The focus for the second day of my visit to Northern Ireland was to look at the Arctic/Alpine plants on the cliffs at Binevenagh, on the edge of the Antrim Plateau. Here the base rich soils and unstable ground support species including Mossy Campion, Mossy Saxifrage, Purple Saxifrage and Mountain Avens. This is a spectacular spot! The landscape is very similar to the Old Man of Storr area of Skye. The basalt cliffs were once sea cliffs but are now inland, with periglacial conditions causing mass slumping and collapse of the cliff edge. I'll begin with general photos of the walk, which given the glorious weather we have had for the previous couple of weeks, was rather damp and atmospheric!
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| A damp start! |
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| Scrambling up to the cliff base. |
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| Lots of opportunities for photography and scrambles. |
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| Plant hunting. |
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| Mossy Campion. |
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| Mossy Saxifrage. |
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| Early Purple Orchids with a view. |
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| More Mossy Campion. |
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| Wheatears. |
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| What a view! |
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| The scree slopes formed during Peri-glacial activity are now mainly vegetated. |
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| An Exmoor pony stands alone - we saw an Irish Hare here. |
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