It's been years since I had a more enjoyable day on the hills. Friday night I was on Facebook chatting to a fellow forum member about some navigation training. Big E, Ed & myself were planning our expedition out, as Big E would be taking part in the Mourne marathon next weekend.
There were five of us in total: Ed, Big E, his partner for the marathon Matthew & my daughter Shannon.
1 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
2 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
We headed towards our starting point – The Tollymore centre in Big E’s somewhat crammed car. Following the trail leading into Tollymore forest we undertook our first task; some pacing & timing, using a timing chart we walked towards a forked turn on the trail, and with around two & half minutes to reach what was part of the Mourneway.
3 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
The weather was over-cast but very humid with the possibility of hill fog & light showers, then some warmer sunny periods towards the evening. Reaching Parallels bridge we stopped to watch stop wild brown trout glide in the current. Taking the trail to the right we accented the path reaching the Boundary wall, which we followed before turning onto what appeared to be an old homestead trek or maybe a trail used by those folk that quarried granite, it was then that bigE had me taking a bearing. Firstly from the direction of travel itself, then transferring it to the map, which I did get on my second attempt, as my compass is a Silva type 4, (military issue) & the bearings are primarily millimetres, not degrees so it took a bit of fiddling around with. The trail we were following contoured around Luke's mountain, passing some large rocky outcrops towards its summit, and as the ground began to level out we could almost taste the coffee & chocolate we were looking forward to!
4 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
hmm not drinking that water
5 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
6 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
7 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
8 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
After at least two brews & more chocolate, we set of again contouring along the trail. After another weather check, we found it to be very "close" with bursts of sunshine coming through, one minute it was put a layer on, the next it was take it off again.
9 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
10 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
11 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
Oh the joys of the Irish climate, every season in an hour! At this point we stared to pass some interesting rock faults jutting out from slieve Corraghs northern facing slope.
P9080057 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
13 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
14 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
15 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
The rock was unlike granite; it was darker, harder, sharper & appeared to be made up of layers. (Like Shrek the ogre) It was at this point that the fitter members of our party took the lead as bigE & Matthew disappeared beyond the crest of the hill towards the pot of Legawherry.
16 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
Interestingly enough I never ascended into the pot before & welcomed the chance to do so. Reaching the crest itself we crossed the boggy ground to some large boulders where we once again availed on some tea & coffee, crisps, chocolates, pineapple & a nice wee lump of Applewood cheese, I had brought .In true "middle- earth " style fashion, we had eaten our fill & now felt ready to continue on.
17 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
18 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
Big E took the lead & it was decided we would contour across Shan slieve’s lower slope towards a crag we had spotted from Luke's mountain. Once again the fitter & more daring folk ascended above the crag whilst Ed, Shannon & myself descended taking the safer, easier route underneath it. Upon reaching the boundary wall we hopped across peat bogs following the wall towards the Spinkwee River. The terrain was very different here, with a mixture of boggy & hard ground, with an abundance of heavy fern & hill grass.
Panorama481 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
17 e by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
17 d by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
Panorama476 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
17 f by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
17b by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
I’ve always wanted to walk along this river, following its twists & coils towards Tollymore. At each turn there were amazing views both up & down the glen. Reaching the lower glen we again stopped to admire a small pasture & bend in the river.
19 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
20 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
rl=http://www.flickr.com/photos/83986410@N07/7957940714/]
[/url]
21 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
It was agreed that this would be an ideal opportunity for one last coffee before setting off one last time towards our final destination. Ed asked me to have a go at starting his stove, whilst he got some water from the river. Turing round I watched as big E & Matthew were dipping their feet into the river.
22 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
27 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
26 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
23 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
24 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
25 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
Armed with a fresh brew the chance to dip my Hobbit feet into the river was too tempting. The sun was now right above us & it was very tranquil looking down the river. I could see bigE slipping & falling into the river. Ah life was good! We must have dipped our hooves for over an hour walking across from pool to pool; even my daughter Shannon joined us throwing off her socks. It's been at nearly twenty years since I walked along a river in my bare feet & it brought back so many childhood memories of chasing trout from pool to pool. Truth be told I can't remember feeling so relaxed in as many a year. Personally I really needed a positive experience like this, to reconnect me to the mountains. My experience lately had somewhat damaged my confidence & I was beginning to feel I had in some way lost the bond that had brought me to the mountains in the first place.
I 'd found a tea bag in my coat so bigE & myself shared it as the guys got packed up. Walking further down the glen we ducked under some low elms & scrambled up the bank towards the fern covered bank beside tollymore. Climbing over the walls we chatted about our adventure & those adventures still to come; there was talk off roasted suckling pigs over campfires & beers chilling in bubbling brooks.
Truthfully we had a fantastic day & as we reached the tollymore centre it again reminded me why I have such a passion for the mountains. We set out earlier that day seeking adventure & had now returned, bursting with amazing memories in an enchanting place...
pot 2 by
jimmysurg, on Flickr
here's some footage from our day out, --
Follow NI-Wild
Author
Topic: Luke's mountain loop (Read 8778 times)