PROCEEDINGS 



^ 



SUMMER SESSION. 



WHITE PARK BAY. 



The first excursion was held on Saturday, May 21st, White 

 Park Bay, on the north coast of Antrim, being the place visited. 

 A party of some five-and-thirty members assembled at the 

 terminus of the Northern Counties Railway in time to start by 

 the 8.15 train for Ballymoney. Arrived there, the narrow- 

 guage railway was taken, and, proceeding at lower speed through 

 a fertile country, interspersed with extensive peat bogs, a steep 

 descent along the picturesque slopes of Knocklayd brought the 

 party to the little town of Ballycastle. There wagonettes were 

 in readiness, and no time was lost in getting under weigh, and 

 the inland road to Bushmills was taken. The road rises steadily 

 for several miles, and presently beautiful views opened out of 

 Ballycastle nestling among trees, with the huge dome of Knock- 

 layd rising behind ; and further off, the majestic front of 

 Benmore or Fair Head impending over the sea, with the blue 

 mountains of Cantire beyond. Turning northward now, the 

 road ran through low heathery hills, blazing with gorse, and a 

 sharp descent brought the party to White Park Bay, a broad 

 sweep of white shining sand, backed by low Chalk cliffs, and 

 shut in at one end by the black basaltic precipice of Bengore 

 Head, and on the other by the fantastic rock-masses which 

 fringe the shore near Ballintoy. The party were not slow in 

 dismounting, and in making their descent over slopes and 

 swards covered with bluebells and primroses to the strand, 

 where the green foam-capped breakers were roaring in under 

 the influence of a brisk northerly wind. The secretaries had 

 announced that prizes would be given for the best collections 



