Western Mourne Mountains 29 June 2021

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

For a change we decided to visit the western part of the Mourne Mountains.  We started with Hen and it wasn't until we reached the summit of Cock that the sun started to break through giving us fleeting glimpses of Spelga Dam.  Much of the day was hazy and so didn't lend itself to landscape photography.

As we descended off Cock the low cloud dissipated revealing feathery high cloud which seemed to radiate from a single area.  In the very bottom of the image is a figure for scale.

5 frame stitch panorama from Pigeon Rock

Wall and Slieve Bearnagh

Reed pool

Mourne Mountains 18 June 2021 - B26 engine, weather station, waterfalls, Binnian tunnel

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

Fascinating day in the Mourne Mountains. Not a day for bagging summits.  We found the engine of the B26 Marauder which crashed on 10 April 1944, a weather station in the middle of nowhere, waterfalls galore and finished with an inspection of the Dunnywater end of the Binnian tunnel.  It’s been fairly dry recently so there wasn’t much water in the rivers and the waterfalls were a bit underwhelming but showed a lot of potential for wetter conditions.  A return visit later in the year is planned.

B26 engine

Weather station

Panorama of Binnian, Lamagan, Cove, Commedagh

Waterfalls

The Dunnywater end of the Binnian tunnel.  Constructed between 1947 and 1951, it is over 2 miles long and takes water from the Kilkeel River to the Silent Valley Reservoir.

Belfast Lough sunset 11 June 2021

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

The prospect of between 50 and 60% low cloud, some high cloud and a rising tide over the sunset period got me out to Grey Point on the south shore of Belfast Lough.  I arrived about an hour before sunset and scouted around for a few compositions based on where the sun would be setting.

The low cloud was a bit stubborn around sunset itself restricting the view of the light on the high clouds.   However, patience paid off and about 30 minutes after sunset I was treated to some lovely fleeting colour in the sky over Black Head.  The foreground rocks are not what I would have wished in the final couple of images but when the colour appeared it was well to the right of where I would have expected it and I didn't have time to move to a different location.

The following images were taken over a period of about 90 minutes.  Shutter speeds ranged from 30 seconds to 4 minutes.

When the weather forgets it's summer

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

A misty and windy day in the Mourne Mountains.  At times it felt like the middle of winter rather than early June.  Misty conditions for much of the day, only really clearing as we were walking out.  It was an opportunity to visit a lesser frequented part of the mountains and an area to go back to in better conditions to explore around the crags.

Through the keyhole

Cascade

Cove, Lamagan and Binnian

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

Some images from a great day's walking in the Mourne Mountains.  It's a bit of a trek in from Carrick Little to Cove but making our way to the summit of Cove along the top of the crags makes it worthwhile.  It wasn't a great day for photography as there was a lot of blue haze in the air.

Cove crags with Chimney Rock in the background

Looking down on Cove Lough.  I got lucky at one point when a blink of sunlight fell on Cove Lough helping to make it a point of interest. The Carrick Little track is on the far side of the forest in centre of the frame.

Bearnagh from Lamagan 

Panorama from Lamagan (from one Slievenaglogh to another Slievenaglogh!)

Panorama from the lower slopes of Binnian. 3 shots in landscape orientation, I should have taken 5 or 6 in portrait to get all of Ben Crom reservoir in the frame.  Next time!

Panoramas were hand held.  The day was about hill-walking with photography playing second fiddle so the tripod was left at home!

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.

Back to the mountains

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

First day back in the Mourne Mountains since 17 December 2020.  Trassey Track to Slievenaglogh and along the wall over Corragh, Commedagh to the saddle with Donard and back along the Brandy Pad through the Hares Gap.  Started cold and bright, clouds built a bit by mid-day and then broke up again in the afternoon.  In shelter from the wind it was glorious and some time was spent  on 2 long stops to eat and soak up the rays. 

Photographically I took the opportunity to photograph the millstone on Slievenaglogh with the camera as I only had my phone with me the last time.  The low sun in November provided better light the last time!  The arrival of the clouds helped break up the early clear blue sky and provided light and shade patterns.  

Worryingly the steps on the side of Commedagh have been further undermined with some more collapsing and also undermining a part of the wall which will collapse one of these days.

A selfie!

Cut granite

The millstone

A glimpse of the Pot of Legawherry

Collapsing steps and wall

View over County Down