The theme is the Northern Irish coast — the sea border. There’s been a lot of talk in recent years about that border, so I liked the idea of looking at another one that’s always been there. The coastline feels like a different kind of border — not political really, just the edge of the land where everything meets the wider world. Where that border political lies is for me, neither here nor there.

The title also comes from Seamus Heaney’s poem Postscript, which is about driving along in County Clare. He writes about those moments by the Atlantic when the wind and light and movement of the sea catch you slightly off guard — when the landscape hits you in a way you can’t quite plan for. That idea of the Atlantic edge, and those fleeting moments along the coast, felt like it fitted what I was trying to capture here.

There is also a pdf version available for £5 if the book is too much at £26. Blurb are always doing discounts though so you can usually get for 20% off or so.

Anyway — just thought I’d share it. First attempt, but hopefully not the last.

Neither Here N...

A Sea Border

By Roger Walsh

Book Preview

Buy the book here

Took a trip up Divis last week, first time for the pup and judging by the absolute mess of her by the end I think it's safe to say she enjoyed it. Always nice too get back up the Belfast Hills.

Thought I'd go through my photos and pick out my own personal favourites this year.

Here's to 2024, more pausing and less stressing!

This stretch of the coast is really pretty, becoming more of a path than road with small bays and beaches. The photos have been taken throughout the year and are very roughly in the order of the walk. Probably 5 or 6 miles of coast. Passing through Cultra, Helens Bay, Crawfordsburn to Carnalea.

Before getting to these places I love to take in the area - visiting historical places is great but it's better to spend time about the place, soaking in the environment. For me it's then a much more immesive experience when you reach the destination.

On my way up to the coast I stopped off at Dooey's cairn, much older than Dunseverick. It's named after the farmer that gave the land to the Government to protect the stones. Dating anywhere from 4000to 2000BC it's a good example of a court tomb, used to cremate and bury the dead during the Neolithic era. The cremation passage is the only one of it's type in Ireland.

It's a U-shaped forecourt that leads into a small chamber. Behind the chamber is a cremation passage, containing three pits, one of them held the remains of several individuals.

Heading on up the coast to Dunseverick, in ancient times this was the High Kings Road, Slige Midluachra - one of the five great royal highways, or slighe of ancient Ireland. They all connected to Tara, the ancient seat of the High Kings. It ran North through Eamhain Mhacha (Navan Fort in Armagh) and ended at Dunseverick Castle.

Driving up the coast looking and you'll see Rathlin Island, the only populated offshore island in the North. Up until the 1960s the Irish language was spoken here and was likely the main community language into the start of the 20th century. A tangible connection to Scotland, you see Kintyre in the background and the dialect found on Rathlin shared many features of both the Irish and Sottish Gaelic. Rathlin was also the site of the first Viking raids on Ireland, and most famously, it's known as where Robert the Bruce sought refuge.

Thought I'd walk a few miles of the Causeway Coast before reaching Dunseverick Castle. This area, along with most of Antrim, in the 6th Century was ruled by the Dal Riada Scotti - Scot was a word used to describe any member of the Gaelic speaking world and originally Scotia referred to Ireland.  

Of course, much of this time is not recorded and it's hard to separate the myths of origin from any facts. The Dal Riada were under pressure it seems from their western counterparts, the Ui Neill clan. At some point in the 5th century the Dal Riada migrated in large numbers to the western coast of Pictland. Looking at the roots of the word Argyll, Arregaithil, which in Gaelic is Erra-Ghaidheal, meaning the bounds of the Gaels (Scots) from Ireland. It must have been a home from home, looking across the sea you can make out the colours of the fields on a clear day. Even with expansion they held onto Antrim for a while with Dunseverick an important place in Ireland.

The Causeway coast is a stunning walk. Looking across you imagine forests and in the foreground, on the outcrop, the Castle standing watch over the sea.

"Rotheacht having been seven years king of Ireland, was burned by lightning in Dunsobhairce. It was by this Rotheacht that chariots of four horses were first established in Ireland."
Annals of the Four Masters.

As I said there's not much left of the Castle, a couple of walls from a gate tower. Time to exercise the imagination. 1,500 years ago this was the seat of a fledging Kingdom. One that would go on to merge with Pictland, creating Alba and later, Scotland.

The name Dunseverick comes from Dún Sobhairce, meaning the Fort of Sobhairce. According to legend Sobhairce was the joint high King of Ireland, along with his brother, Cermna Finn. They were the first Kings to come from the North East, the Uliad.

It seems every site you visit has links to St Patrick though there does seem to be some truth in this case as he baptized Olcán, who became a Bishop of Ireland.

"and at DUIN SEBUIRGI sat upon a rock, which is called St. Patrick's rock to this day, and there he consecrated holy Olcan bishop, whom he himself had educated, and he returned into the plain of Eilne, and erected many other churches."

The Book of Armagh - Life Of St Patrick

The Castle was surrounded on 3 sides by the sea, perched on a steep Basalt stack and around the sides are traces of old walls, buildings on the perimeter perhaps.

Another interesting link with Dunseverick and Scotland is the Stone of Destiny, used to crown Kings and Queens on the British Isles for centuries. One tale is that it was in Ireland, having been brought here from Spain. Fergus Mór mac Eirc, Fergus the Great, was King of the Dal Raida and the first King of The Scots. It's said he took the Lia Fáil, the Irish stone of destiny used to coronate the High Kings of Ireland at Tara, to Scotland. Not long after Fergus's coronation in Scotland, he and his inner circle were caught in a freak storm off the County Antrim coast in which all perished. The stone remained in Scotland, which is why Murtagh MacEirc is recorded in history as the last Irish King to be crowned on it.

After the Kingdom of Dal Raida, the Irish Annals say the site was attacked twice by the Vikings around 871 and 924 AD

I was lucky the day I went up, an archaelogical dig was taking place. Looking at one of the trenches I was able to see what looks like a part of an old wall. Loved being able to look at a little bit of history uncovered.

In 1642 the Castle was destroyed by a Scottish army under the command of General Robert Munro,  then the final account of the castle’s capture and destruction is by Cromwellian troops in the 1650s and that was it for Dunseverick. Abandoned and now the area is managed by the National Trust. I'm glad because its an area that needs preserving.

Took a drive after dinner down to Mahee Island and Nendrum. It’s a really interesting spot that’s steeped in early Medieval history. There’s not much walking to be done, it’s a private Island apart from Nendrum - but you can wander up past Mahee Castle, a small ruined tower house, then down the country roads across a couple of the islands. It’s a beautiful part of Strangford Lough, farmland to one side, then looking across and up towards Scrabo Tower and Newtownards.

Nendrum itself was apparently founded in the 5th Century, though what stands is from the 7th Century on. They say St Patrick, the man that got pretty much everywhere on Ireland had his hand in the founding of Nendrum. It’s actually pretty likely in this case, being close to Saul and Downpatrick. On one of his days out he met a young boy, Caolan, who became a disciple of the Saint. Caolan converted the local chieftain, MacCuill then established a church on the Island. Caolan was know as Mochaoi, later becoming a saint. The island then took its name from him. His death is recorded as being in 497.

Nendrum Monastery would have held significant religious and cultural importance. St. Patrick, renowned for spreading Christianity across Ireland, established monastic communities throughout the island during the 5th century.

One of the notable figures associated with Nendrum is St. Finnian of Movilla. Finnian, a disciple of St. Patrick, spent time at Nendrum before establishing the prominent Movilla Abbey in Newtownards. Movilla Abbey became a significant monastic complex, fostering religious learning and attracting scholars from far and wide.

Opposite the entrance to Nendrum once stood the worlds oldest recorded Tide Mill. The tide mill itself is no longer present, but you can see some stones of the foundation.  While the specific details of the tide mill on Mahee Island have faded into history, it is intriguing to imagine the bustling activity that once unfolded there, with the rhythmic sounds of the mill mixing with the ebb and flow of the tides of Strangford Lough.

The Lough itself used to be known as Lough Cuan, the quiet lough. Then came the Vikings. Things got pretty fractious to say the least. Sites like Nendrum were prime targets. Strangford comes from Norse meaning “fjord of the strong currents”. It was probably around the time of the viking raids that the structures we see the remains of were built. Why they decided to build a huge round tower is beyond me. Would have been a huge beacon to any Viking ship. I guess they felt it provided safety, though the last recorded of the pre-Norman abbots was `burned in his own house' in 974, presumably a Viking raid.

You enter the gate at the outer cashel and head up the hill towards were the church and round tower stood.

There's not much left and quite a bit was likely rebuilt by the landowner who rediscovered it in the 19th century. It's a really beautiful spot though. Through the inner Cashel is the Church along with a medieval sundial which would have been just outside the entrance to the church. In the path leading to the entrance there are stones marking the graves of the priests who worked and lived here.

Nendrum offers a glimpse into the lives of the monks who once lived here, firing the imagination and showcasing the craftsmanship and devotion of those who built and inhabited this place.

The lough itself ranging from deep cobalt to shimmering turquoise, depending on the time of day and weather conditions. The waters reflecting the moods of the sky,  delivering a treat for the eyes.

Below are some pictures from the old Shipyard area heading along past the army barracks towards the village of Holywood. About 5 miles, this stretch is mostly road and buildings, the least attractive part of the path.

The name itself when broken down seems to mean "The Stone Palace of the Sunny View". The views from the top really are something, though you'll need good luck in Donegal to get the sun. I was lucky the day I headed up.

According to legend, anyone who enters within its walls must be cautious, as the fort is believed to possess magical powers. It was said that if you shared a secret within the fort, soon everyone would know. Below the fort the giants of Inishowen are lying sleeping but when the sacred sword is removed they will spring to life reclaiming their ancient lands.

Myths also link the fort to the legendary Tuatha De Danann, a mythical race of god-like beings with supernatural abilities in Celtic mythology. These powerful beings are said to have come to Ireland from the north of Europe, where they had spent many years honing their arts and magic.

One of the most significant figures among the Tuatha De Danann was God Dagda, a powerful leader who is said to have built Grianán Of Aileach. Known as Eochaid Ollathair, "the All-Father," Dagda was revered for his mighty weapon and his role as protector of all people.

As with all great stories, the origins are steeped in tragedy. Dagda and the Tuatha De Danann were at war with their enemies, the Fomorians, when Dagda's son Aedh was killed by Corrgenn, a Connacht chieftain. The fort was then erected around the son's grave.

After its fantastical beginnings, Grianán Of Aileach is intertwined with the lives of  Irish kings. Aileach was inhabited by the northern Ui Néill dynasty from 789 to about 1050. It acted as their Capital up until the twelfth century. However, as it was destroyed in 1050, it was the capital in name only. It was the site where the Kings of Aileach held their inauguration ceremonies.

It is written in the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick that Patrick blessed the fortress and left a symbolic flagstone there prophesying that many kings and clerics would come from the place.

This was a period when many of the local kings in Ireland were moving to the towns founded by the Vikings or into more important ecclesiastical sites which by this time seemed to have been functioning as towns following the model set by the Vikings.

It has been suggested that one of the two sites marked as Regia (or royal place) on Ptolemy's map of Ireland, may be identified with the Grianán. The site itself is ancient. Some early texts refer to Aileach as metaphorically being the oldest building in Ireland.

The round fort is built largely without mortar. The interior has three terraces and wooden structures were built against the terraces to provide accommodation. The outline of Bronze Age or Iron Age ramparts can be seen below the fort.

The Irish annals record its destruction in 1101. Today, it stands as an Irish National Monument, having been restored. Excavations within the fort have uncovered the remains of an early Christian church, ancient coins, and pottery.

Despite its rich history, Grianán Of Aileach isn't a popular tourist destination, when I visited there was one other family wandering about it. However, its stunning location and the history surrounding it make it a must see if you are interested in Ireland's past.

It originally had 80 upright stones, 64 still stand today with the rest lost through time. The inner circle is raised and quite bumpy, folk reckon there were smaller burial mounds within and stones were taken by locals over time. The circle is believed to date to c.1400 BC.

The name ‘Beltany’ derives from the spring festival of Bealtaine.

Beltaine, or Beltane was celebrated with bonfires on the top of hills, and moving livestock to summer pastures. These celebrations were believed to ensure a good harvest for the year and protection for the cattle.

It has been suggested that the name of the site is an indication that the site’s function as a pagan ritual centre had survived in the folk memory of the local population.

A folk tale about the site is that standing stones are actually people who were punished by God for daring to dance on the Sabbath. There's one stone that stands outside the circle and that was the musician.

Whatever the reasons for the stones it's a very beautiful place and well worth your time to stop, pause and reflect.

Minnowburn is, as the name suggests, a burn that takes it's name from the minnow that would be found there. It's a regular enough walk for me when I'm not really in the mood for the hills or coast. I could ramble on about the history of the place but I'll just let my collection of photos over the past few years speak for it. Roughly in the order of the walk down to the river, up round to the henge then back down the hill.

Glenariff, from the Irish Gleann Aireamh, meaning 'arable valley', is one of the nine Antrim Glens in Northern Ireland with Glenariff Forest Park covering over 1,000 hectares.

Plenty of walks to choose from, the shorter waterfall walk is fantastic and great for the family, though I took the 6km trail - about 2 hours with stops to take photos and just admire the views.

You start out from the car park winding your way down the hill to the river. I'd forgot lunch so handy enough there's a pub by the river. Quick refreshment then along past a waterfall and cross the river heading up the other side.

Beautiful forest walk, then out in the open, back up the other side and the views! Waterfalls, the river, the valley. You need a moment just to pause and take it all in. Not much more to say about Glenariff other than it's worth a day of your time at the very least.

I love getting up the Belfast hills just as the light fades. The views at the top of Divis on a good day are food for the soul.

It's not an overly arduous walk, about an hour and half in and out if you do the summit trail. The ridge trail is longer with great views East.

Looking at maps and the weather forecast, as it was a pretty wet day, I decided to head up the Antrim coast. Ossian’s grave looked like an interesting first stop.

Couple of tips for those who want to visit;

1. Don’t use Apple Maps. It’ll lead you to a house in the town.
2. If using Google Maps don’t go up the final road. It’s a gravel, windy path that is a nightmare to turn the car. Getting back down was a hairy experience of sliding in mud and scraping off the cars underbelly.
3. It’s a steep enough path up to the stones if you aren’t attempting to drive it. So wear good boots!

On a good day the views from here would be stunning. As it was got a taster.

The name Ossian seems to come from Scotland, however in Ireland the myth is based on Oisín. This is an interesting story in itself, with Ossian being popularised by the Scottish poet James Macpherson who apparently discovered the poems of Oisín.

It seems the works were largely his own imagination and Irish scholars were not best pleased. The term Ossianic ballads refers to genuine late Gaelic poems that form part of the common Ulster Scots tradition and should not be confused with the romanticised epics of “Ossian.”

Back in Ireland, according to legend, Oisín was the son of the great hunter and warrior Fionn Mac Cumhaill. That's the giant responsible for the Giants Causeway.

Oisín fell in love with Niamh, a beautiful woman from the Otherworld, and accompanied her to her home in Tír na nÓg ("Land of Youth"). He lived there for several years, but eventually grew homesick and returned to Ireland. On his return, he discovered that centuries had passed and everyone he knew was long dead.

After returning from Tír na nÓg to Ireland he encounters St. Patrick but refuses to convert, with no desire to give up the beliefs and traditions of his ancestors.

One day he was riding his horse when he came across a group of men trying to move a large boulder.

Oisín offered to help, but as he reached down to lift the boulder, his saddle girth broke, causing him to fall from his horse. The fall caused him to instantly age and he died soon after.

Now of course all this makes for a good story but it seems the court tomb dates back to Neolithic times. Still, nice to get lost a while in the stories of Giants and heroes.

Ossian’s grave, or Lubitavish Court Tomb as it’s also known, is just outside Cushendall on the Antrim Coast, nestled amongst the Glens of Antrim. It is the best known of the estimated 18 court cairns found in County Antrim. The layout in this case is of a 'horned' cairn or 'lobster tomb', and it is believed to have been built in the early Neolithic period, about 3500 BC.

This is an area steeped in history, the Mountain the grave sits on (Tievebulliagh) was a Neolithic axe industry with its Axe heads being found across the British Isles.

Northern Irish poet John Hewitt loved this place. He would often visit the Glens of Antrim, writing about the landscape and seeking refuge in the isolation of it all. In his memory a cairn was built next to the supposed resting place of the ancient Bard.

We stood and pondered on the stones
whose plan displays their pattern still;
the small blunt arc, and, sill by sill,
the pockets stripped of shards and bones.
The legend has it, Ossian lies
beneath this landmark on the hill,
asleep till Fionn and Oscar rise
to summon his old bardic skill
in hosting their last enterprise.
This, stricter scholarship denies,
declares this megalithic form
millennia older than his time –
if such lived ever, out of rime –
was shaped beneath Sardinian skies,
was coasted round the capes of Spain,
brought here through black Biscayan storm,
to keep men’s hearts in mind of home
and its tall Sun God, wise and warm,
across the walls of toppling foam,
against this twilight and the rain.
I cannot tell; would ask no proof;
let either story stand for true,
as heart or head shall rule. Enough
that, our long meditation done,
as we paced down the broken lane
by the dark hillside’s holly trees,
a great white horse with lifted knees
came stepping past us, and we knew
his rider was no tinker’s son.

John Hewitt - Ossian's Grave, Lubitavish, Co Antrim

On my way home I stopped off at Waterfoot, a small village on the coast. There’s a beautiful beach at Red bay, looking out across the Irish Sea. The weather had dried up a little, so I dandered round past the Church and graveyard to give the legs a good stretch, then back up the Bay towards the pier.

At the end of the bay you can see two caves. These have an interesting story. The one on the right was a hedge School, an illegal school which operated during the time of the penal laws when only Anglican schools were allowed.

Catholic children attended the school, notably James McDonnell who went on to found the Belfast Dispensary and Fever Hospital in 1792.

Beside the school lived Ann Murray who spent 50 years living in the cave until she died aged 100.

Ann was popular with locals and travellers passing by, who would stop for some of her illegal poteen.

The Belfast Vindicator newspaper wrote in 1847 that "few tourists to the causeway have passed by these caves without paying a passing visit to Nanny", as she was known to locals.

Just down the road I noticed a parking bay with info panel and thought I’d investigate. A ruined Church and Graveyard - Ardclinis.

A really beautiful setting , sat in a field by the coast with a small stream running up the side. The first church on this site may date back to the early Christian period. We know that “Ecclesia de Ardglanys” was valued at twenty shillings in the ecclesiastical taxation of 1306-1307, but other than that, its history is obscure. There is a link to its founding by St MacKenna. In the past there were several large stones by the roadside, known as MacKenna’s chair.

These were reputed to have been blessed by this saint, so that any weary traveller resting on them would arise refreshed, ready for their onward journey.

​

Several Hawthorn trees have grown up in the grounds of the old graveyard. One in particular had stones placed carefully around its base, a fairy tree. On its branches offerings or tokens for good luck.

The Hawthorn plays a significant role in Irish folklore, a solitary tree is regarded as a place where the fairy folk gather. If you cut a fairy tree down then bad luck will befall you. You’ll see single trees in farmers fields throughout Ireland. The superstition remains.

All in all a good and educational day out.

Drove down to Kearney Village on the coast of the Ards peninsula.  Mentioned it previously, it's a small village, still inhabited but restored and protected by the National Trust. The village itself is like stepping back in time. Whitewashed cottages surrounding the common green. Narrow lanes leading out onto the shore. All very quaint but beneath it the history. That way of life, easy to romanticise and yet, Nothing about it would have been easy. Or quaint.

In one of the fields there were a few Shetland Cows and I was lucky to arrive when a newborn was finding their feet. Born on Friday during the snow, a villager was telling me how concerned they were he wouldn't make it. But make it he did. They're made of tough stuff. Resilience is a way of life on the coast. A defiance against the cold and the grey.

Feel free to download the high res version and use as you like so long as it's personal use.

Not a busy place at all, only bumped into a few other walkers. Mostly grassland with a great view of Lough Neagh and the Sperrins at the top of the hill.

Park the car at the side of the road, great views of Divis and Black Mountain to the North. All in all it's a really lovely walk with no real difficulty, bit marshy in the fields.

The Route

Beautiful views of Lough Neagh and the Sperrins when you rise over the hill. Then walk back down towards the valley and the Stoneyford river.

At the bottom of the hill towards the Stoneyford river is an earth ring. It is not circular enough to be an Early Christian rath. There have been suggestions ranging from a prehistoric earthwork to a 17th century artillery fort. A board states that they are pretty positive the place has been inhabited for 4,000 years so who knows hey?

Back up the hill past a ruined 18th century cottage, pass a burial mound then back to the car. The townland of the stone doesn't disappoint.

Seamus Heaney wrote Peninsula based on his drives around Ards Peninsula in the 1960s. It's a beautiful poem and he is spot on. As drives go it's a good one.

The Ards Peninsula is a narrow strip of land in the North East of Ireland, extending from the town of Newtownards to Ballyquintin Point. It is surrounded by the waters of Strangford Lough to the west and the Irish Sea to the east. Ards comes from "Aird Uladh", meaning "peninsula of the Ulstermen"

Starting in Newtownards you have Scrabo Tower keeping watch down the Peninsula. A 19th century folly built on Scrabo hill. A memorial to Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry. The name Scrabo is thought to derive from the Irish screabach, meaning thinly covered rock.

First place to pop past as you drive down the west coast is Mount Stewart - a National Trust property now. Credit to the National Trust as they have invested a lot in the peninsula, with many of the spots you might want to stop by being owned and protected by them.

Mount Stewart is a 19th century house and grounds that was owned by the Stewarts (the folk that commissioned Scrabo Tower). The history of Mount Stewart is interesting in itself. A great spot for a walk and picnic in the good weather.

Just down the road is the village of Greyabbey. If antiques and coffee are your thing it's a good place to stop. It gets it's name from Grey Abbey, the first Gothic style building built in Ulster at the end of the 12th century. Founded by the wife of John de Courcy, Affreca. In 1572, Bryan O'Neill burnt Grey Abbey to stop it being used as a refuge for English colonists trying to settle in the Ards Peninsula.

Keep driving down past the village of Kircubbin, heading towards the town of Portaferry. The clue is in the name, it's the point where you can get a ferry across the lough to the village of Strangford on the other side.

Nearly at the tip of the peninsula now, just a few miles down some windy roads to Ballyquintin point.

Ballyquintin point is the most southerly tip of the peninsula, a reserve with farmland owned and managed by the National Trust. You get views across Strangford Lough and out to the Irish Sea, with the Isle of Man visible on a good day.

Heading back up the peninsula now, but on the eastern side - looking out at the Irish sea towards the Isle of Man to the south, Scotland north. The eastern side of the peninsula is a little more developed. When I say developed I mean caravans. Lots of them. Before package holidays to Europe this was where people took their breaks. I remember going to Millisle or Donaghadee and the place was packed in the Summer.

Kearney village, another National Trust property is worth a visit on the way back up. In the 19th century this was a small fishing community. Now it's been faithfully restored by the Trust. Very pretty in the summer with lots of wildflowers down to a rocky shore.

Personally I prefer the west coast of the peninsula but if beaches are your thing Cloughey is the place to go. Never busy any time I've visited.

A point of interest if you like the Neolithic is Millin Bay Cairn. It is a late Neolithic burial monument and appears now as an oval mound of sand, grass-grown, with a surrounding oval stone setting. Excavation in 1953 revealed a complicated sequence of structures under the mound along with the bones of at least 15 individuals, neatly sorted and stacked.

Final destination Orlock Point, just outside Groomsport, a great coastal walk that forms the start of the coastal path into Belfast Lough.

And drive back home, still with nothing to say
Except that now you will uncode all landscapes
By this: things founded clean on their own shapes,
Water and ground in their extremity.
Seamus Heaney

read the poem peninsula

Spotting a pillbox in the landscape today we often see red-brick clad bunkers sticking discretely above the landscape. This isn’t how they would have looked when concealed into the landscape. many techniques were used to hide the pillbox from view; both from the air and aerial reconnaissance and from passing patrols.

Interesting article on the Randalstown defences can be found at frontlineulster.co.uk

It's only about a 40 minute drive from Belfast and heading up Dree hill itself is worth the trip. The Dromara hills are beautiful. Of course, as with most trips I'm always left to wonder what the shape of the land would look like if there were trees.   When you think of the history of the names of places, agriculture and grazing animals have been a staple of the Countryside for thousands of years. So I guess it just is what it is, though I'd love to see a real initiative to rewild Ireland.

Interesting aside that is related to place names and how livestock was valued - the river Lagan has it's source at the Mountain of the Hoof and ends it's journey at Belfast Lough, also known historically as Loch Laigh meaning "sea inlet of the calf".

Not on the walk but a short drive away, at the foot of Slieve Croob, is Legananny Dolmen. It's a Neolithic passage tomb, five thousand years old or thereabouts. The name Legananny is derived from Liagán Áine meaning "Áine's standing stone". Áine being the Irish Godess of Summer.

You head up the side of a farm to get to the Dolmen. Not much else here to see, though there's always the views.

Back in the car and head to the car park at the start of the walk. As I said it's a very straightforward walk up a tarmac path to the summit.  You are free to wander anywhere once through the gate.

So this is pretty much the route you take, up and back;

From the start of the walk up imagination gets fired. Groups of stone here and there along with mounds give a real sense of history. This mountain has been used for thousands of years by communities and was obviously very active in Neolithic times. The dolmen points to this and it is clear that this mountain was of importance to people of the time. Apart from the views, a reason I visited was to see the remains of the burial mound at the summit.

Theres a mound that juts out and standing there you think back to when there was perhaps a homestead of sorts, it's a pefect location for it. Easy to keep an eye out for your flock and see any visitors coming.

About halfway up things start to get a fair bit steeper. I say it's an easy walk but you are going up a Mountain, small as it may be. Looking back down and those views! Last couple of times I've been up I just march up to the top not looking around, then leisurely make my way back down and take it all in.

From this point looking down, move off the path to the right and down the slope to find the source of the river Lagan. It's not much to look at but the Lagan by Belfast is another favourite walk so it's nice to get a look at the trickle here and think on how it shapes the land down to the Lough.

Back to the path and on up. Starts to get a little tougher but more the reason to slow down and just take in the views.

On a warm summers day it's all very pleasant, but being Ireland, this is a rare enough occasion. Expect wind, clouds and all the types of rain you can imagine. Regardless of the weather it's worth it.

I love the anticipation as you head up a hill. It's never the same view. The weather paints a pretty picture and unique every time. Heading on up you start to get glimpses of what's over the top.

The path continues up until you get to the antennaes. Some might complain about how it spoils the landscape but you know, here I am writing an article on the web. A station and it's associated gear is the least of the worlds problems right now.

Head round the side of this and you forget it even exists. If the wind isn't blowing you sideways your breath will be taken by what's ahead of you.

Just awe inspiring. To illustrate what I mean about the weather painting the picture. Pretty much the same spot on what's a more likely day on Croob;

Short climb up to the top now, steep walk up and over a stile to the cairn at the top.  It is believed to be the remains of a burial mound. In the 19th century it was recorded to be 77 yards (70 m) around and 18 yards (16 m) in "conical height", with forty-two "pillar stones" or kerbstones around the edge. Sadly with time and possibly people, it has collapsed.

Some stones have been piled onto other mounds over the years giving the summit the nickname of "The twelve cairns". Traditionally, people would gather on the summit at Lughnasadh where they would add a stone to one of the cairns.

Folk still climb the mountain on the first Sunday in August (referred to as Cairn Sunday or Blaeberry Sunday), and carry a stone up the mountain to help bury the twelve Kings, who are said to be buried at the top.

Beside the cairns is the trig. Achievement unlocked!

On a good day the views really are exceptional. Based on effort/reward ratio it's a must walk. The mountain of the hoof does not disappoint!