Chapel Island

I spent this afternoon with four other National Trust volunteers and staff on Chapel Island (above) today.

Chapel Island lies directly west of Greyabbey in County Down.

This is a small island on Strangford Lough, barely a dozen acres I imagine, with the remains of a ruined chapel, once attached to Movilla monastery.

Strangford Lough has another island of the same name further south, beside Jackdaw Island and near Audley's Castle.

At low tide, the island is accessible by foot from the mainland, the short walk taking about fifteen minutes.

All that remains of the chapel is a pile of stones spread across a small area; and it's totally obscured by bramble, nettles and other weeds.

Today we removed electric fencing in preparation for a new fence.

EARLIER we spent some time weeding the garden at the old schoolhouse, Mount Stewart estate.

There remains an old water pump, manufactured by Miskelly & Co, of Ards.

Can anybody recognize the tree below?

This Blonde kept her eye on me.