hanging rock and rossaa

Overlooking Lower Lough Macnean is a magnificent 50m high limestone cliff, the Hanging Rock. Yew and jumiper cling to its face. At the bottom of the cliff is one of the finest ash woodland in Northern Ireland. It is believed that the great variety of lichens found here indicate woodland cover since ancient times. An area was clearfelled in the early 1940's and has now grown back naturally. Toothwort, a parasitic plant, lives on the roots of the hazel and elm. It looks unusual as it is totally white and stands out against the mosses on the damp woodland floor. Red squirrels can occasionally be seen in the woodland while the elusive pine marten has been sighted in recent years. To the west, in Rossaa Wood, oak, beech, great willow and elm have grown to full maturity and shelter a rich variety of plants. There are slopes covered in grasses amongst which grows the colourful yellow Welsh poppy. Local legend says that a rock dislodged from the cliff and fell onto a local salt trader taking shelter from a storm.