Gunns Island Co Down

[basloan82]

Hi folks,

has anyone ever ventured over to gunns island off ballyhornan beach in co. dow? just looking at it on google earth and it looks interesting.
wondering who owns it and would they mind? would you be able to wade over at low tide or is it for a wee boat?

[basloan82]

sorry that should be gunns island in the subject box 

[suspectmonkey]

sorry that should be gunns island in the subject box 

Fixed

Never been though!

[basloan82]

cheers!

[spartan00117]

Couldnt find much on tinternet but this link refers to walking across at low tide.  Could be worth a visit though.  

http://www.loughcuan.com/Pages/guns%20island.htm

[basloan82]

was looking at it on google earth for work (im and archaeologist) and there seems to be a crop mark/ intriguing clump of trees about the middle of the island. i was going to try and mingle a site visit with a camp/fish 

[RedLeader]

I'm not sure about Gunn Island. Personally in the absence of signs or fences I tend to assume land is public for walking but I wouldn't camp unless I'd at least checked it out in advance.

What do you do in archaeology? I've always been really interested in archaeology in Northern Ireland. I've spent manys a pleasant afternoon at stone circles and tombs (or "rocks" as the wife likes to call them).

Edit:
On searching further Wikipedia names it as a popular fishing spot suggesting it's public:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballyhornan#Guns_Island

Gun Island on OS 50k

[LandyLiam]

In one of my previous jobs we had to patrol Gunn's Island with a speed boat to stop people walking across at low tide as there were some rare birds nesting there, that was a fun summer    no idea if these birds still nest there though, it was over 20 years ago.

[basloan82]

would hate to be moved on at high tide....more reading up methinks!

Im an archy working for queens for the last few years. i like it as i get to go round and see a bit of the countryside - hope to break in a bit of camping as well. Of course they have me in the office when its nice and sunny.... spent the entire winter up in swatragh freezing my nuts off and digging through the snow - now the suns out and i have to write up the excavation! WHERES THE JUSTICE?! 

[RedLeader]

You'll get no sympathy from those of us riding a desk 12 months a year 
Just like LandyLiam gets no sympathy for having to spend his days tearing around the Mournes in his monster truck

would hate to be moved on at high tide....more reading up methinks!

Im an archy working for queens for the last few years. i like it as i get to go round and see a bit of the countryside - hope to break in a bit of camping as well. Of course they have me in the office when its nice and sunny.... spent the entire winter up in swatragh freezing my nuts off and digging through the snow - now the suns out and i have to write up the excavation! WHERES THE JUSTICE?! 

[basloan82]

hehe spose not when you put it like that

sure we do whatever to pay the bills! sounds like a great job u've got there landylaim!!!!

[LandyLiam]

Just like LandyLiam gets no sympathy for having to spend his days tearing around the Mournes in his monster truck

tis only only a weekend fun thing, not a job unfortunately, and with the price of diesel it doesn't happen too much lately 

[Spud]

Hi folks,

has anyone ever ventured over to gunns island off ballyhornan beach in co. dow? just looking at it on google earth and it looks interesting.
wondering who owns it and would they mind? would you be able to wade over at low tide or is it for a wee boat?

my mum lives just up the road from ballyhornan, you can wade across at a very low tide but the currents can be tricky,  and to be honest there isnt much to see! I think its privately owned,  farmers used to swim cows across to it to graze.  For a wild camp in the area, theres plenty of spots along the coastal path towards ardglass, or up the other direction towards killard/kilclief direction (these are on the ulster way, the wee beach "benderg bay" in the map is a great wee spot)

[Spud]

thats gunns island in the middle on the coast, took this from a hill in my local area

[Spud]

bit off topic, but heres a pic of the mournes from the same spot!