Rae's Woods

Rae's Wood is a nature reserve/woodland which spans about 2.5 miles along the shores of Lough Neagh in Antrim. The walk itself is very interesting indeed. There is a narrow, winding path which leads one along the woodland walkway, all the while the shores of the lough stretch right up, often covering the grass when the tide is in. The woodland is a great place to do some nature spotting, and on a clear day you can see right across the Lough to Co. Londonderry. Sadly, not everyone is a fan of nature, and the place is reknown for its litter, which is sad because we all know how detrimental that can be to the animals. The swans from the Lough nest in the shallow sections of Rae's Wood, and debris of small boats and other interesting artifacts have washed ashore. The walkway eventually leads up to the Dublin Road, stopping right across the road from the lane that leads to Greenmount. It is a lovely walk, especially in the nicer weather because this time of year it is quite muddy and the breeze off the Lough is very chilly!

We took those photographs back in December, and we can't wait to explore Rae's Woods when the sunnier climate is upon us! Lola loved it, too.

It's that time of year again

Yes folks, we're back on the heritage trail, and not a day too soon! With spring just around the corner and the brighter, lighter evenings approaching we've decided to put on our country casuals and head off on an excursion! Because we live in a funny little town, part town, part countryside we have lots of options when it comes to taking in the scenery, and since we prefer green fields, rivers and wildlife, we decided to visit Greenmount!

We've visited here before (check the tags for photos). Sadly, this time the horses were indoors so we used that opportunity to use the side of their field as a shortcut to the Lily pond. This time of year is a little unsettling because the plants are still hibernating and not much wildlife was on-show, but a lovely walk nevertheless.

I was chatting to my brother the other day about our excursions. Last year we were amateurs on the heritage trail but this year we are professionals! I can't wait until the better weather arrives so we can venture off to the coast and take in the remarkable sights of the North West!

Just to give you a sneak peak of what we plan to visit this year: castles, ancient ruins, old burial grounds, stately homes, the causeway, pony trekking, the Glens of Antrim, The Mountains of Mourne...and the Mediterranean! 

Anyway, we used the opportunity to snap some photos. Not as pretty as the summertime snaps but nice all the same.

Beautiful Manor House

Lily Pond in winter

Wet Lands

Chilling like a villain

The horses field without the horses

Channeling the Jungman sisters

Picnic area

The Round Tower

 The Round Tower is located in an area known as the Steeple and is right next door to my old high school. I suppose I take it for granted because I come here all the time with Lola. Here is a little bit of info:  Antrim Round Tower was built around the 10th century and is one of the finest of its kind in Ireland,  there are only a few Round Towers in Ireland and it was in here that monks would seek refuge from the vikings. It stands 28 metres tall and was built as part of a monastic settlement. Lough Neagh used to run up to the tower via a stream, which is now empty, making it easy access for the vikings to reach the monks settlement.

Next to the Round Tower is a large rock known as the Witches Stone, folk lore tells of a witch named Ann Trim who plunged from the top of the tower and landed on the rock. The rock has two dents which are said to be the markings of her knee and elbow.

The tower now has metal bars on the bottom window, but back in the days before health and safety we used to climb inside the tower and I once broke my wrist jumping from the bottom window!

 Anyhow, I plan to visit the old Ice House tomorrow, weather and head cold permitting!

Lola is loving life!

Take me home!

Sniffing around the witches stone 

Castle Upton & Templeton Mausoleum

Yes! We actually managed to visit three historic places today, next on our stop after Donegore was Castle Upton in Templepatrick. First of all, I have traveled past the stone walls of Castle Upton more times than I can remember and I've often wondered what was inside, I've been told various things ranging from 'A castle' (obviously) to 'apartments' only half true. You can read more about Castle Upton here.

First of all the castle is private property which houses an art gallery and an antique store, so I believe visits to the actual building are only for this purpose. The original castle, complete with a tower was constructed in 1611 with the building being extended in 1783. The Kinahan family currently live in the castle and it is only open for special functions. Do contact the owners before you make an improptu visit as I noticed there is a sign 'No Trespassers.' 

Sadly we could only see the roof of the castle but our main point of visiting the grounds was to venture into the historic graveyard which houses the Templeton mausoleum, this is owned by the National Trust and is open to the public. The gate remains shut, so remember to close it on your way out. Read more about the Mausoleum here.

Although over three hundred years old the graveyard is easy to maneuver around, some headstones have fallen down but all in all they are in very good condition. The large tombs and statues are interesting and I noticed a grave from 1734. The Mausoleum's doors were open, so we had a look inside, I snapped some photos of the Viscount's headstones to give you an idea of who lived at Castle Upton a few centuries ago!

Take a look at the photos and click to enlarge, the writing on the headstones is very clear.

Inside the Mausoleum

A wagon wheel on the gate

Pathway leading to and from the graveyard

Donegore Motte & St. John's Parish

"On a clear day this historic pre-Anglo-Norman motte has views of six Ulster counties. In earlier years the "Motte" was believed to have been a Passage Grave, but around 1798, it was an important meeting place for the United Irishmen preparing for the ‘Battle of Antrim’. The picturesque St. Johns Church is located close by and has recently been restored" Source Discover Northern Ireland.

I've always been curious about this church, often as I drive toward the motorway to Belfast I can see the church high on a hill. Mark and I set off along the country roads to Donegore to find this hidden gem, accidentally we missed the turn off and drove up what was the original motte, as we ascended the steep hill the views of the six counties were spectacular but unfortunately we couldn't stop and take photos as traffic along the windy narrow road can be quite hazardous.

Finally we realised the entrance to the old churchyard is actually close to two houses, one pink and one blue, the blue one was an original 18th century pub called The Motte House. We parked outside the stone walls and opened the gates to get inside. This is part of the adventure, wondering if one is trespassing or not! We noticed a small charity box on the gate so we dropped a few pounds into the collection.

The graveyard is very unlevel but beautifully maintained, there is no litter and the stones have gradually fallen over or were unreadable due to wear and tear, although some were still very clear. The most unsettling part for me was having to walk on some poor souls graves, as I find this quite disrespectful if one can avoid it, and there were some unmarked graves (pauper?) and once again I found this quite unnerving. However, the beauty of the stones, ranging from 18-19th centuries were magnificent, with elaborate wording and beautiful craftsmanship, of course there were some modern granite stones erected in memory of ancestors but this did not detract from the eerie atmosphere where everything seemed lost in time. From the highest part of the graveyard, (some tombs were accessible by steps) we noted the lovely view of the fields. As you can see from the photographs the plots ranged from very simple WW1 veterans plots or ostentatious family tombs.