Murlough Bay

Some of the people from the hiking group I used to hike with invited me to go hiking today. So hiking I went--something that was rare even before lockdown due to Paddy duties. I've hiked Fairhead many times but this time we came from a different angle, beginning at Murlough Bay. And here are some of the views:

This view looks back toward Murlough Bay--home to two shooting locations for Game of Thrones. Not too shabby, right? It was a really nice group. Two members brought dogs. I was glad not to have Paddy, who has very bad manners on lead. And, given it's lambing season, on lead was required.

Above are lots of tufts of bog cotton. Below is our trip leader, Pablo, with Milo.

It doesn't show up but there's a lighthouse in the distance on Rathlin Island. In the farther distance is Scotland, also seen more easily in person.

The weather was perfect. A bit windy, but just a great day to be out and drinking in big gulps of fresh air.  

I have not strayed more than a few miles from my house in three months so it was a real luxury to be spending a day on a landscape of this scale. I have access to Belvoir Forest and the Coastal Path near me, so I really can't complain. But this was a real treat.

My fellow hikers and I compared notes on how we've been spending lockdown, how our moms are getting on, dogs, hiking apps (I pretended I was interested), working from home, and business travel--do we miss it or not.

Rathlin in the distance, home to a massive puffin colony. And lovely guillemots, razorbills, and kittiwakes. Below is what I believe is called an erratic, a term I've always loved. Just a big random boulder.

I wanted to have lunch at this spot but the wind was too strong. The lake turns into a small waterfall that drops down to the sea.

Here's me and my lockdown double chin and my lockdown hairdo. I have my grandfather's ponderous chin, which I don't mind as he was one of my heroes. Mr. Wonderful. Imagine having 10 kids and having that nickname. That takes some doing.

And here's a ruin near the trailhead. Camping is permitted in the field next to these buildings. Over the ridge is Ballycastle in the distance and the Fairhead trailhead is to the right, tracing the cliff's edge in a southern line toward Belfast.

That's it. I shopped in Ballycastle, admired some beautiful artwork, including of the Fairhead cliffs, then drove home, about 1.5 hours. Took to my bed and watched two episodes of The Crown. Ordinarily I try to play golf on Sundays but tomorrow I'm staying home to clean, sand floors, paint floorboards--all the things that have been hanging over me during this busy week.

June 20