Dave Byrnes

Round Ireland - 2016

Overview Planned Schedule Map Diary Pictures

Day:	072
Date:	Saturday, 4 June 2016
Start:	Limavady
Finish:	Coleraine
Daily Kilometres:	30
Total Kilometres:	1983
Weather:	Warm, humid and mostly overcast
Accommodation:	The Grange B&B
Nutrition:	Breakfast: Full Irish Breakfast Lunch: Muesli bars, Snickers Bars and chocolate Dinner: Sandwiches, raspberry trifle.
Aches:	None really
Highlight:	The spectacular views from Windy Hill over the Atlantic, Lough Foyle and along the coast.
Lowlight:	Firstly, the Ballyquin Loyal Sons of Ulster Annual Band Parade was on in Limavady from 9:00pm to 10:30pm last night, passing by my B&B several times. I was unaware it was on until I heard the noise, and then was too lazy to go and see what was happening, which I later regretted. Secondly, the band parade was followed by a disco that was clearly and loudly audible from my B&B until they closed at 1:00am.
Pictures:	Here
GPS Track:	Here
Journal:	My night was disturbed by the noise from a band parade and ensuing disco near to my B&B, but my main regret was that I did not go down to have a look. The hour was late and I did not know it was going to be on. I was walking by 9am and was stopped a few minutes later by a guy in the street who wanted to know where I was going today (Coleraine) and then wanted to make sure I went via the most scenic route, which it turned out I was planning to do, after I showed him my map. My first 8km was climbing gradually northwards away from the coastal plain up to Hungry Hill. There was little traffic, apart from a couple of tractors with trailers either empty of full of hay. I have met people along the way who complain about the tractors speeding on the single lane rural roads, often driven by unlicensed young kids, and I have certainly seen some very young-looking drivers. Apparently, there is little chance of them being caught by the police, and the size of their vehicles gives them a sense of invulnerability. The walking was enjoyable despite the haze and increasing humidity and I emerged from the climb on a high road that gave views all of the way to the Atlantic, straight ahead, as well as to the west over Lough Foyle and the Malin Peninsula. After three hours of walking I reached a look-out and had my first break while admiring the views. From there, the Ulster Way turned eastwards along the north coast and began descending steadily towards Castlerock, now giving good views to the east. After a very pleasant, and all too short, off-road walk on trails through the leafy Downhill Forest I followed a backroad towards Coleraine. Along the way I got glimpses of the Bann River estuary, the dunes behind Portstewart Strand and Portstewart itself. I took a break along this road, sitting on the ground with my back against my pack leaning against a farm gate. While eating, I heard a low menacing rumbling sound from behind me and turrned to see a bull pawing the ground about 20 metres behind me and the gate. I watched him for a few seconds and decided he was bluffing and finished eating my snack. The rumbling continued, but he never came closer. I reached Coleraine, a good-sized town, around 4:30pm and walked through the busy and long central pedestrian mall, getting more than a few curious looks from the Saturday afternoon shoppers. I found an outdoors shop I had indentified on Google maps and bought myself some new inner socks to replace a pair which now have gaping holes after 1000km. The Icebreaker inner socks I brought with me from Australia seem unaffected by 2000km. I'm a big fan of Icebreaker gear and wear one of their T-shirts (the same one) every day and it still shows no wear and has retained its shape. It's expensive, but you get what you pay for. From the mall I walked another 1.5km to my B&B and checked in soon after 5pm. Later I visited a nearby supermarket, and in the absence of other reasonably-priced options, bought some sandwiches for dinner.