IT'S GREAT OUTDOORS!
The Glenullin Walking festival was held on Friday 18 and Sat 20 June in the Glenullin and Garvagh area. The damp weather that weekend did not deter the determined folk who love to be in the outdoors to learn about trees and forests, see beautiful landscapes and get to the top of mountains!
Stephen McCartney led a walk in Garvagh forest on Friday evening where people got to learn about trees and distinguish their larch from their birch. Strolling along a forest path accompanied by birdsong, hearing the stories of the many uses of trees over the generations and getting to smell the fresh resins from the trees was time well spent. As one walker noted, ‘a very good use of a couple of hours on a summer’s evening’. Thanks to Rev Alan Whittaker for the use of the Church Of Ireland hall for supper afterwards.
Saturday saw three walks go out led by the newly trained Volunteer Guides from Glenullin Resource Centre. Elaine Montgomery and John McLaughlin led the walk on Drumbane Waymarked Trail and all the walkers came home tired but happy after 8 miles of open moorland and farm tracks.
Kevin McNicholl and Geraldine Fox led the walk to the top of Benbradagh mountain and there were four young people among the group who got the top with greater ease than some of the adults! Again all returned to the Resource Centre for welcome refreshments. The Bugs ands Plants walk in Errigal Glen was led by Sue McBean and Peter Langton and the Centre is delighted with the data collected which builds up a profile of the natural history of the Glen through the seasons.
This Festival was supported by a grant from Coleraine Borough Council and Glenullin and Agivey Conservation and Development Group are very grateful to the Council for resourcing this outdoor activity at the far southwest corner of the Borough. Indeed it is timely to notice the resource of hills, trails and mountains within easy reach of the north coast, within the Borough and hosted by a community group with a good record of safety and warm welcomes. We are so lucky within the Borough to have both coasts and mountains within easy reach.
Thanks from the Group to all those who looked at the damp weather on Saturday morning and decided to come along! The Visitor’s Book tells the story of all having had a good day! Coleraine Area Rural Transport proved to be patient transport providers as we drove round country roads picking up the groups of walkers as they came off the walks. Appreciation too to the two First Aiders from St John’s Ambulance whose presence offered us reassurance, keeping people safe in the outdoors.
Thanks to Anne Marie McAleese who interviewed us for Your Place and Mine on BBC Radio Ulster on Saturday morning. We look forward to having our part of the Borough become increasingly popular with walkers as they get to know their way round Glenullin and out onto our Trails. We appreciate the interest of the BBC in what we deliver in Glenullin.
If you are interested in walking on our Waymarked Trails or availing of our Guides to introduce you to the natural and cultural history of Glenullin contact Glenullin Resource Centre info@glenullinservices.com or telephone 028 29557380
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