The mountain beckoned and I heeded its call. The steady ascent up the steep incline had shifted the hangover somewhat. It had been so long since my last cycle across the range of hills and mountains, I was a bit disorientated and picked the wrong access route. Ploughing on regardless became a real effort as the smooth tarmac road was nowhere close by, the ground wet, and the boggy bits tricky to navigate with a heavy bike. A map would have been useful (see below) but it would also have detracted from the experience. Finding some shelter from the wind, I sat in shorts on my backup trousers and ate a baguette stuffed with peperoni, ham and cheese looking at a spectacular view of Belfast. I must get some binoculars. Without even my TV glasses, I only identified the obvious landmarks (City Hospital, Ashby Building at Queen’s and so on.) About an hour or so later I spotted the road near Divis’ peak, wiped the boggy mud off my soaked shoes and made a quick descent to bath and shower and warmth.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-global/w-northernireland-places_visit-divis.htm%3E
I approached Hannahstown, but turned off onto the track that leads to the TV mast above the quarry. Another 500m and I could have turned right onto the road that takes you across the top of the mountain and passes the peak of Divis which is accessible by bike, if a bit steep.
odespinner 