BEN CROM RESERVOIR VIEW
BEN CROM RESERVOIR
VIEW
AS THE WEEKEND DREW NEARER
…the weather reports got worse. Strong winds. Heavy rain. Dropping temperatures.
We’re optimists though.
Bad weather is always worse when you’re thinking about it coming, or when you’re looking out at it from somewhere warm.
But when you’re already out - having a bit of craic with jacket and hat at the ready - a bit of rain just adds to the memory*.
“Remember that time…👌 “
(*Plus, we knew this was a route where we could easily turn back at any point; avoid climbing too high where things could be a bit risky.)
Image: Lauren Penman
START, CARRICK LITTLE CAR PARK…
It always makes a planned walk easier when there’s a car park to start, it’s on Google Maps, and you’re able to give the legs a stretch along a road first of all.
Carrick Little Car Park is about an hour from Belfast / 15 minutes from Newcastle, Co Down.
BAD WEATHER?
The drive down to Newcastle was dark, rainy, a little windy, and when we got into the town we could see the top half of The Mournes was completely covered in low cloud.
Thankfully though, once we got to Carrick Little and started the walk…
Image: Lauren Penman
…all was looking OK.
With so much rain the previous few days, what were once trickles of water beside the path…
…were now fast flowing rivers over the path.
Most were only ankle or knee deep, but when you remember your walking boots aren’t fully waterproof, following a stepping stone path does take a little longer.
It does make for a great photo though 👇
Image: Lauren Penman
After a quick stop, snack and drink at the edge of Blue Lough…
Image: Lauren Penman
…we were quickly on our way again before we started feeling the cold.
Image: Namaste Trekking
Scout even managed to find a rock with a heart of water*, formed from years of natural erosion.
(*There’s a deep and meaningful analogy in there, somewhere.)
BEN CROM RESERVOIR VIEW
Image: Namaste Trekking
From the car park to here, including a few breaks along the way, it took one and a half hours.
Without the protection of the mountains above us now, we could now feel the wind getting stronger.
We headed up the rocky path, about five minutes climb, to find shelter behind a rock face - and get stuck into the sandwiches and digestive biscuits that were talked about so many times on the way up :)
Image: Namaste Trekking
Image: Namaste Trekking
From here, we could see just around the mountain edge, and the tip of Silent Valley Rervoir.
In the picture below, behind the large exposed rocks where we ate, is normally the view on up to Slieve Binnian, our planned destination for the day.
Technically we’d have been in the clouds, visibility close to zero and very dangerous. Our lunch spot was the highest we’d climb today.
And then…
THE WIND & RAIN SAID HELLO
We could see it in the distance at first, looking down Silent Valley. Ten minutes later and we could hear it behind the large rock where we were taking shelter.
No photos taken from this point - all hands needed to slowly make our way down the rocky steps to lower ground, where we had a little bit of protection again.
Yes, we got wet. A little bit cold. But after a slow, short descent, we were back in the cars within the hour and heaters on.
And as always after a bit of outdoors fun, dinner and a whiskey later that night tasted all so much better.
CARRICK LITTLE TO BEN CROM VIEW - GALLERY
A few more brilliantly moody pics, courtesy of adventurer Lauren Penman. Click and flick through:
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