Walk Northern Ireland - Mountaineering Ireland

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discovernorthernireland.com 22 walk… northern ireland temple, one of Northern Ireland’s most iconic landmarks, a short walk from Downhill village will bring you to the entrance of the Downhill estate, now managed by the National Trust. From here you can wander around the grounds and visit the temple at your leisure. Benone Strand D2 Starting Point: Either Benone or Downhill Strand Distance: 11.3km Maps & Books: Sections of the route features in ‘Route 4 Downhill – Walk the Bann and Roe Valleys’ – Landscapes from Stone Series. OSNI sheet: 4 Facilities: Parking at Benone and/or Downhill and/or on beach: Toilets at Benone and Downhill beach Portstewart For decades the pretty seaside town of Portstewart has been one of Northern Ireland’s favourite holiday destinations. The cafés, pubs and galleries along the promenade look out on a quaint harbour and rocky shoreline. A coastal path begins at the promenade and takes you south to the edge of Portstewart Strand, a three-kilometre sweep of sand that extends all the way to the breakwater at the mouth of the River Bann. The beach is backed by tall dunes, which can also be explored via a maze of sandy paths. If the walk along the beach isn’t enough for you, you can also take the 4km cliff path, known as the Port Path, from Portstewart to Portrush. From there it’s possible to continue all the way across Curran Strand to White Rocks and the crumbling remains of Dunluce
Left: Gulls on the North Coast Right: Above Benone Strand looking toward Mussenden Temple Castle. See the description of the Causeway Coast Way for more information on this stretch of coastline, page 46. Portstewart E2 Starting Point: Beach entrance Portstewart Distance: 3.2km + 4km cliff path Maps & Books: OSNI sheet: 4 Facilities: Parking: Seasonal car parking fee £3.50, 4.50 (July/August). Toilets: Portstewart, Portrush,White Rocks p THE NATIONAL TRUST Murlough National Nature Reserve Murlough National Nature Reserve lies in County Down in the shadow of the Mourne Mountains. The reserve protects a 5,000-year-old sand dune system, which has been colonised by heath, grassland and small pockets of woodland. This fascinating ecosystem is home to delicate wildflowers and rare butterflies. There’s also a wide variety of birdlife, ranging from little willow warblers and whitethroats to several species of geese and wading birds, which can be observed in the estuary on the northern edge of the reserve. There is cover too for badgers and stoats, while just offshore, common and Belfast Murlough Nature Reserve grey seals can often be seen. The reserve is about four kilometres long and a kilometre wide, and several paths and tracks provide access through the dunes to the beach and headland sheltering Dundrum Inner Bay. If you explore all of the reserve you’ll enjoy two to three hours of highly scenic coastal walking, all with the stunning backdrop of Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland’s highest mountain. Alternatively you can choose from a variety of shorter itineraries. It’s also possible to walk to the reserve from the nearby resort of Newcastle, just two kilometres away along the shore. Murlough National Nature Reserve F5 Starting Point: Main Car Park Distance: 6.4km Maps & Books: Available at property. OSNI sheet: 29 Facilities: Parking/toilets: Available at property p THE NATIONAL TRUST walk… Beaches Belfast Murlough National Nature Reserve, looking toward Newcastle and the Mournes The reserve is about four kilometres long and a kilometre wide, and several paths and tracks provide access through the dunes to the beach discovernorthernireland.com 23
Page 1 and 2: Walk Northern Ireland Waterfalls|Fo
Page 3 and 4: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: walk… Introduct
Page 5 and 6: Sloughan Glen Crom Slieve Donard F5
Page 7 and 8: Right: Crossing the stile at Hare
Page 9 and 10: Right: Neolithic burial chamber at
Page 11 and 12: Right: Shamrock Below: Slemish Moun
Page 13 and 14: Right: Harland and Wolff Shipyard B
Page 15 and 16: Colin Glen Forest Park The Colin Gl
Page 17 and 18: Left: Kingfishers by the river Blac
Page 19 and 20: the estate café offers an ideal pl
Page 21: Right: Pebbles on Murlough beach Be
Page 25 and 26: Ballycastle, and you’ve got a per
Page 27 and 28: Below: The Roe Valley Country Parks
Page 29 and 30: Right: Field of Bluebells Below: Cr
Page 31 and 32: Glenariff Forest Park Amongst the G
Page 33 and 34: mining. After passing through the o
Page 35 and 36: Top, left & right: Castlewellan For
Page 37 and 38: Below: Drumleck river, Gosford Fore
Page 39 and 40: Left: Aerial view of Causeway Coast
Page 41 and 42: eing rather boggy underfoot. If pos
Page 43 and 44: Mountains. By joining the Mourne Tr
Page 45 and 46: Above left: Moneypenny’s Lock, Po
Page 47 and 48: look out on a quaint harbour and ro
Page 49 and 50: Below: Enjoy a night out after a da
Page 51 and 52: BELFAST CITY Belfast Welcome Centre

Walk Northern Ireland - Mountaineering Ireland

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