The Gillet steps/Ballymacran Bank.
Enjoy the peace and quiet, take in the fantastic scenery and savour the backdrop of the step profiled Binevenagh Mountain to the northeast and the famed hills of Donegal striding along the Inishowen skyline to the west. Between lies Lough Foyle, Northern Irelands biggest expanse of estuary, enlivened by the evocative primeval calls of waders and wildfowl.
In the nineteenth century, the Honourable Irish Society set about “reclaiming” large areas of mudflat in Lough Foyle.
The Irish Society engineers designed sea walls to enclose sections of the eastern side of the Foyle estuary. With the sea water excluded, cultivation began on these richly fertile, level lands – some of the most fertile in Ireland. As well as creating polder lands (lying below sea level!), the newly established “dry” land offered a low cost route for the new railway connecting the cities of Belfast and Londonderry.
Ballymacran Bank is one of the sea walls built 170 years ago. A rough track runs inland of the sea wall to facilitate maintenance of the sea defences.
The Cache
The Cache is a medium sized Click-lock box placed inside a waterproof bag. It contains a logbook, pen/pencil and several trade items. As usual please only trade up or even and feel free to write as much as you want on the log. Its always better to read about your experiences rather than just SL TFTC!! Due to its location please seal the bag and place back exactly as found. The track mentioned above is perfect for walking with the kids/hounds but please be extremely carefull if walking up the steep banks or along the sea walls.
Parking
There is plenty of parking at GZ but please do not obstruct the steps or gates.