Walking

Convenor: vacant but shared by walkers

Walks are listed below in date order.
As you can see, we have planned walks up to 22 June so watch for details to be added.

Request from James I would love to receive pictures and comments from anyone or even everyone so that I can create an ongoing record. I do not wish to burden you but it would be nice to return to these reports in future years to reminisce. 

 

Date	Title	Length
9 March	Lagan Meadows	Short
16 March	Comber Greenway	Long
23 March	Ballyclare	Short
12 & 13 April	Monaghan U3A Walking Festival	Various
13 April	Carnfunnock Country Park	short
20 April	Portrush to Portstewart	Long
27 April	Broadwater Moira	Short
11 May	Riverside Walk and Ormeau Park	Short
18 May	Orlock Point to Bangor	Long
25 May	Portrush to Ramone Head	Short
8 June	Cullybackey Millenium Riverside Walk	Short – 4 miles
15 June	North Down Coastal Path, Holywood to Bangor	Long
22 June	Divis/Black Mountain	Short – 3.5 miles

 
Photo Gallery:  Monaghan, Waterfront, Two Bridges and Belfast Castle/Cavehill 

Lagan Meadows

Short Walk 9 March 2018

Leader  –  Robin Connor  MOB. 07805830550

Meet  10.45  -car park beyond Cutters Wharf, Lockview Road, Stranmillis near to Belfast rowing club

Train   9.15am train from whitehead to Great Victoria Street Station arriving at 10.00.  calling at Downshire (9.21) , Carrickfergus (9.24), Clipperstown (9.26) , Troopers Lane (9.30), Greenisland 9.33), Jordanstown (9.36), Whiteabbey (9.40), Great Victoria Street (10am)

Metro-bus 8a  –  bus stop opposite Great Victoria Station. De-bus at Lockview Road stop.(opposite Stranmillis College). Short walk on Lockview Road to car park.

The return train departs from Great Victoria Street Station at 15 minutes to & after the hour

Duration  One and a half hours. Suitable footwear recommended as part of the route may be muddy.

Refreshments  –  Available at Lockkeepers’ Restaurant, Lyric Theatre or Cafes at Stranmillis.

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Comber Greenway

Long walk on Friday 16 March

Leaders: Anne Bodles  mobile  07799592635 &  Maureen Hayes

Comber Greenway from Comber (Belfast Road, Access Point 18) to Holywood Arches, Belfast (Access Point 3)

Length: Approximately 7 miles

Time: Two and a half hours

Terrain: Mostly level terrain and on a path

Transport: Train to Belfast Central leaving:-

Whitehead at 09.15hrs.

Carrickfergus at 09.24hrs.

Arrive at Belfast Central at 09.52hrs. 

Then bus to Comber (Bus 11 or 511)

Leaders will lead the group to correct bus stop.

Refreshments: Coffee & Cream Cafe or East Side Visitor Centre.

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Ballyclare

Short Walk on Friday 23 March

Leader: Jack McKinney   9337 3593 or 07999 394778

A walk in the Six Mile Water Park and the town of Ballyclare
Terrain:   Flat on asphalt surfaced paths and town footpaths
Distance:  Around 2 miles
Time:    About  1 hour 45 minutes

Theme:  Identifying sites of interest in the development of Ballyclare as a Market Town (including the occasional anecdote about local characters down through the years) Travel by car to the Six Mile Water car park on the Mill Road close to its junction with the Templepatrick Road and adjacent to the river.

Meet at the Mill Road car park at 10.30.
Suggestion for coffee / lunch:  Pots of Pleasure. The Square, Ballyclare.

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Monaghan U3A Walking Festival

Thursday 12 and Friday 13 April
Arranged by  Eamonn Callaghan   (Monaghan U3A)

The headquarters are once more in the Four Seasons hotel. Registration is on Thursday from 9.00am to 10.00am. A bus will then take participants to the Bragans for the first walk.

The Bragan Loop is a pleasant walk on minor country roads where you get the sense of walking over remote upland bog while remaining on firm footing. The walk is about 8 Kilometers, of moderate difficulty and with many notable landmarks and drumlin scenery. 

Lunch will be available in the Slieve Beagh hotel, €5 euro, and then we will head out on our second walk.

Tra Walk.

We will do a slightly curtailed version of this walk, about 6 Kilometers on tarred roads.  This walk takes you along blanket bog and allows you to observe the varied flora and fauna of the district. The walk is an easy to moderate walk. We will then return to the Four Seasons hotel where there is a Festival dinner at 7.30pm. There will be a guest Speaker. The dinner is open to walkers and non- walkers alike and costs €25 euro.

On Friday, registration is again 9:00am to 10:00am and then we set out for our final walk.

Jenkin’s Lake. This is a quiet walk which offers peace and tranquility to the walkers. There are stunning views and mysterious tales of the Cooneen ghost to enjoy! The walk is about 8 Kilometers and of moderate difficulty.

Participants are advised to wear suitable clothing and boots.

 

The fee for the festival is €10 euro per day for Monaghan U3A members, €15 euro for one day for non- members or €25 euro for both days. The festival dinner is €25 euro. Rooms are available in the Four Seasons for Thursday 12^th for €69 euro for a single or €79 euro for a double. This includes breakfast.

The Slieve Beagh Hotel offers bed and breakfast at €35 euro.

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Carnfunnock Country Park

Short Walk April 13th

Leader: Vera Scott      tel no: 93368438

Meet: Drains Bay Car Park at 10.30am

Terrain: Level paths and some steep steps which can be bypassed by those who want to explore the grounds.

Duration: 1 – 1½ hours

Refreshments: On site coffee shop

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Portrush to Portstewart

Long Walk 20 April

Leader: Maureen Hayes 07484 622260

Meet: Portrush Railway Station 11:00am

Transport: Train 8:54am Carrickfergus. Change at Yorkgate for 9:24am Derry train. OR catch the 09:33am train at Mosley West. In any case change at Coleraine for 10:45am train to Portrush arriving 10:57am.

The return is by bus from Portstewart to Coleraine where trains depart at 19 mintues past each hour.

Distance/Duration: About  6.5 miles  Walk NI page
Distance/Duration: 10.5km | Ascent: 50m | Time: 3hrs Causway Coast Way

Terrain: (WalkNI)The gently undulating route, which includes several sets of steps, hugs the coastline and includes a variety of underfoot conditions including dust paths, grass tracks, beach and formal surfaced promenades.  (Causway Coast Way) Grade = Easy.

Refreshments:

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Broadwater Moira

Short Walk on Friday 27 April 2018

Leader:  Ellie Gawley 07763 878581

Meet: Moira Railway Station 11:15am

Transport: Train leaving Whitehead 9:45am, Carrickfergus 9:54am, Greenisland 10:03am Arriving Belfast Central 10:21am.
Change to train for Portadown departing 10:29am Arriving Moira 11:13am
Return trains every half hour.

Duration: 1 – 1½ hours

Terrain: Walking alongside the canal on flat terrain.

Refreshments: Lunch at Tannery Moira.
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Riverside Walk and Ormeau Park

Short Walk on Friday 11th May 2018
Leader:Brenda Nicholl Phone: Mobile: 07816756478
Meet:Central Station
Transport:.Train leaves Whitehead 09.45, Carrickfergus 09.54, Troopers Lane 10.00, Greenisland 10.03, Jordanstown 10.06, Whiteabbey 10.10, Central Station 10.21
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Terrain:Flat and good surfaces.
Refreshments:There is coffee available in the station or numerous cafes etc in Belfast city centre which can be reached by a short walk or bus ride and then travel home by train from Great Victoria Street Station.

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Orlock Point to Bangor

Long Walk on Friday 18 May 2018
Leader: Maureen Hayes 07484 622260.
Meet: Donaghadee
Transport: The train leaves Whitehead at 9.15, Carrick at 9.24, Central at 9.51. Bangor train leaves at 10.12. Bus to Donaghadee at 10.55.
Duration: The walk is about 8miles in length.
Terrain: Coastal walk, the path can be a bit rough in places, but mostly alright.
Refreshments: We will have lunch at Groomsport.
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Portrush to Ramone Head

Short walk on Friday 25th May 2018
Leader: Daryl 07925132558

Transport: Train from Carrickfergus 9:54am Change at Yorkgate to Londonderry line.  OR join the train at Mosley West. Arrive at Coleraine 11:40am Change to Portrush train. Arrive 11:57am.

Return trains depart every hour at 3 minutes past the hour.

Duration: 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Terrain: Smooth path but there are some steep sections.

Lunch:   Ramone Restaurant. 

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CULLYBACKEY MILLENIUM RIVERSIDE WALK

SHORT Walk – 4 miles; DATE: Friday 8th June 2018
LEADER: Robert McDowell, Telephone No 028 93373084 (landline)
07711 706022 (mobile)
MEETING POINT/TIME: Cullybackey Railway Station at 10.07 am.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT (Train – Cullybackey station is the station after Ballymena on the Londonderry line).
Outward Journey:
Dep Whitehead 8.45 am; Dep Carrickfergus 8.53 am; Arr Yorkgate 9.15 am;
Change to Londonderry line.
Dep Yorkgate 9.24 am; Dep Mossley West 9.33 am; Arr Cullybackey 10.07 am.

Return Journey – 3 Choices as follows (Note all trains go as far as Larne):
(1) Dep C’backey 12.51 pm; Arr Mossley West 1.26 pm; Arr Yorkgate 1.35 pm;
Change to Larne line.
Dep Yorkgate 1.59 pm; Arr C’fergus 2.20 pm; Arr Whitehead 2.30 pm.
(2) Dep C’backey 1.51 pm; Arr Mossley West 2.26 pm; Arr Yorkgate 2.35 pm;
Change to Larne line.
Dep Yorkgate 2.59 pm; Arr C’fergus 3.20 pm; Arr Whitehead 3.30 pm.
(3) Dep C’backey 2.51 pm; Arr Mossley West 3.26 pm; Arr Yorkgate 3.35 pm;
Change to Larne line.
Dep Yorkgate 4 pm; Arr C’fergus 4.22 pm; Arr Whitehead 4.35 pm.

BY CAR: Cullybackey is 3 miles from Ballymena; car parking is limited at the railway station but there is free parking opposite the Cullybackey Reformed Presbyterian Church at the bottom of Station Road. There is also free parking beside the Millenium Walk behind the Eurospar Shop near the public toilets.

THE WALK:
Begins at Cullybackey Railway Station as it is a half-mile walk to the start of the Millenium Walk beside the River Maine (beside the Eurospar and opposite the Cunningham Memorial Presbyterian Church). The walk follows a path alongside the river, before making a loop and doubling back. It is nicely wooded with many mature trees. The path is level and is partially concreted, with the rest gravelled and is about 2 miles in length. When we finish the riverside walk we will cross the main road and walk up the lane to Arthur Cottage (homestead of USA President) and return to the main road, a distance of about 1 mile. Unfortunately the cottage is open only on Saturdays during June, but you can always come back for a visit! After lunch we will walk back to the railway station – so the total walk is c 4 miles.
LUNCH:
We should finish the walk around 12.15 pm, so for those who want lunch, there is a very good café called “Toast” in the main street which serves lunches from 12 noon to 2.30 pm. A selection of soups, sandwiches and light lunches is available, as well as tea/coffee and traybakes. There are toilets in the café as well as public toilets in the Eurospar car park.

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North Down Coastal Path, Holywood to Bangor

 Long Walk on Friday 15th June

Leader: Anne Bodles    mob 07799592635

Meet: at Holywood  train station at 10.00am

Transport: How to get there on public Transport.

Train leaving Whitehead   08:45am, Carrickfergus 08:54am
Arriving Belfast Central at 9:21hrs

Change to Bangor train Leaving Belfast Central at 09:42am
Arriving Holywood at 09:53am
Duration: 3 -31/2 hours
Distance: 9 Miles
Terrain: Mostly flat tarmac surface
Lunch: Packed lunch or in Crawfordsburn Country Park cafe.
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DIVIS/BLACK MOUNTAIN

SHORT Walk – 3.5 miles;
DATE: Friday 22nd June 2018.
LEADER: Robert McDowell, Telephone No 028 93373084 (land line)
07711 706022 (mobile)
MEETING POINT/TIME: car park, Divis Road at 11.15 am.
DIRECTIONS (by car):

Directions from Belfast City Centre

Divis/Black Mountain is approximately 6 miles from Belfast city centre.
From Belfast, take the M1 motorway and exit at junction 2. Take the A55 (outer ring) signed Andersonstown/ Falls. Go straight across the first 2 junctions (Falls/Andersonstown Road and Glen Road). After half a mile turn left onto Upper Springfield Road (road number is the B38). You will come to a sign “Hannahstown”. Go through Hannahstown village and, after 2 miles from the village sign, you will see the brown signpost on your right pointing to Divis/Black Mountain on Divis Road. The free car park is half a mile along Divis Road on your left.

Directions from East Antrim or North Belfast (avoiding Belfast City Centre)

Go to the Nutt’s Corner roundabout (via the A52 – the Upper Crumlin Road from north Belfast, or the B95 – Hightown Road from Glengormley, or the A26 – airport road from Ballyclare/Templepatrick). At Nutt’s Corner Roundabout take the turnoff to Dundrod. At Dundrod village turn right onto Leathemstown Road (B101). Continue for about 2 miles and then turn left onto Hannahstown Road (road number B38), which becomes the Upper Springfield Road. Keep heading towards Belfast and turn left onto Divis Road when you see the brown sign for Divis/Black Mountain. After half a mile, turn left into the free car park.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT:

Ulsterbus 106 between Belfast and Crumlin via Hannahstown will leave you near the corner of Divis Road. There is a bus leaving the Europa Bus Centre at 10.35 am which will leave you at the nearest stop to Divis Road (the Mounteagle/Hairpin Bend stop) at 10.51 am. However the return journey bus is not until after 4 pm so travelling by public transport is not advisable.
For those who need a lift to and from Divis, Robert McDowell is willing to take up to 3 people and will collect them at an agreed time/place along the A2 Shore Road between Whitehead and Whiteabbey. His phone numbers are as above.

THE WALK:
The entrance to the walk is opposite the free car park on Divis Road.
We will walk the Summit Walk which is a linear tarmaced walk of about 3.5 miles (ie 1.75 miles each way). This is a fairly level walk, which is well-surfaced with tarmac. It is not steep, except for the final half mile which takes us directly to the summit. Even this final stretch isn’t too bad. This will take us to the radio mast near the summit of Divis to a height of 1,562 feet from which, on a clear day, there is a panoramic view of the Mourne Mountains, Strangford Lough, the Castlereagh and Holywood Hills, the Sperrin Mountains and, of course, Belfast city/lough and their surrounds. Being on such a height you should expect it to be cold and windy and should dress accordingly.

LUNCH:
There are toilets near the start of the walk. There is a barn where a packed lunch can be eaten and there are outdoor picnic tables for the hardy ones!
For those less hardy types, we recommend the Ballymac Hotel, 7A Rock Road, Lisburn BT28 3SU (road no B101), about 4.5 miles from the Divis Road car park. We will have lunch around 1.30 pm.

Directions to the Ballymac Hotel, which is 4.5 miles from the Divis Road car park are as follows:
Turn right out of the car park onto Divis Road and, at the T junction, turn right onto the Upper Springfield Road (the B38), which becomes the Hannahstown Road. Continue on the B38, taking the left fork signposted ‘Glenavy’ – do NOT take the right fork to ‘Dundrod’. At the T junction turn left onto Leathemstown Road (road number B101) which, after a few yards, becomes Rock Road. The Ballymac Hotel is on the right hand side after half a mile. Take care turning right as the hotel is situated at the crest of a hill on a very fast road (the B101 Dundrod to Lisburn road which is part of the Ulster Grand Prix circuit!).

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