Mountains and Hills of County Antrim - Cavehill, Divis, Tievebulliagh, Glens of Antrim, Glencloy, Black Mountain, Slemish, Glentaisie, Glenariff (Paperback)

Chapters: Cavehill, Divis, Tievebulliagh, Glens of Antrim, Glencloy, Black Mountain, Slemish, Glentaisie, Glenariff, Glendun, Glenshesk. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 39. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Cavehill - Cavehill rises to almost 370 metres (1200 ft) above sea level. Most of its lower east side lies on the Belfast Castle estate, which has as its focal point the imposing 19th-century Scottish baronial castle. The castle was designed by Charles Lanyon and constructed by the Marquess of Donegall in 1872 in the Deer Park. The slopes of Cavehill were originally used as farmland but, from the 1880s, a major planting exercise was undertaken, producing the now familiar deciduous and coniferous woodland landscape. Belfast Castle estate was given to Belfast city by the 8th Earl of Shaftesbury in 1934. Belfast Castle There are three large caves. The lowest is 21 feet (6.4 m) long, 18 feet (5.5 m) wide and varies from 7 to 10 feet (3.0 m) in height. Above this is another cave; 10 feet (3.0 m) long, 7 feet (2.1 m) wide and 6 feet (1.8 m) in height. Above this is the third major cave, said to be divided into 2 unequal parts, each of which is more extensive than the larger of the other caves, but the ascent is notoriously dangerous and thus few venture to it.The caves are man-made, and it is postulated that they were originally excavated for iron-mining. Adjacent to the lowest cave is 'The Devil's Punchbowl', also sometimes called 'The Devil's Cauldron', a site where ancient celtic farmers corraled their cattle. This consists mainly of a steep hill, mainly of rocks and boulders, and is considered dangerous to amateurs. This fort, on the summit of the hill, is an example of an old rath or ring fort. It is protected on one side by a precipice and on the others by a single ditch, 10 f...More: http: //booksllc.net/?id=3531433