Dave Byrnes

Round Ireland - 2016

Overview Planned Schedule Map Diary Pictures

Day:	079
Date:	Saturday, 11 June 2016
Start:	Belfast
Finish:	Bangor
Daily Kilometres:	26
Total Kilometres:	2183
Weather:	Heavy overcast and hazy with some light drizzle to early afternoon, then warmer with some hazy sunshine
Accommodation:	Bramble Lodge B&B
Nutrition:	Breakfast: Fruit & yoghurt, scrambled eggs, toast & jam Lunch: Two sandwiches Dinner: Chicken drumsticks & pasta Caeser salad, ice-cream
Aches:	None
Highlight:	The last 5km into Bangor along the North Down Coastal Path, when a hazy sun appeared, it warmed up, and the local population were out enjoying themselves walking, picnicking and beachcombing.
Lowlight:	None really
Pictures:	Here
GPS Track:	Here
Journal:	I had a long conversation over breakfast with my fellow B&B guests, a Canadian couple who had emigrated from Northern Ireland 40 years ago, but still had their Irish accents. They hadn't regretted their move. Although Northern Ireland is peaceful now, you can still feel there are undercurrents of tension that will probably take many years to dissipate. After breakfast, I walked down to the Bangor Station and caught a train back into Belfast, where I finished walking yesterday, arriving at 10:20am on a cool, hazy and overcast day. I walked around the central area for a while, passing through a very busy and inviting Saturday market, before deciding to begin my walk back to Bangor. The first 10km was through the port area, looking pretty drab on a grey day, and then past a malodorous sewerage treatment plant, before I reached the suburb of Holywood and the start of the North Down Coastal Path. I detoured briefly into Holywood to buy a couple of sandwiches for lunch, figuring it might be my last opportunity, and then returned to the path and walked eastwards. The path followed the coast, passing behind expensive-looking houses, golf courses, and various parks. The weather was improving and more people were out enjoying the day. The coast was mainly rocky, but there were a few small beaches, and the further I went the better the water quality looked. I even saw three seals frolicking in the sea not far offshore. After a late lunch on a park bench overlooking the sea, I walked the last 8km along some very scenic path which occasionally detoured into the woods before I reached a very busy Bangor around 4pm. There was a funfair on the foreshore and various other childrens amusements, all well-patronised on what was now a beautiful afternoon. I returned to my B&B and had one eye on Wales match in the Euro 2016 football while I tried to sort out accommodation for the next four days of walking. Later I walked to a nearby supermarket and bought some dinner then watched some more soccer. I think I will be watching a lot of matches this week.