10 JUNE 1938, Page 35

TRAVEL NOTES

ULSTER THOSE who like a walking holiday will find plenty to delight them in Northern Ireland. The Mourne Mountains, for instance, is an excellent district for such a holiday. The mountains offer every variety of climbs and walks. There are several peaks over two thousand feet in height, while Slieve Donnard, which is the highest peak in Ulster, rises to 2,800 feet. Here you may wander through glorious valleys and over peaks heather clad in complete solitude, and those who climb to the summit of Slieve Croob will be well rewarded, for the view is a magnificent one. The hills of Antrim are visible to the north, and Lough Neagh gleams westward ; Belfast Lough is nearer, and not far away one can see Strangford Lough, in which, centuries ago, the Danes sailed, giving the Lough its name. South- ward lie the waters of the Irish Sea and the great masses of the Moumes ; the jagged crest of Slieve Bearnagh, and distantly the tops of Slieve Bignian. Below Slieve Croob is an ancient Cromlech. A delightful walk in the Mourne Mountains begins from Poulaphouca (Glen of the Fairies), passes through Hare's Gap, following the old smugglers' path over the slopes of Slievenag- logh to the " Castles " of Cornmedagh ; another is up the valley of Dunnywater to the Blue Lough ; but the visitor will do well for himself whichever way he turns in this district. Another good centre is the Cam- lough country in County Armagh amongst the westerly spurs of the Moumes. A climb to the top of Slieve Gullion is well worth the trouble of the ascent. In Northern Ireland one has a diversity of scenery which it would be difficult to match. The Clogher valley provides a district where walking is less strenuous, while the biggest attrac- tions of Fermanagh are the Upper and Lower Loughs of Erne, dotted with small, wooded islands and set in a countryside which is richly wooded. The shores of these lakes are excellent sites for camping. The Sperrin Mountains, which cover large areas of North Tyrone and South London- derry, give still another type of country. Here one has rolling moorland where trout streams abound. There :ere many beautiful lakes in the area, particularly Lough Fca. The most popular County is, perhaps, Country Antrim, if only on account of the famous Glens, of which there are nine ; all of them deserve a visit. Motorists who have not yet travelled along the Coast Road, which follows the coastline from Belfast to Cushendall, and then crosses the moors to Portrush, will find it a very delightful journey. Golfers, of course, are well provided for in Ulster, where the links arc good, cheap and uncongested. Among the seaside courses the Royal Portrush Club deserves special mention. In the Southern district there is the Royal County Down Club, where the course has a length of 6,400 yards. There are about sixty courses in all, of which the Royal Belfast Club at Craigavad is the premier, having been founded in 1881.

THE NEW a ARANDORA STAR'

The Blue Star Line, in pursuance of their policy in continually keeping the r Arandora Star ' up to date, have recently made many alterations and additions to the accommoda- tion on board. Chief amongst these is the construction of two spacious lounge galleries on " C " deck, connecting the lounge and Music Room with the Smoking and Ball Rooms.

The dining saloon, which accommodates all passengers at one sitting, has been re- arranged and enlarged, and in the main en- trance on " C " deck a large new shop, up to date in every respect, has been installed. The Ball Room, too, has been considerably enlarged, and an entirely new cocktail bar added on " C " deck, just aft of the ballroom.

Fully illustrated brochures describing forthcoming cruises can be obtained from the Blue Star Line, 3 Dower Regent Street, London.