Area: Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Distance: 9.5 miles Circular.
Map: Sheet 9 of Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland Discoverer Series available from Land & Property Services www.dfpni.gov.uk/lps.
Nearest town to start: Cushendall.
Facilities: Refreshments are available in the nearby village of Cargan or in Glenariff Forest Park. Car parking is available at Dungonnell Dam, in Cargan village and at Drum Wood.
Publication: Dungonnell Way Leaflet available from Ballymena Tourist Information Centre Phone: 44(0)28 2563 5900.
Terrain: This walk takes place on forest tracks and minor public roads.
Walk description: Experience the isolation of the Antrim Hills without getting your feet wet. The Dungonnell Way takes in Dungonnell Dam, Glenariff Forest Park and Skerry East Road, which is probably one of the most attractive, but least used roads in Northern Ireland.
This rewarding walk commands spectacular views, both on the landward and seaward parts of the route. The route passes near the village of Cargan situated in the foothills of Slievenanee Mountain in Glenravel, one of the lesser-known Glens of Antrim, while Dungonnell is located within the Garron Plateau Area of Special Scientific Interest, so designated because of its particular geology.
The plateau is the largest area of intact blanket bog in the north. Home to a large population of red grouse, it serves as a good hunting ground for many birds of prey including the Peregrine Falcon, Buzzard and Hen Harrier.
The beauty of this walk is that you can start at various points on the circuit and walk in either direction. The route is fully waymarked with clear signage at all junctions. A map can be downloaded from WalkNI. com. One of the highlights along the way is Glenariff Forest Park, known for its spectacular waterfalls. For those feeling particularly energetic at this point you can explore more of the forest and its waterfalls by following one of the four other
waymarked trails. These are circular routes and are sign-posted from the forest park car park. The Dungonnell Area lies on the watershed between the source of the Glenariff River, which drops to the sea six miles north at Red Bay, and the source of Glenravel Water, which flows south to meet the River Bann and on to Lough Neagh 30 miles away. Continuing in a clockwise direction, follow the waymarkers to The Drum wood just above Cargan village adjacent to East Skerry Road.
The wood is on gently sloping pasture and takes its name from the winding gear used for taking the iron ore down to the railway. Look out for the artwork created out of steel by Ned Jackson Smyth, named Angel of the Drum, after much discussion with locals and historians. The human outline within the rust-coloured steel, together with the image of the winding wheel, symbolise man's connection with the earth.
Responsible walking: Please remember to practice the principles of 'Leave No Trace' when enjoying the outdoors in order to minimise your impact on the environment.
For more information, visit www.leavenotraceireland.org.
Disclaimer: This information has been provided by WalkNI.com in association with The Irish News. Every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information. However, neither WalkNI.com nor The Irish News can accept responsibility for errors or omissions. Where such are brought to our attention, the information for future publications will be amended accordingly.
n Visit WalkNI.com for route descriptions, maps, and transport and facility information for over 240 quality walks across Northern Ireland.