***N.B. the D/T ratings; this beach is rocks & large pebbles all the way consequently it is difficult & tiring to walk. It will also be challenging to litter-pick in this terrain. You will be here for around 1 ½ to 2 hours***
Although unlikely the terrain rating may decrease if conditions are notably better than expected on the day of the CITO. The beach itself is unsuitable for buggies, young children and anyone with mobility difficulties (though there is a more suitable track just above the beach that can be seen in the surrounding photo).
Go to the end of Moor Road, turn to the left and park parallel to the beach.
Litter pickers, gloves, hi-vis vests, bags etc will be provided on the day.
We can't guarantee the weather but you can be sure of a cuppa, a bun and a bit of craic after the clean-up. A few travel bugs & geocoins may even emerge to be discovered or grabbed! (Biscuit Cake may also make an appearance). If you wish really hard the cache fairy may wave her magic wand and a new cache or two may appear on the day…so be extra good!
‘Keep NI Beautiful’ (formerly ‘TIDY Northern Ireland’) have once again invited geocachers to be part of the Marine Litter Survey Programme. KNIB are monitoring the level of beach litter at fourteen beaches in Northern Ireland one of which is Kilkeel Beach. To meet the programme criteria, each beach will need to be cleared of rubbish following the litter survey to ensure that items are not counted twice…that is where our CITO comes in!
The OSPAR Commission run a programme with fifteen countries within Europe to co-operate to protect the marine environment of the North East Atlantic. The data collected is vitally important as it will help provide an overview of the problem of marine litter not only in Northern Ireland but across the whole of North East Atlantic. The data will then be used to help to formulate solutions to address the problem of marine litter.
There will hopefully be further CITOs over the coming year so if you can’t make this one you may make it to another. We plan to visit several different beaches so that almost everyone has the opportunity to attend a CITO reasonably close by.
Photo in the description: Moor Road Beach Kilkeel © Copyright Rad Szopinski (facebook-radsphoto) Surrounding photo: Track to the beach from Moor Road © Copyright Eric Jones and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence in www.Geograph.ie