The Lecale Way

For the past two days we have been traveling along a semi-popular route called the Lecale Way.  The trail has followed the coast heading in a southwest direction and taken us through many lovely small towns and rural areas.  The weather continues to be great and it has been fun to see the local farmers taking off straw and barlage.

We started this section in Strangford, after taking a three hour bus trip which included five transfers from Bangor.  The first night we stayed in a B and B in Ardglass and we finished the route in Newcastle, in the shadow of the Mourne Mountains.  Being the eternal optimists that we are we thought we could hike from Ardglass to Newcastle in one day without a problem. However, it turned out that would be over 30 km, on sore feet. We made it to Ballykinler and had to call it a day, still putting in 25 km.  Karma was smiling on us; just as we were about to call a taxi one pulled into the gas station we were at and was able to give us a lift. We made it to Newcastle where we will spend two nights.  It is a beautiful town squished between the sea and the Mourne Mountains.  Tomorrow we
tackle the biggest peak on the trail, luckily without our packs, tomorrow we are day hikers!

Our Lunch Spot that day