INVER RIVER AND LINN GLEN, LARNE
DATE: 12th January 2024.
SHORT WALK – 2.5 or 3.5 miles/2 or 3 hours (see options below).
LEADER: Robert McDowell, Telephone No 028 93373084 (land line)
07711 706022 (mobile)
MEETING POINT/TIME: Outside Lidl, Laharna Retail Park, Larne at 11 am.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT:
Outward Journey:
Train – Dep Whiteabbey 10.05 am, dep Jordanstown 10.09 am, dep Greenisland 10.12 am, dep Carrickfergus 10.20 am, dep Downshire 10.23 am, dep Whitehead 10.31 am, arr Larne Town 10.45 am.
Return Journey:
Options:
1. (Without Lunch); Dep Larne Town 12.58 pm, arr Whitehead 1.15 pm, arr Downshire 1.21 pm, arr Carrickfergus 1.24 pm, arr Greenisland 1.33 pm, arr Jordanstown 1.36 pm, arr Whiteabbey 1.39 pm.
2. (With Lunch in Larne Town); Dep Larne Town 1.58 pm, arr Whitehead 2.15 pm, arr Downshire 2.21 pm, arr Carrickfergus 2.24 pm, arr Greenisland 2.33 pm, arr Jordanstown 2.36 pm, arr Whiteabbey 2.39 pm.
3. (With Lunch beside Larne Harbour); Dep Larne Harbour 2.55 pm, arr Larne Town 2.58 pm, arr Whitehead 3.15 pm, arr Downshire 3.21 pm, arr Carrickfergus 3.24 pm, arr Greenisland 3.33 pm, arr Jordanstown 3.36 pm, arr Whiteabbey 3.39 pm.
BY CAR:
Follow the Shore Road (the A2) through Carrickfergus and continue to Larne. Follow the signs to Larne town centre and railway station and park near Lidl, which is a free car park known as “The Laharna Retail Park”. Note that the maximum stay is 3 hours so, if you decide to walk the extra mile to Larne Harbour, you would need to move your car to another car park as you would exceed the permitted 3 hour limit. Alternatively, you could park in the Park and Ride car park at Larne Railway Station nearby as there is no time limit there.
THE WALK:
The walk follows the Inver River along the former narrow gauge railway line which emerges onto the A8 Larne-Belfast road. We will cross the A8 at a designated crossing point and continue via Antiville Road and Linn Road until we reach the entrance to Linn Glen. The walk around Linn Glen is circular and well surfaced. It is mostly flat with a couple of slight inclines. We will return to Larne town centre by the same route – this walk is 2.5 miles. Note that there are no toilets along the walk.
There is an option to walk a further mile to Larne Harbour via Circular Road and Curran Road. Those who choose to do so may, following lunch near the harbour, take the train from Larne Harbour at 2.55 pm – see option 3 above.
LUNCH:
For those who do not wish to walk the extra mile to Larne Harbour, there is Creed Café in the retail park and various eating establishments in Larne centre.
For those who wish to walk the extra mile to Larne Harbour, lunch may be taken at The Olderfleet Bar and Lounge in Fleet Street, beside Larne Harbour Railway Station.