Photo Gallery - Ballintoy, Northern Ireland: 31^st Jul - 3^rd Aug 2009 

Photo Gallery - Pics taken by May Trescowthick, Tom Mullen, Ken Gemmell, Christine Taylor, Irene Bruce,

Gordon Stewart, Viv Delmonte
 

EK News Article: Charlie McGrillan   Dramatic and spectacular, those overworked adjectives, were the very words to describe Duncanrig Rambling Club's walking weekend in Northern Ireland based at a hostel in Ballintoy, a village less than a mile from the "As seen on TV" Carrick-a Rede rope bridge over the Atlantic and 10 miles from the Giant's Causeway. After a choppy and delayed crossing from Troon the first stop was the dramatic rope bridge where the most courageous took their unsteady steps onto the swaying wooden base above a chasm over the crashing Atlantic waves to get to Carrick-a-Rede or the "Rock in the Road". This tourist attraction was originally constructed annually to allow salmon fishermen over to set up their nets and the hair-raising crossing was part of their working life. The gusty 40-mile an hour wind added to the exhilaration blowing away any cobwebs from the long day's travelling to set the group up for a lively night's entertainment before their first walk. The 8-mile route from Portstewart to Dunluce Castle via the seaside resort of Portrush along the first section of the Causeway Coast Way followed the rocky coast on a good grassy track lined with banks of harebells and sow thistles past a couple of local golf courses. Pausing to read the information board at Rinagree point gave the ramblers time to enjoy the scenic coast and views west to Donegal. A shower marred the lunch stop at Portrush before the party took on the mile and a half stretch of fine sand of Curran strand to White Rocks beach at its far end, so called because of the huge lumps of chalk at the foot of the beautiful chalk cliffs. A handy ice cream van did brisk business as the walkers left to join a short section of road above the peculiar shapes of the many caves, arches and stacks formed by centuries of erosion. An entertaining talk by a witty guide at Dunluce Castle, the ancient home of the McQuillans, then of the MacDonnells, finished the afternoon leaving plenty of energy which was just as well since the local hotel had the perfect band for dancing and the Duncanrig Ramblers took full advantage of the rhythm and treated the locals to the wildest party seen for many a year.   A bright blue sky greeted the hikers for the spectacular event of the visit to the Giant's Causeway. Primed by a short presentation at the visitor's centre, the hikers spent over an hour down at the shore, then set off on the hike along the clifftops above the rugged inlets and fjords, stopping at every headland to marvel at the vertical columns of basalt beneath their feet. Perfect weather and visibility allowed identification of Islay to the north and Jura behind it while to the east the Mull of Kintyre was close enough to be part of Ireland. From Dunseverick Castle the route descended to the shoreline and the track, now more narrow and uneven past rock eroded into a fantastic variety of strange shapes and caves, led through a natural arch towards the tiny church of St Gobban at Portbraddan. A tricky crossing over rocks, wet with the spray of the breaking rollers, led to the strength-sapping sands of White Park Bay for over a mile only to find that high tide had covered the path so requiring an attempt at climbing the short stretch to reach the other side. Cameras poised, the snappers left disappointed as no-one fell in. The remainder of the walk led past the scenic and popular little harbour at Ballintoy up the last mile of road to the hostel. The alternative walkers returned to Ballintoy and took the coastal path at a more sedate pace as far as White Park Bay where they enjoyed the views and the sunshine before returning via the harbour.   The final day's walking took a party into Glenshesk for a six and a half mile walk on the Moyle Way and the Breen Forest Track while non-walkers had a less tiring day in Ballycastle. Low cloud and heavy mist prevented the guide from pointing out the views of Scotland as the group followed forest tracks and crossed thick peat where one walker temporarily lost a boot stuck in the glaur. All too soon it was time to board the coach and head for Larne and the ferry home to a welcome bed.