Source: Slieve Croob Circuit

This is a moderate 10 kilometres circuit on old roads and rough ground.  For a map and statistics go to https://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=18725608

Slieve Croob is a rugged isolated little mountain situated in the northern part of the Mournes.  Unfortunately, the summit is decorated with an array of communication masts but the views are magnificent, stretching from the Mournes to the Belfast Hills and Strangford to Lough Neagh.  It is also famous as the source of the River Lagan which rises here as a mere trickle before making its mighty way to Belfast.

Start in the hamlet of Finnis which is about 2 kilometres outside Dromara, heading south on the B7.  Take the Dree Hill Road and then shortly turn left onto the Drin Road.  Follow this for just over a kilometre and then turn right onto Pass Loaning.  The lane climbs up through gorgeous scenery and turns sharply right to a metal gate near some ruined cottages.  Here the walk opens into open mountain slopes and the track is more indefinite but it is well marked with a series of wooden posts to the summit.

The grassy slope on this part of the mountain is known as Monahoora and it is a great place to listen to the song of the skylark and spot buzzards hanging in the air.  After a couple of stiles, cross some boggy ground to reach a tarmac road.  Turn left and the road will bring you to the summit cairn and a trig point at 534 metres.

Return to the road and it will zigzag downhill back to Finnis, passing the source of the Lagan, marked by a viewing point in the car park, en route.

Source: Colin Glen Circuit

There is little doubt about the benefits of walking for both mind and body.  Colin Glen is easily accessible from Belfast city centre and boasts a whole range of walks from a short stroll on a well-marked path to an all day trek across the hills.

http://www.walkni.com/walks/81/colin-glen/

On Sunday, we started at the Colin Glen Centre and car park, 163 Stewartstown Road, Dunmurry. We followed the river to the point where it crosses under the Glen Road and then onward to the disused quarry.  At this point, you can head for the aerials on Divis and Black mountain and even make it an all day walk as far as Cave Hill.

However, that is a walk we intend to enjoy later in the summer.  On this occasion, we followed the track to the left and it brought us to the waterfall, locally known as the ‘Rumble Hole’.  This is quite spectacular, but the immediate surroundings could do with

a cleanup.  We then followed a track on the other side of the glen through a sea of bluebells and even the occasional orchid to reach the mass rock.  This route does involve

some scrambling but it is well worth it, the mass rock is in a beautiful shady place, perfect for a bite of lunch.  From here, we made our way back through Colin Glen to the car park.

Source: The Most Stunning Views in the World – Dunseverick to Giant’s Causeway

When the weather is good, as it was yesterday, this walk must have some of the most stunning views on the planet.  It is 16 kilometres there and back and I would classify it as easy to moderate as there are some steep stone steps.    For more information, a map and statistics go to https://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=17627538

We started at the car park at the ruins of Dunseverick castle and followed the grassy track to the left as far as the Giant’s Causeway and then back again.  The views were equally amazing in both directions.  We not only had full sun but a sea mist rolled in from time to time and gave us a wonderful display of meteorological effects.

Source: Comber Greenway

Yesterday we walked part of the Comber Greenway.  The Greenway is a 7mile traffic-free section of the National Cycle Route running from Belfast to Comber along the old railway line which closed in 1950.  The traffic-free walking and cycling route begins in Dee Street in East Belfast and from the Holywood Arches to the Comber Road it provides a delightful green finger through that part of the city.

We started at C S Lewis Square, the old Hollywood Arches where the Newtownards and Holywood Roads meet.  The first few hundred metres were disappointing as we had to negotiate the makings of this year’s bonfire.  However, once past this point, the Greenway is very well maintained and broad enough to accommodate walkers, cyclists and dogs.

We intend to continue walking the Greenway as far as Comber.  It is also possible to start in the city centre and to reach C S Lewis Square via the very beautiful Victoria Park.  However, these are both walks for another day.

For a map and statistics go to

https://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/spatialArtifacts.do

http://www.walkni.com/walks/432/comber-greenway/