Walk the Lecale Way - 2010

[J]

We are postponing this for a few weeks. Watch this space!

Route info:
http://www.walkni.com/Walk.aspx?ID=0

Map here:
http://www.walkni.com/d/walks/0/Lecale_Way_Overview_Map.pdf

Lecale Way extends from the shores of Strangford Lough to the seaside resort of Newcastle. Tower houses, castles and ancient monuments are dotted throughout its landscape and a wealth of wildlife can be discovered along the contrasting shores of Strangford Lough and the Irish Sea.

It's 40 miles end to end so it would effectively be two 20 mile walks with a camp somewhere in between. Obviously we'd be thinking of as ultralight as possible with probably a bit of gear sharing.


Definites:
Jonno
666_Pack
MG1
Billy_Backpack
Chris_8764

Possibles:
UlsterWalker
Suspectmonkey

[666_pack]

I'm in. Was talking to Gareth and date wise how about 23-24?

[J]

I'm in. Was talking to Gareth and date wise how about 23-24?

Sounds as good a place to start as any. Of course, I'll have to get permission from the chief first.

[666_pack]

still gonna be tough but really looking forward to this now......

[J]

Still, it's easier going further in the flat than shorter up a mountain.

[J]

So lets talk gear and food!

[666_pack]

So lets talk gear and food!

total calories for a 12 stone man to walk 40km = 2,726 calories

so you'd heed 1500 calories per day on top of your 2500 RDA.

[J]

So lets talk gear and food!

total calories for a 12 stone man to walk 40km = 2,726 calories

so you'd heed 1500 calories on top of your 2500 RDA.

Or a sedan chair and two fit blokes from Portadown to carry you on it

[666_pack]

yes oh forum master we are but your humble servents

[666_pack]

don't think food will be that much off an issues as we can pick it up enroute only have to worry about what we eat before we bed down, same with water as we pass through a fair few towns.

Gear will be the same as always apart from on the old feet as I will probably opt for trainners as we'll be on paths.

[ulsterwalker]

Not to rain on your parade but I would maybe consider doing a different walk than the Lecale Way. Its got great parts to it, no doubt, but also has shed loads of road to be walked (as do quite considerable parts of the Ulster Way). Parts of the coastal paths have became quite overgrown and a bit of battling was needed during the summer, might have died down a bit by now though.

If you go forward with walking it you could do so picking up food on your way, and also make it into a bit of a staggering pub walk. For water get it refilled in whatever pub is closest, I always had a pint in any establishment I asked for water in, for courtesy's sake   I would recommend dropping in at the Minerstown Tavern, me and Alan dropped in while walking the Ulster Way and got a great reception. It looked closed but there were a couple of peeps in and we ended up getting a couple pints donated to the cause and also the piss taken out of us   One of the guys in the pub even let us two stinky walkers sleep in his caravan and sorted us with breakfast as well! Also witnessed "skittles" being played something I'm sure quite a few people ain't seen or heard of before!

For camping from St Johns point round to Killough falls in around the right millage and offers plenty of opportunities to get a tent up and probably a bit of sea fishing or maybe swimming if you are a bit crazy in the head.

If I were to spend 2 days walking and wanted to do circa 40 miles I'd look at the Moyle Way, starting at Glenariff forest crosing Trostan and then through various forests, moorland and bogs before finishing in Ballycastle for the night. Its a nice enough section and probably the most consistently wild/off road part of the Ulster Way.
Finding your way through the forest before coming to Trostan is quite "fun" as the markers are tacked onto the actual trees, the fact that I found that entertaining might have something to do with having spent too much time in my own company. I ended up camping just down from Trostan in the worst rain I saw during the walk on the worst pitch of the walk in the least mountain worthy tent I have slept in, fun times.

From Ballycastle The Giants Causeway is 18 and a half miles following mainly the coastal path but also at the beginning quite a busy B road. The coastal path is definately one of the best sections of the Ulster Way and highly recommended for anyone who hasn't done it. If you wanted to hit your 20 miles then another couple miles would take you into Portballintrae or Bushmills.

That would be my suggestion anyways, even if it means you can only frequent a pub at the very end of each day, which is probably not too bad a thing.

*edited to remove profanity, thought it was a bit much

[NeilB]

so whats happening guys? are we still doing a 40 miler?

moyle way sounds good but im up for either

[J]

I have official permission so I'm in!

[chris]

are those dates def 100% then? i'll book it off work, been slamed at the min been missin gettin out with you guys. as always I don't care where we go. Does this mean we've given up on the bivvy challange?

[J]

are those dates def 100% then? i'll book it off work, been slamed at the min been missin gettin out with you guys. as always I don't care where we go. Does this mean we've given up on the bivvy challange?

Okay then - the 23-24 Jan suit me too so we'll pencil it in as the official date. I still think the Lecale is the one to do - Ulsterwalker has a few bad points but my main interest is something longer but on the flat so this being coastal ticks all my boxes plus a bit of road walking doesn't bother me.

The bivvy challenge has to be 80km+ over 2 nights so I'm still game for it - we should do it next - this can be our warm up.