Mourneside Walk, Sion Mills 26 Nov 2023 - v1

Sorry, I needed to delete the previous version as I noticed a few errors. Apologies to those who viewed previously or commented.
This was a miserable wet, and overcast day for taking photographs.
The Swinging Bridge
The "Swinging Bridge" (as it is known locally) or Bearney Footbridge is a suspension footbridge spanning the River Mourne. A much earlier version of the bridge built by the Herdman brothers to allow workers from the townlands of Camus and Bearney on the East bank to access the Hermand’s Flax Mill on the West bank. During a devistating flood of 22 October 1987 the old bridge was washed away, also the banks of the river burst and flooded the nearby town of Strabane. The old bridge was replaced with the one you see today.
The swinging bridge "bounces" slightly as you step across it, some enjoy it and others take fear. The bridge span is 203 ft (62m) and is suspended on two main steel cables with numerious vertial drop steel tension cables. The deck beams and handrails have been manufactured from structrual rectangular hollow section (RHS). It was once the longest suspension bridge in the country.
From the middle of the bridge you will be presented with spectacular views of the River Mourne both upstream to the ‘Grevenue Pool’ and downstream to the ‘Long Streams’ and the surrounding wooded banks of the river. Regularly during the salmon fishing season, anglers will wade the water fly fishing for the allusive salmon. This is a marvellous spot in which to view this active sporting pastime partaken by many locals and visiting anglers.
Access to the bridge is available on both banks with available parking. However, parking on the East bank is at the side of the Liskey Road which is both narrow and busy. For that reason, I’d suggest parking on the West side at the start of the Mourne River Path with is accessible from the main A5 road from Strabane to Sion Mills, turning left at the centre of the village (at the traffic Lights), heading for Herdman’s old Mill & Mourneside River Walk. Parking is available to the right just before the mill gates. From here it’s a short walk down the path that skirts the edge of the Herdman's site, however the mills fading splendour only serves to underline the beauty of the river area once you reach its tree-lined banks and numerous viewing locations.

[@gerrymcveigh]

Aidan, hard to beat Autumn for river and woodland walks👍 Lovely captures of the water and all the structures along the way. That is some size of a weir! A thoroughly relaxing journey👍

[@BigFly028]

Yes, a beautiful area, most of the leaves were down and it was very overcast, not a great day for photography, but good to get out, it's a stone's throw from home. I suppose you'll be taking it easy now until the weather improves before doing another overnight?

[@gerrymcveigh]

If the weather is good I will give it a go any time of year😊

[@kevinmcm19]

i need to work out my camera settings to get photo s like this

[@BigFly028]

The type of camera will have an infulence on the quality of your photos. These were taken on a Nikon D5300 camera with a Nikon 18-200mm zoom lens. I normally use Aperature Priority "A". and set the ISO to 100 or 200. Set the camera aperature to a number between F8 and F16, this will alter the shutter speed. Ideally if using the camera hand held you need a shutter speed equal to the focal lenght of the lens (e.g. a 200mm lens needs a shutter speed of 1/200 or more to avoid camera shake) So you may need to open the aperature to a smaller F number to incrrease the shutter speed. Frame your shot, and focus about 1/3 way into the shot. Activate the shutter and walla!. If you want long exposures (blurred smokey water etc) ideally your need a tripod and a small remote release. Most of these photos have been shot around 18mm, ISO 200, F9, @ a sutter speed 0.6s c/w a lens polarising filter and occasionally some GND filters. Most electronic photos are tweeked on Lightroom or Photoshop to give them that bling. Trust this helps?