Thursday, April 7, 2022 - Day 8 Rostrevor

It was cold and wet in the morning but we knew it was going to clear up later so we decided to get out and about in Kilbroney Park. We set off after lunch and walked into the park with the Synge and Byrne coffee shop in the park as our goal. We heard they had good coffee and pastries. But first Don took some pictures from our bedroom on the 2nd floor and then from the 3rd floor bedroom:

One of the views from our 2nd floor bedroom

The view from the what used to be the boy's bedroom on the 3rd floor.

There are many interesting trees in Kilbroney Park, here are a few:

The park office with Synge and Byrne Cafe, and bathrooms with showers for the tent campers.

The start of the Narnia Trail that we walked part of a few days ago.

 

We grabbed a few pastries to take home and a latte and two "natas" to eat on the patio. A nata is Portuguese custard in a small filo pastry shell and it's the best thing ever.

Synge and Byrne cafe.

This is the view from the outdoor terrace at the cafe.

This oak is being held up by two huge iron supports.

Just outside the entrance to Kilbroney Park and the Fairy Glen were a bunch of these painted rocks, probably by schoolchildren.

And once again through the Fairy Glen because it's such a pretty walk.

But this time we leave the path early and go in a different direction.

This small brook was to our right and runs into the Kilbroney River.

This is the path we were walking with mountains and meadows to our left and the small brook to our right. Not 20 minutes after going a little more on the path it clouded over and started to sprinkle so we cut back across the park and went home. We needed to bring home those extra pastries we bought anyway.

Not long after that the weather cleared up again so out we went, this time to walk by Carlingford Loch.

I took a picture of this mansion because I wanted to look it up. It's the "Victoria House" and here is a small link about its history:

https://www.archiseek.com/2013/1899-victoria-home-rostrevor-co-down/

It was in the news in 2019 when it was a private mansion and up for sale:

Boasting panoramic views of Carlingford Lough, the house is set out over three floors, with extensive accommodation including six en suite bedrooms.

Any new owner can enjoy not only the swimming pool, but also a Jacuzzi, sauna and shower rooms.

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Elsewhere the "magnificent" reception rooms include a formal drawing room, dining room and family room. Other features include a granny flat, detached triple garage, generous space for parking, and a greenhouse.

There are mussel shells all along the shoreline.

Here's me, yelling for Don. He's under the bridge taking brilliant pictures.

Picking up shells.

We found a shortcut from the Loch side of town to our side of town down this wee lane and we got a view of the other side of the bridge on Bridge Street. People here really do say "wee" this or that, we picked up some more tonic at the store and the clerk asked us if we needed "a wee bag". 

Later we're going to Fearons to have a not so wee pint of Guiness and to call the youngest grandchild to wish them a happy birthday and see how many people at the pub we can get to sing happy birthday to them.

Oh, and it's raining again. Quite a lot actually. Wait, nope, now it's stopped.