It’s taken a few days to sort these photos out, it’s been a pretty shite week but the mists seem to be clearing 🙂

On Sunday past the usual suspects took a walk along the Lagan Tow Path from Stranmillis to Lisburn. This is about 10 miles on a easy flat surface. I don’t think I’ve posted pictures from this one before. Over the 10 miles we followed the course of the Lagan river and at some points to overgrown canal which used to connect Lough Neigh with Belfast Harbour.

Loads of nice trees to see, but hard to photograph as they are close to you and surrounded by others. Some wildlife around too, I did my best to capture a feel for the walk and as many points of interest as I could.

I’ll start with a few river shots.

Part of the disused canal system that has silted up and in many places overgrown with reeds etc. Great for wildlife but an opportunity missed for tourism.

I love seeing the waterside trees hanging their branches low over the river.

Many old Oak’s in the area. Lots of dead branches poking out of the tops. Don’t think I have ever seen this reflected on a bonsai from the UK.

Spotted this old deadwood on the interior of an oak. The grain was just beautiful.

The path is part of a major cycle network.

Some of the wildlife.

Thought I had spotted an otter!!

Turned out to be my dog Smudge 🙂

Some nice old Beech trees with interesting nebari.

We walked past the old Barbour Threads Mill lying in disuse since 2006. Sad to see but in someways interesting to see nature taking back what was once fields. That glass looks a tad dangerous!!

Stephen’s wee legs just couldn’t keep up 😉

As usual pollution could be seen but on the whole, the waterway was very clear considering it was a stretch of water linking two Cities.

One of the other major issues on this stretch of river is the spread of Japanese or Himalayian Balsam. Any pink flowers you see in the photos are most likely from this plant. At points along the river, it’s 2 metres high and has choked out the native plants. The only place where I saw that it had been sprayed was below the council offices in Lisburn. The RSBP has been working hard in recent years with volunteers.

This is some after spraying.

It’s a great walk and if desired you could walk all the way to Lough Neigh. I’m afraid that wasn’t an option for me!!