BSW3A 1. Glacial deposit

Speaker: John McGroaryFrom The Bluestack Way - Part 3 playlist.Directions After the old ruined cottage, following this track for approx. 2km gives the walker fine views across Donegal Bay on a clear day. Young plantations of conifers are fast becoming the prominent landscape feature of this ares.  A right turn through a gate at the bottom of this track leads you north again toward the mountains. On climbing this track you enter an area of traditional peat extraction on an area of lowland blanket bog, much of which lies derelict, but some turf banks are clearly visible and still worked today. After a further one kilometre, the walk goes across country and follows the waymarkers over the bogland. Care must be taken to follow the chosen route as this area can become very wet in some seasons and it is not advised to deviate from the marked pathways.  This area is also a working upland sheep farm and is in private ownership. Care must be taken to leave all gates as they are found unless signs indicate their closure and only cross fences using the stiles provided for this purpose.  Towards Donegal – John Boyd  The halo of sun now hldes the hills Of Donegal, while here I stand Watching the gathering cloud that falls Over those hills nightly, like a fan Unfolded in an orient tale. I have never known those lost hills Nor their people; nor the soft tongue Spoken there; nor the silence that falls With soldered sun; nor valleys along The crackling coast now bare of sail Or smoke of ship; Yet I can tell My children legends woven there In winter’s woe; and telling feel The spell in the wondering stare Of candid eyes captured by the living tale.  Our audio piece has John telling us how the valley we have come through is in fact the result of glacial deposit.