RESERVOIR FOGS

ben_crom_silent_valley_ni_explorer_northernireland+(14).jpg — RESERVOIR FOGS

Thursday night. We check the 5-day forecast for Newcastle, County Down:

🌧️ ~ 🌧️ ~ ☀️ ✔️ ~ 🌧️ ~ 🌧️

Saturday's good to go....better pack the sunscreen.

HOLD ON A MINUTE

Just over an hour out of a sort-of-sunny Belfast on Saturday morning, we get to the foot of the Mournes, near Hilltown in County Down.

Maybe the sunscreen application was a bit premature...

ben_crom_silent_valley_ni_explorer_northernireland

It'll burn off. Definitely.

Ten minutes later, we've parked the car at Silent Valley Reservoir (£4.50) and are quickly on foot with the hope of the fog clearing.

First stop, the giant overspill funnel at the edge of the first reservoir. Normally there's an amazing view of a few peaks in the background - not today.

(The normal view, below...)

Another half hour of walking and we're still seeing no shift.

Then suddenly, like something out of a movie, the 200ft high Ben Crom Reservoir dam appears out of nowhere.

A steep 5 minute climb and the eerie fog just gets worse - but pretty cool at the same time.

Our original plan was to head on up the dam's right hand side to the peak of Slieve Binnian. With none of us knowing the route too well and the fog not shifting AT ALL, we voted for the safe option and abandoned our plans in favour of the return walk and some hot drinks.