LOUGH MOURNE WALK

DATE: 16^th February 2024.

SHORT WALK – 2.5 miles.  The walk will take c1.5 hours.

LEADER: Robert McDowell, Telephone No 028 93373084 (land line);

                                                                                            07711 706022 (mobile).

MEETING POINT/TIME: Car Park, Lough Mourne Reservoir, Carrickfergus  at 11.00 am.

TRANSPORT: Please note that, as there is no public transport to this location, I would be willing to give a lift to 2 people.  Please contact me beforehand to make arrangements.

DIRECTIONS FROM CARRICKFERGUS CASTLE ROUNDABOUT:

Take the exit from the roundabout signposted “North Road”.  This takes you onto Albert Road which becomes North Road. After c1.5 miles you will come to a T junction with the Marshallstown Road (known locally as “the top road”). Turn right and then immediately left onto Red Brae Road.  After about 1.5 miles you will see Lough Road on your right, opposite Paisley Road, which has a large red “Stop” sign.

Loughmorne Mission Hall is on the corner of Lough Road.  Take Lough Road and watch out for potholes!  Follow Lough Road for 0.75 miles to the end at the car park at Lough Mourne – just before the car park, follow a left hand bend – do not go straight on as this becomes just a muddy laneway. The journey from Carrickfergus Castle to Lough Mourne will take c15 minutes.

THE WALK:

This 2.5 mile walk is circular around the reservoir, so leads us back to the car park.

While most of the path is stoned, recent hedge cutting using tractors has made it fairly muddy in places.  The path is level with a few slight inclines/declines.  Note that there are no toilets at Lough Mourne.

LUNCH:

The nearest place for lunch is “Season Coffee Shop” which is in Sullatober Industrial Estate, Sullatober Row, off Marshallstown Road. To get there, retrace your journey back to Marshallstown Road via Lough Road and Red Brae Road and turn left at the T junction of Red Brae Road and Marshallstown Road.  Sullatober Row is the first left after c400 yards and there is plenty of parking available beside the coffee shop.  The coffee shop has loos, a gift shop and a varied lunch/snack menu.