 ft cliff top, high above the Atlantic Ocean on the north-western coast of Northern Ireland. This unique spot offers spectacular views westwards over Downhill Strand towards Magilligan Point and County Donegal and east to Castlerock beach towards Portstewart, Portrush and Fair Head. The temple itself was built in 1785 as a summer library. Its architecture was inspired by the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, near Rome. It is dedicated to the memory of Hervey's cousin Frideswide Mussenden. Click Here for more info...

 

Roe Valley Country Park

Roe Valley Country Park offers a variety of routes along the riverside and through woodland. Combining legend with industrial and natrural heritage the park has great appeal. There is a 7 mile walking trail which circles both banks of River Roe or Red River (from the Irish ‘Abhain Ruadh’). Red River, which originates amidst the peat bogs of the Sperrins Mountains, offering an explanation for its red colour. With the path running through an enchanting oak forest, combining legend with industrial and natural heritage, the park has great appeal. This winter saw the snow settle on the river’s banks but now as spring approaches the park will soon be in full bloom and the perfect spot for a picnic with all the family. Read more about Roe Valley Country Park walks here...

 

Mount Stewart Lake & Gardens

The famous gardens at Mount Stewart were planted in the 1920s by Edith, Lady Londenderry and have been nominated a World Heritage Site. Visitors can walk through magnificent woodlands, viewing the flora and lake, beautiful throughout the entire year.

The lake itself is seven acres in size and was created in the 1840s by Charles, 3rd Marquess, but the surroundings were not landscaped until Edith, Lady Londonderry’s time. Now the banks are planted with Primulas, Irises and other water-loving subjects, as well as the immensely large-leafed Gunneras.

The gardens contain a remarkable variety of species from all over the world such as a fine Californian Redwood and Australian Cordylines. Read more about the walk here...

In 1956, Lady Londonderry handed the gardens over to the care of The National Trust and noted “Gardens are meant to be lived in and enjoyed and I hope they may long continue to be a source of pleasure to those who visit them”. What better way to enjoy these fine surroundings than to dander around the grounds and enjoy a small picnic with your friends and family as you bask in the nature all around.

 

Broughshane Village

Broughshane is known as the Garden Village of Ulster thanks to its summer floral displays. Over 75,000 flowers are planted annually winning the village many national and international awards such as Ulster in Bloom, Britain in Bloom, the European Entente Florale and Nations in Bloom. Beside Broughshane is Little Acorn Wood. This is a 16-acre community woodland developed and managed by the Woodland Trust which has been created along a delightful riverside path. As you walk down this path you would expect to see the Dipper, Heron, Kingfisher, Mallard, Moorhen, Yellow Wagtail and Meadow Brown Butterfly plus a collection of exotic ducks in the pond. This picturesque part of Northern Ireland possesses a real rural community feel and is the perfect spot for a spring picnic. One lovely walk in Broughshane is called Buttermilk Bridge, click here to find out more...

Winter Warmers

Posted on January 7, 2010 @ 12:52 PM in

Ok, so it may be the coldest winter in 30 years but let’s not use that as an excuse to stay indoors. Northern Ireland’s landscape is truly spectacular in the winter, in fact this frosty season provides a near picture perfect backdrop for walking and exploring our natural environment in its raw beauty.

Here are some winter warmer walks on WalkNI.com that really come alive during these winter months.

 

1. Port Path, Co Londonderry – 6.5 miles

The Port Path follows a stretch of scenic coastline between Portstewart and Portrush and can be enjoyed at any time of the year. The winter seascape however is a sight to behold and the with the fresh breeze behind you as you stroll down Portstewart Strand this really is a winter experience not to be missed. Alongside the magnificent offshore views this route also passes by a number of interesting seasonal features such as traditional ice houses; stone built, turf roofed houses where ice was stored in the winter in order to preserve salmon in the summer. For the brave souls who partake in the ritual of a New Year’s swim the route passes Portnahapple, a natural sea pool offering great opportunities for a ‘quick’ outdoor dip. Click here for more details...

 

2. Castle Archdale Country Park, Co. Fermanagh – 5 miles

There is a whole host of history and wildlife on show as you walk around this winter wonderland. There are a variety of walks along the lough shore passing the deer park enclosure, wildfowl ponds, wildflower meadow and butterfly garden. There are also old flying-boat docks, ammunition dumps and slit trenches from World War II. Lough Erne played an important role as the most westerly flying-boat station, from which aircraft protected the allied convoys from the U-Boat threat in the North Atlantic. Winter is a great time of the year to explore this unique setting. Click here for more details...

 

3. Glenariff Forest Park, Co. Antrim – 5.9 miles

Winter creates the perfect backdrop to explore this mature woodland, along the edges of steep sided river gorges with freezing waterfalls and open, frosted moorland. The trail first takes you down the Inver River gorge, to the edge of the Ess-na-Crub Waterfall. Once you cross the river at the bottom of the trail, you begin a long and winding climb offering views of the Glens and of the Mull of Kintyre across the sea. You cross over the upper reaches of the Glenariff river at the top of the trail. At this point you are on the frozen peat moorland. Your way back gives spectacular views straight down the misty Glen to the coast and the sea beyond. Click here for more details...

 

4. Slieve Gullion, Co. Armagh – 9.5 miles

This walk is located within the Ring of Gullion Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Slieve Gullion rises to 573m and is the centrepiece of the volcanic landscape and is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The purples of the heather contrast with the yellow of dwarf gorse and orange of the bracken to create rich mosaics of colours which contrast with the many greens of the agricultural farming landscape. The Ring of Gullion and Slieve Gullion, in particular, have rich associations with Irish legends and myths. In one tale, Finn McCool was bewitched by Miluchra on the summit of Slieve Gullion at the Lough of the Calliagh Bhirra. To this day the superstition survives that if you bathe in the lough your hair will turn white, apt then for a winter walk. Click here for more details...

 

5. Slieve Donard via The Glen River, Co. Down – 5.5 miles

This walk follows a popular route leading to the summit of Slieve Donard (850m), Northern Ireland’s highest peak and is a great winter warmer. From the coastal town of Newcastle the trail ascends through the woods along the Glen River and climbs further to the head of the river valley, high on the slopes below Slieve Donard ad Slieve Commedagh (765m). From here the path continues up to Slieve Donard offering views out towards the Isle of Man, Wicklow, Donegal, Wales and Scotland. Click here for more details...

 

6. The Lagan Towpath, Stranmillis to Sir Thomas & Lady Dixon Park, Co. Down – 6 miles

Arguably, the best time to walk the Lagan Towpath is early on a crisp winter’s morning as the mist hovers just above Belfast’s main river. When sampling this mysterious scenery it is easy to see why C.S Lewis drew so much inspiration from this special place. This section of the Towpath begins in Stranmillis, just minutes from Belfast city centre, taking walkers out along the river and canal system through a variety of wetland, riverside meadows and mixed woodland. After passing through Lagan Meadows and over Shaw’s Bridge this section of the Towpath finishes at Sir Thomas & Lady Dixon Park, one of Belfast’s most popular public parks, renowned for its ornamental gardens and rose trails. Click here for more details...

 

7. Croaghan, Co Antrim – 6.5 miles

Croaghan provides an ideal circular winter stroll rewarding walkers with stunning panoramic views over to Rathlin Island, just off the Antrim coast. At this time of year the walk cuts through blanketed hillsides and crisp forest tracks that hug the perimeter of the snow-coned Breen Forest. Once you’ve completed the walk why not reward yourself with a hot drink in the nearby picturesque port of Cushendun, where you might be lucky enough to catch a traditional Irish music night in one of the local pubs. Click here for more details...

 

8. Roe Valley Country Park, Co. Londonderry – 7 miles

The Roe Valley Country Park offers a variety of routes along the River Roe or Red River (from the Irish ‘Abhain Ruadh’). This 7 mile walking trail circles both banks of Red River, which originates amidst the peat bogs of the Sperrins Mountains, offering an explanation for its red colour. With the path running through an enchanting oak forest, combining legend with industrial and natural heritage, the park has great appeal. Winter sees the snow settle on the river’s banks and as walkers pass through the forest it is only the call of mallard ducks that breaks the silence. In winter, Roe Valley is a truly special place. Click here for more details...

 

9. Robbers Table, Co. Tyrone – 9 miles

This is an excellent off-road, winter hill walk across rolling hills and frosty moorland. The highest point of this route opens up superb views of the Bluestack and Derryveagh Mounatins of Donegal to the west and the High Sperrins to the north east. As the route climbs south over Ballynatubbrit Mountain it passes Robbers Table, the site where supposed local seventeenth century Highwaymen (Rapparees as they were known) met up to divide their spoils after raiding the postal carriages that traversed this upland landscape. Click here for more details...