Journal Volume 7 2013

The Glen of the Downs (continued/1)

Behind the cottage is a winding path, which speedily conducts the active pedestrian to this object of curiosity, and an easy and gently ascending road winds round the hill in a southern direction, and back to the Octagon Temple. The high road is continued through the bottom of the glen to the gate of Belle View demesne, and thence to Delgany village and church.

Mrs "Latouche’s" cottage

The most judicious arrangement for visiting the glen of the Downs, Belle View and Delgany, after reaching the cottage, is as follows:

having visited Mrs. Latouche’s Cottage, ask permission to walk through the woods along the private road to the top of the hill, while your carriage drives through the glen, by the high road, to the gate of Belle View demesne, where it should remain until the return of the party. As the hill is ascended, an extensive prospect of rich and cultivated Downs, is had at each extremity of the glen, and from which, as has been mentioned, it derives its name; to the north the Sugar-loaf Hill, in form of a perpendicular cone, the vertex of which is composed of horn stone, with quartz rock of a purplish or pale pink colour; the apex of the cone is extremely pointed, the mountain itself completely insulated, and measuring 2,004 feet above the level of the sea. The Great and Little Sugar-loaves, together with Bray Head and Shankill, are all detached mountains, and being composed mostly of quartz rock, stand … like so many monuments that have resisted the abrading power of the elements, while their more decomposable associate clay slate has given way.