Don't rain on our parade

Go Walk:Going to Arigna on water was fun but less so when rain came from above, writes Francis Bradley

IT SHOULD HAVE been three in the boat but that had been done before so it ended up as just two. We were off for a leisurely float up the Shannon followed by a walk in the Arigna Mountains.

For me, the bonus was the float on the Shannon. Because that is what river cruising is about – tootling along at 5 knots, hardly-wind-in-your-hair stuff. All this was new to me, including the prospect of two nights on the boat.

First off, we collected the El Pasa near Albert Lock, close to Drumsna. Still feeling a bit unsteady – I had yet to acquire my sea/river legs – we soon entered the Jamestown Canal which will forever be known to me as Horsefly Alley (figure that one out for yourself). Suffice to say that there were one too many around for my liking.

But I quickly settled into life as the the deckhand, jumping to the commands of Captain Bligh: "pull in this line, feed out that line, take the wheel". What? Me? Take the wheel? The lack of experience was evident as I weaved a drunken course up the river.

After little more than an hour we moored in Carrick-on-Shannon (10 minutes by car) and collected the car for our excursion the next day.

Following a great night's sleep on the boat we headed off for Drumshanbo, the start of our planned walk along part of the Miners Way and Historical Trail which would take us to Drumkeeran. An easy walk by hillwalking standards but, with a distance of 28kms, a good walk nonetheless.

Starting out along the Drumkeeran road from Drumshanbo we continued for about 1km before turning right, at a trailmarker, onto a lane.

Soon, we reached Ballintra Bridge – where the Shannon leaves Lough Allen – and where there are sluice gates controlling the water leaving the lake. The weather forecast was bad for the weekend and the previous evening had seen a fair amount of rain. This day had dawned bright and humid but one glance at the sky told us there was plenty of rain waiting to make its presence felt.

Next up was the Arigna River at Mount Allen and, for a short stretch, we were on metalled roads again before following the line of the defunct narrow-gauge railway which parallels the river.

The trail is quite overgrown in places and we were getting soaked by the vegetation, wet from the earlier downpours.

Arriving at the Miners Bar in Arigna, we re-examined the map and decided to amend our route and take a direct line by road into the Arigna Valley and pick the trail up again at Altnagowlan before climbing Corrie Mountain. Obviously, when you stay on the road, you have a better chance of engaging with the locals and such was the case on this occasion. We were cracking along at a fair pace when the weather caught up with us. First, a light drizzle not even worthy of donning waterproofs, which steadily grew into a persistent downpour. Shelter was necessary. Already, we were soaked and cloud had obliterated the upper reaches of the mountains.

We were near Oswald Lynch's, close to where we should have headed up Corrie Mountain. While we had the necessary gear to complete the walk, the weather diluted our resolve and we decided to concede the contest. This wouldn't have happened 15 years ago before mobile phones. Back then it was either complete the walk or walk back. Not now. We simply dialled 11811 and we were in a taxi back to Drumshanbo in 20 minutes.

It was too early to call it a day (only 3.30pm) so to make up for our cowardly abandonment in the face of a few drops of rain, we visited the Arigna Mining Experience and did the tour. This is an excellent visitor centre which gives a complete picture of life in and around the mines. Our guide Michael, who worked in the mines until they closed in 1992, had a wry sense of humour and regaled us with tales from the "not so old" days.

The next day we went back down the Shannon to our starting point. I am getting the hang of this now – land ahoy and so on.

Arigna Miner's Way

Start and finish: you need two cars or, like us, can get a taxi back

Distance: Drumshanbo to Altnagowlan 13/14kms

Time: 3.5-four hours

Maps: Sheet 26, Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland or try to get your hands on The Miner's Way and Historical Trail Guide Bookwhich is published by EastWest Mapping, Enniscorthy.

Suitability: A moderate walk but a little too long for the very young. Know how to read a map and use a compass. Dress appropriately and bring along drinks and snacks (and dont litter). Also, freshen up on local taxi numbers – you never know!

Accommodation: a boat or plenty of choice in Carrick-on-Shannon and Drumshanbo

Refreshments: The Oarsman for posh bar food. Vittos Restaurant for value. Both are in Carrick-on-Shannon.