Walks through picturesque countryside

Two events - next Saturday and the following week - are suitable for walkers of different levels of experience.

On Saturday, February 20 the walk to Slieve Bernagh in the Mournes will take around four-and-a-half hours to complete.

It will be over six miles and is graded as very difficult.

There will be easy walking on quarry track then open ground with steep ascent to summit and steep descent back to Hare's Gap. The walk starts and finishes at Meelmore Lodge where cars can be safely parked. There will be a meal in a seafood restaurant afterwards.

Anyone interested is asked to meet at Ballygally car park at 9.30am or Meelmore Lodge at about 11.15am. Please contact Cowper Lynas on [email protected] (telephone 028 2858 3483, mobile: 078 55 960 870) if you intend walking so that a meal can be booked. There is a charge of 5 for this walk.

The following week, Saturday, February 27, the walk will be from Ballypatrick Forest to Glenshesk.

It will be over six miles and is graded as moderate / difficult.

It is on a forest track through Ballypatrick, then open moorland, which can be wet and boggy in places, before finishing along a minor road.

The walk will take between four and four-and-a-half hours. It costs 5.

Anyone interested is asked to meet in the Ballygally car park at 10am or Ballypatrick Forest at about 11am.

More details from Cowper Lynas at the above contact details.