White Park Bay
You know me, any excuse for a trip away. So, I find myself in Northern Ireland. I’ve hired a car and before I head west, I stop for a night in County Antrim. My main mission here is to see the Giant’s Causeway, one of the hundreds of things on my ‘places to see’ list. This is a very long list and if I live to 100, I am unlikely to see everything on it.
Although warned, I am not fully prepared for the four seasons in one day that is Ireland in the summer. I want to see the causeway at dawn, so head off in the dark. Like so many places now, this natural wonder is safely hidden away behind beautiful ticket offices, museums and gift shops, so I can’t take the sea level path, but I can walk along the cliff tops and walk down some stairs that will bring me down to the beach. The beautiful day that was promised is now grey, damp and misty giving the place a much different feel. There is a silence.
The Giant's Causeway is made up of some 40,000 massive black basalt columns caused by volcanic activity 50-60 million years ago. And they really are huge. Their geometric shape is definitely awe inspiring. I can completely understand how the sight has inspired legends of giants striding over the sea to Scotland.
Later I visit the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, which is a rope bridge near Ballintoy, Northern Ireland. The bridge links the mainland to the tiny island of Carrickarede. It spans 20 metres and is 30 metres above the rocks below. It is loved by a variety of sea birds that cling to the cliff faces.
However, for lunch I look for a quieter beach. I find White Park Bay. Completely hidden from the car park, I have to walk a fair distance if I want to find a spot to stop and enjoy my lunch with a view of the sea. When the beach finally comes into view, it is an unexpected jewel. Vast open space of golden sands, almost completely deserted. The winding path to the sand leads passed an empty building, certainly abandoned by its inhabitants decades ago. Its still beautiful, in its decay and I take several photographs of it. My preference is for the image in black and white.
The tide is going out and there is a slight breeze. I find a pebble which has emerged from the sea, there is still sand clinging to it. The sand is drying in the light wind and creating an interesting design. I do get the feeling that a moment ago this pattern didn’t exist and if I return in 5 mins it will have disappeared.
It is while I am still wandering along the beach that I notice a herd of cattle walking along the sand. They walk at the edge of the water with some confidence, they clearly do this route quite often. They are fairly tolerant of people coming close with phones to photograph them, I am pleased that as usual I have my long lens and can get some wonderful photographs without disturbing them. I stay until they have completely disappeared from view on the other side of the beach.
They have completely made my day. The experience has left me with a smile on my face and I can see the other people on the beach have smiles too. Although not an exotic wild animal these cows undeniably have the power to make people happy.
This image is always a talking point and always makes people smile.
