The Silent Valley
I recently visited the Silent Valley in County Down on a family trip.
It lies within the beautiful Mourne mountains range and is not very far from the Spelga Dam which lies across another reservoir in the Mournes.
I've walked the Mourne Mountains a few times and several decades ago I had the pleasure of competing in the Mourne Mountain Marathon, a 2 day event.
I would describe the area as just as beautiful a "hill country" as any in Ireland and in fact several of the geological features and small pathways seem quite unique especially the Devil's Coach way.
Northern Ireland Water manage the reservoirs in the Silent valley and were also responsible for the construction of the famous "Mourne wall" itself.
There is onsite parking and a Tea room at the Silent Valley but there's also a £5 Sterling entry fee.
The drystone walling in the area in quite stunning and chiefly composed of walls built with undressed and "raw" rounded Granite rocks sourced from the immediate environment.
Many of the rocks used in wall construction in this area are quite large, making almost cyclopean type structures. My pictures of them are of a poor quality so I beg your forgiveness.
At one time I thought a drystone wall was a drystone wall and it wasn't until I saw the unique building style in East Clare that I finally realised that there are many different local and regional styles of construction.
The large Circular feature in the reservoir at the Silent valley pictured in several photographs in the Post is an overflow, a "plug," if you will.
I've seen several beautiful pictures of similar overflows releasing water and they produce a stunning "whirlpool" effect at those times of High water.
Spelga Dam at a different reservoir is pictured below.
Lying within a reasonable distance from the likes of Dublin and with easy Motorway access to Newry as a Gateway, the Mourne mountains are well worth taking the time to visit or putting on any itinerary.
Keep the wheels turning....
Pictured below are the spillway and different areas within the reservoirs catchment. It's quite nice to be able to get close up to the wonderful construction.
