2nd Ahoghill Company Section returned to the Antrim Hills as we climbed to the highest point in the County at the top of Trostan mountain.
It was our first hike since the Boys’ Brigade COVID-19 restrictions had been lifted, and we were blessed with clear blue skies throughout.
We began with a short walk along the Ballyeamon Road, which leads to Cushendall, before hopping over a stile to follow the marker posts of the Moyle Way. The well-worn route lead us upstream along the edge of Esathohan Burn to the impressive waterfall which is fed by several streams. From there we entered the northernmost section of Glenariff forest and continued northwest, following the course of one of the smaller streams.
After meandering our way through the trees for around 1km we emerged onto the grassy southern slopes of Trostan, it was here that we abandoned the Moyle Way and headed straight for the summit. Thankfully the ground was fairly dry underfoot, however, we still had to avoid the various ditches and divets lurking beneath the long grass.
We eventually reached a fence line that guided us to a stile at the edge of the plateau at the top of Trostan. A short walk through the rocky, barren terrain led us to the summit, where we unfurled our BB flag for a group photo before settling down to eat our lunch and take in the views.
With our legs rested and our stomachs filled we began our descent, following the same route we had taken on the way up until we reached the cars.
It was an enjoyable introduction to the Antrim Hills for the boys who attended, and will hopefully mark the first of many outings in future.
