This walk visits the enigmatic Mountsandel Fort on the outskirts of Coleraine, but tries to do so in a way which maximises the sense of place of this narrow strip of ancient human habitat, which for thousands of years has offered shelter, food, transport and more to many different peoples.
TYPE
Circular walk (some retracing) with riverside and forest sections
DISTANCE
4.5 miles / 7.2 km
SURFACES
Asphalt and well made surfaced paths – some steep sections with steps
HEIGHT GAIN / LOSS
400 feet of descent and ascent
HAZARDS
Pavement section alongside busy A29 over Coleraine “New Bridge”
Short sections adjacent to river – possible issues in flood conditions
The designation ‘Country Park’ does this dramatic riverside no favours. It suggests an area of parkland or forest with a few pleasant wooded walks. Roe Valley Country Park is so much more than this and if explored properly is well worth travelling a distance for a ‘Grand Day Out’.
In just over 2 miles of river you have an impressive rocky gorge with spectacular viewing point; substantial sections of surviving native woodland; the remains of the stronghold of the O’Cahan Clan; clear industrial remains of water power and milling; a flax green with attendant guard tower; a building connected with the potato famine; and Northern Ireland’s first hydro-electric “Electric Light Station” (opened in 1896 and it supplied power to Limavady up until 1963). Despite the major section of pathway currently closed awaiting repair, the quality of walking is excellent whether you are looking for a short stroll or a day’s exploration.
Between the coastal settlements of Downhill and Castlerock there is an extraordinary richness of place. Here you have great beaches, substantial sea cliffs, a classic railway tunnel, a demesne (domain) landscaped on a grand scale and several iconic buildings including the clifftop Mussenden Temple. The human inputs to this landscape came largely from Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry (1730 – 1803), a remarkable man. Brian Fothergill, his biographer, sums him up thus:
Traveller, politician, scholar, collector and the subject of a series of amorous adventures, he was a continuous source of amazement to his contemporaries. Horace Walpole condemned his profligate folly, John Wesley praised his plenteous good works, and George II denounced him as “that wicked prelate”.
‘The Mitred Earl’ by Brian Fothergill
His other popular handle ‘The Edifying Bishop’ referred to his fondness for constructing grand edifices of which Downhill Castle was one. In this walk you will experience a great natural landscape, but one curated and adjusted by a showman with style!
My OpenStreetmap derived maps feature prominently on all the route descriptions and that might suggest that I believe these are the only maps you need to carry. However, this is far from the truth. In particular if you are on open mountain, you should be carrying a quality topographic map with accurate contours. For our purposes this means an Ordnance Survey NI 1:25,000 Leisure Map or, in the case of the Mourne Mountains, a Harveys 1:25,000 Superwalker. These are both available in paper (waterproof) and pre-downloadable smartphone form (Google Maps do not qualify)! Continue reading →
