N.I.APRIL - Tor Head to Cushenden and back

Sunday 30th April

We are now staying in a small cabin, advertised as having a magnificent view. Nothing to be seen when we arrived yesterday, shrouded in low cloud.

 

The owners have provided plenty of goodies. including eggs , marmalade, and more…. 

View improved slightly, sporadically. Yet still the fog clings on. 

We decide to go for a short walk ‘before coffee’, and end up walking five miles along the road into Cushenden, where their big arts weekend is happening.

We wander round the art exhibition, then go to Mary McBride’s pub for lunch. Just as we emerge, there’s a hell of downpour, and thunder and lightning. We huddle in the porch with a couple from Cheshire. The rain eases off and we walk back. There’s the occasional shower, but the storm has passed. On a hill (one of several) we meet a man with his grandson, who is very intrigued that we’re walking and we’ve come from England! 

On we plod, and get back before 4pm, feeling pleased with the walking. 10 miles and 126 ‘floors’(supposedly 10 feet per floor) - so 1,260 feet. All on the up and down road and more uphill on the way back. 

After tea and snacks, I was sitting on the bed, and out of the window, suddenly realised there was a spectacular view! Across to Kintyre and Islay and Jura. And it’s raining gently on the cabin roof.

Beautiful view through the evening, with a gentle sunset and the lighthouse of the Mull of Kintyre throwing out its two-flash light from around 11 miles away across the water. 

N.I. APRIL - Cushenden again, and fairies.

Tuesday 25th April

After coffee I took a walk down to Cushenden village, round to the Game of Thrones caves, and a short way along the river (Glendon; Dun) with its tales of fairy battles between the Scottish and Irish fairies, which the Irish lost. 

N.I. APRIL One from April - Cushenden, Northern Ireland

Sunday 23rd April.

We spent the morning relaxing, then drawing the view. Sitting in the sun trap spot with coffee was good.

After coffee we decided to walk into Cushenden and do the Ring Walk - poorly worked out leaflet. It was difficult to find some of the places, and there was some dodgy road walking between Cushenden and Clady. on the A92.

Somewhere close to 7 miles in all.

We stopped for a lunch of soup and sweet ‘wheaten bread’ at the place opposite Mary McBride’s pub. 

Then we decided to complete the walk. A glance at the caves first - a coachload of youngsters from Czechia were there - I wonder if that was a brexit bonus for Ireland.