A tour of the valley of Spence's River

    Click on the images for a larger version.  All images copyright Leslie Ashe.

We spent a day exploring either side of the valley containing Spence's River in the Mourne Mountains.  Starting at Rourkes Park we headed up Round Seefin to Long Seefin to a granite quarry on the side of Rocky Mountain.  A couple of hares were spotted in the distance while we were having or first stop of the day but they were too far away to photograph.

View from Round Seefin

Reflections

Long Seefin looking back to Round Seefin

We visited the quarry to look again at the "quadrant stones" to try to figure out what they would be used for but unfortunately they have been removed.  The following images are from May 2015.

Next stop was on the other side of the valley where we wanted to look at some other granite workings.  When we got there we came across a mare with a foal and bizarrely a clump of daffodils.

A stiffish climb through heather and rocks took us to the summit of Chimney Rock which commanded a wide view over an extensive area of the Mournes.  

At this point we realised we were a short distance away from a WW2 plane crash site and decided to try to find some of the aircraft remains.  The aircraft, a Martin Marauder B26, crashed on a training flight on 10 April 1944 and unfortunately all 5 crew were killed.

Engine cowling

Part of the landing gear

A closer look at the landing gear showed that the split pins securing some of the nuts were still shiny after 77 years.

For more information about the circumstances of the crash visit http://www.chimneyrockb26crash.com

We want to return again some time and do a more detailed search for other parts.

On the way back out we visited a couple of abandoned cottages.  It must have been difficult trying to eke out an existence such poor land.

To gain access laneways had be built and a ford provided across Spence's River

A return visit to explore this whole area further is well warranted.