LLYN ALWEN and LLYN BRENIG.21-6-12.

The plan for today was to walk up Snowdon with Glyno for the sunrise on the summer soltice but heavy rain coupled with low cloud scuppered that walk so a few phone calls later i arranged a walk with Clive with no real plans on what or where to walk.Driving along the A5 none of the mountain tops were clear so i suggested a walk around Llyn Brenig and so we turned in Cerrigydruidion and parked by the visitor centre.Whilst Clive was getting changed i walked over to the notice board to check out the mileage of the Llyn Alwen and Brenig circular walk,it was 14 miles as opposed to the 10 mile Llyn Brenig walk so i asked him if he fancied walking around both lakes and he said yes.Leaving the visitor centre car park we walked to Brenig's dam and turned right away from the lake and up to the B4501 which we crossed and followed the markers through the pine forest.

50 minutes later we had reached the dam at Llyn Alwen.

We crossed the dam and walked anti-clockwise around the lake.I was hoping it was going to brighten up but the skies stayed leaden all day.The path has had a lovely new surface recently layed on this side of the lake.We left the tree's and the path went steeply up on the lower flanks of Mwdwl-eithin and we got our first glimpse of the wooden bridge across the far end of the lake.Crossing it i was amazed at the lichen that was growing on it.

Walking up to the lonely house of Pen-y-ffrith the markers were not clear,i didn't know wether to go straight on or turn right.We turned right and walked about half a mile and didn't see any markers so i decided to turn around and retrace our steps back to the house.Here we turned right and immediately hit upon the markers again,i wish there was one at the last junction.We followed this rough track all the way to the B4501 which we then crossed again and continued to Gors-Maen-llwyd where we had a break.Our path now turned away from the road and headed to Llyn Brenig and we soon reached the Ring Cairn.

Continuing past Hafodty Sion Llwyd we entered the trees for the last time only for a short stretch and when out of them we saw Brenig's dam.

It started to rain lightly so we picked the pace up and hurried back to the car as the rain was getting heavier.This cracking circuit was 15 mile long,with our little detour,with 400 feet of ascent.

MILES WALKED     288
ASCENT                   69,100
TOPS                         65.

MOURNE TRAIL.13-6-13.

June 13th,my 52nd birthday and our last full day in Northern Ireland before we head home early tomorrow.I decided on a coastal walk doing part of the Mourne Trail from Clough to Newcastle.We took the bus to Clough and got off near it's ruined castle.

We followed the busy,pathless Blackstaff Road and picked up the quieter Ardilea Road which led us to the disused railway line which we picked up.

We turned right and headed for the village of Dundrum following the railway line all the way.

In Dundrum we stopped for tea and scones before leaving the village via the Downshire Bridge.

We now followed the coast around the National Trust owned Murlough Nature Reserve on quite firm sand thankfully.Below,looking across to Dundrum.

Keeping the sand dunes on our right we now had a long walk along the sandy beach back into Newcastle.

The length of this walk was 9 miles with 300 feet of ascent.

MILES WALKED  273
ASCENT                68,700
TOPS                      65.

SLIEVE MEELBEG and SLIEVE MEELMORE.12-6-12.

Julie needed to rest her feet so i went to bag 2 more mountains on my own.Parking in one of the small car parks on the Trassey Road i followed a tributary of the Shimna River for a short way crossing the Mourne Way and then the Ulster Way and followed a faint path steeply up the northern side of Slieve Meelbeg.Although overcast it was warm and as i gained height the views started to open up all around me.

Below is Fofanny Dam below Butter Mountain.

Spelga Dam and Cock Mountain.

As i neared the summit i got my first glimpse of the impressive looking Slieve Bearnagh and the Mourne Wall.

Slieve Meelbeg's north side was grassy all the way up until the last 100 feet where it turned very stony.The wall was reached and followed up to the summit and it's marvellous views.

Below is a close up of Carlingford Lough and The Republic of Ireland.

I followed the wall east now on route to Slieve Meelmore and got a glimpse of Silent Valley and it's reservoir.

Slieve Bearnagh through a hole in the wall.

The wall was followed all the wall to the summit of Slieve Meelmore and it's watch tower.

Descending down the grassy north side of the mountain at first before going west to pick up a track which took me back to the car park as the weather was improving all the time.

5 mile walked today with 2,000 feet of ascent.

MILEAGE WALKED   264

ASCENT                      68,400

TOPS                            65.

SLIEVE DONARD,NORTHERN IRELAND.11-4-12.

Holidaying in Northern Ireland in the coastal town of Newcastle at the foot of the Mourne Mountains and with the weather being sunny and very hot me and Julie set off to walk the highest mountain in Northern Ireland,Slieve Donard.Below is Slieve Donard,centre,pictured from our accommodation.

I parked our hire car in Donard Park and we set off following the Glen River upstream through the Donard Forest.At first to the right of the river and after crossing Donard Bridge the path crosses over to the left .

We gained height quickly as it is a steep path and passed many waterfalls with deep pools with looked very inviting,as we were sweating a lot i said "im going in one of these pools on the way down".After 1 mile we crossed to the right side of the river and eventually reached the top of the forest.

The path passes the ice house on the opposite bank.

It got a little cloudy which was a relief as it was boiling hot and we stopped for a break here and to get into our shorts.Carrying on we now headed for the col between Slieve Donard and Slieve Commedagh.

Every couple of hundred feet we both straddled the river and washed our faces with the cold water,i was now having second thoughts about having a dip in the rock pool on the way down.We eventually topped out at the col where we got our first glimpse of the famous Mourne Wall.

Turning left we only had a half mile walk to the summit but we had to gain 1,000 feet to reach it.Climbing steadily the mist decended and covered the summit.

At the summit is 1 of the 3 watch towers in the wall.We took another break at the summit hoping the cloud would lift,but it never,dam.Notice the trig point on top of the tower.

We dropped back down to the col and the plan was to walk up the second highest mountain,Slieve Commedagh,but Julie's Plantar Fasciitus was hurting so we retraced our steps back down following the Glen River with a great view down to Newcastle.

Wouldn't you know it,soon after leaving the summit the cloud lifted and the sun came out again.

It was now roasting hot so as soon as we found a nice pool i had a dip in the freezing cold water.

This cracking walk was 6 miles long with 3,000 feet of height.


MILES WALKED   259
ASCENT                 66,400
TOPS                      63.

HAFOD ESTATE.4-6-12.

Staying in Llandrindod Wells me and Julie made the short journey to walk in the Hafod Estate via the spectacular Elan Valley.The weather was sunny and warm as we left the car park and we first visited the little church before venturing into the wooded estate.

We followed the "Gorge Walk" which took us above Rhaeadr Peiran.

Although there were a lot of cars in the car park we saw very few people as we were walking around.We headed for Cascade Cavern crossing many streams along the way.

After crossing Dologau Bridge the path crossed a lovely meadow,it was nice to get out of the tree's and have a decent view.

We followed a little stream uphill now,very narrow in places.

Until we reached Cascade Cavern.

We retraced our steps back across the meadow and took a different way back to the car passing the waterfall that we saw at the start of the walk.

As we were going to the Red Kite feeding station at Gigrin Farm we cut the walk short,only walking 4 miles of the estate with 1,000 feet of ascent.There are many more miles to walk i we will be coming back to explore more.

MILES WALKED       253

ASCENT                     63,400 

TOPS                          62.