NICS Ramblers

This page contains photos from 25 September 2011 to date.

CARN, DOAN, SLIEVE LOUGHSHANNAGH 14 JANUARY 2012

On a cool but dry winter's day 15 doughty Ramblers gathered at the Ott/Butter Car Park. We welcomed a new member, Frank McKelvey, who has now given up running marathons to indulge in an alternative form of torture. Led by Steve Dougherty we headed up the track past Ott to the Mourne Wall at the top of Carn Mountain. After a coffee-break, taken in the lee of the wall, we descended to Banns Road and thence to the track around the base of Doan. The scramble up the eastern slope of Doan is always good fun but it seems to get longer every time we do it. We had lunch just over the summit with spectacular views and sheltered from a biting wind. Having made good progress we decided to cross the bog to the Meelbeg saddle and then climb Slieve Loughshannagh on the way back to the car park, by which time the light was just beginning to fade. We had very welcome refreshments in a cosy Maghera Inn in front of a real log fire. Many thanks to Steve for an excellent day out.(thanks to Ivan for the photos and text)

DUNDRUM & MURLOUGH 27 DECEMBER 2011

On a dull but relatively mild winter's day an excellent turn-out of 18 ramblers, including 2 guests from U3A, gathered at Dundrum Castle for the final walk of the year. The route took us past the former Dundrum coal quay, now gentrified with posh apartments, through the sand-dunes of Murlough Nature Reserve out onto the shore-line. The plan was then to walk along the beach back towards Dundrum Bay but a turbulent Spring tide put pay to that idea. Instead we made slow progress along the pebbles that guard the dunes until we found an altogether much more comfortable path back through the Reserve. We finished up by taking a detour past the old mill dam where we were greeted by a family of swans. A very enjoyable breath of air after the festive torpor(thanks to Ivan for the photos and text).

ROCKY, PIGEON, SLIEVEMOUGHAN 10 DECEMBER 2011

Saturday 10 12 11 was a chilly but dry, bright, Winter's day in the Mournes,
which were decorated for the Festive Season with a sprinkling of overnight
snow. Underfoot it was decidedly wet in the boggy areas between the mountains but otherwise the going was reasonably good.
Six intrepid ramblers, including Ivan's son Tim, who usually walks in the Cairngorms, set out from Leitrim Lodge to climb Rocky first of all. We then conquered Pigeon where lunch was taken in the shelter of the wall. The home stretch took in Wee Slievemoughan, a descent to the Windy Gap and back to the car-park. Afternoon tea was taken in Dundrum. Overall a very enjoyable day out prior to the Christmas break.
(Thanks to Ivan for the above description and the photos with the captions, thanks to Richard for the photos without captions)

Helens Bay Sunday 27 November 2011

On a beautiful sunny Autumn day 14 ramblers and 1 dog walked round the shore-line at Helens Bay and Carnalea, and then explored little known paths in Crawfordsburn Glen. It was a trail of two sites and a far far better thing to do. We visited the Grey Point Fort with its collection of heavy guns two of which had a range of six miles and were apparently aimed at Carrickfergus (Good idea !). We also saw the waterfall at the head of Crawfordsburn Glen in full spate following the torrential rain of the previous day. Lunch was enjoyed on the roof of the old boathouse at Carnalea(thanks to Ivan for the photos,captions and text).

WINTER SOCIAL 25 NOVEMBER 2011

About 25 members enjoyed a meal, refreshment and the company at our Winter Social at Carlito's in Botanic. The evening was very enjoyable(what I can remember) and thanks to Kay for the photos.

SEEFINS, ROCKY MOUNTAIN etc 12 NOVEMBER 2011

A small group enjoyed a very pleasant November day walking from Rourke's Park round the Seefins, Chimney Rock and Rocky before finishing back at Rourke's Park. Thanks to Ivan for the photos and captions.

NORTH CYPRUS OCTOBER 2011

A small group from the club joined a Ramblers Holidays trip to North Cyprus. Thanks to Ivan for the photos and captions.

FAIR HEAD/MURLOUGH 25 SEPTEMBER 11

Thanks to Ivan for these photos(and captions) from the Fair Head walk.