Northern Ireland has an abundance of wonders and sights to see – both natural and man-made. The Silent Valley is no exception to that.
I had visited this stunning location many years ago as a young child and so I had no real memories of the place. I recently had a quiet week off work, and this was the perfect opportunity to visit a few well-known locations not far from where I live.
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Before I dive in, let me introduce myself – my name is Niamh. I am from Newry and have lived there my whole life. I am a photography hobbyist, having purchased a Nikon D3400 in September last year my interest in photography has grown and I love the chance to get out with my camera and get a few snaps. There are so many different techniques, types of photography and gadgets to get your head around – but the results can be so satisfying.
I absolutely love the road from Newry up to this part of the country. Shortly after you pass Hilltown you’re in the mountains and it feels like stepping into rural Ireland– if anyone has been to Donegal, it reminds me of the mountainous roads there. You’re surrounded by the tall mountains of the Mournes, which rise to greet you on either side of the winding road.
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On my way to the Valley I always stop at Spelga Dam Reservoir – another man-made wonder, it’s worth a stop for sure. Spelga Dam was built as part of the overall project to supply water to Co. Down and parts of Belfast and was constructed in the mid-20th Century. You probably won’t spend too much time here, especially if it’s a cold or windy day, as there isn’t a huge amount to see here. There is a small car park so you can stop and get out for a walk around the short path and over to two wooden platforms for viewing.
If you veer to the left, you’ll come to a bridge with a small waterfall – this leads to the second viewing platform and a wooded area. If you’re lucky, you can see some of the wild trout that reside in the reservoir swimming up the waterfall (most likely to lay eggs) and it’s quite something to see! I saw this myself just recently as Brown Trout will spawn right up until late November.
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From Spelga Dam, it’s another 15 minutes or so to the Silent Valley and for this one you do have to pay a small entry fee of £4.50 per car. There’s a sizeable car park and toilets nearby before you start, which I would recommend using beforehand! You’ll also need to check opening times for whatever time of year it is, as it can close between 4pm and 9pm, depending on when you make the trip.
In your welcome map you will see several routes marked out that you can take – I have completed the Nature Trail (1.1 miles), the Reservoir Trail and the Mountain Trail. From the car park you can also see the pair of Red Squirrels recently introduced to the area or stop and feed the ducks in the small lake.
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The walk up to the reservoir itself will take about 10 minutes although you may want to stop along the way as there are markers and signs that will tell you a little about the history of Silent Valley and its creation – I found this completely fascinating. The project began in 1903 with the first challenge being to divert water from the Kilkeel and Annalong rivers to a reservoir near Carryduff. In 1923 work then began to build the dam in what was then known as ‘Happy Valley.’ This part of the project took 10 years plus the hard work and dedication of 2000 men.
The area was developed into a small village known appropriately as ‘Watertown.’ On the walk to the reservoir make sure to stop at the reconstructed house which would have been typical of the residents in Watertown. At its peak, there was a cinema, and a railway system to bring men to and from the site of construction.
The Slieve Binnian tunnel was then dug and constructed between 1949 and 1952, with the Ben Crom reservoir being added by 1957. The men faced a number of challenges (which is why it took 10 years!) but ultimately the project was a major success and Silent Valley plus it’s additional reservoirs now supply around 30 million gallons of water to approx. 400,000 people.
You can follow Niamh on Instagram.
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Visiting the Silent Valley Northern Ireland has an abundance of wonders and sights to see – both natural and man-made. The Silent Valley is no exception to that.
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