So, saying as I’m annoyingly housebound this weekend ….pulled something in my back yesterday while pouring a cup of tea!!!??? (one wonders how I ever get to the top of a mountain sometimes!?) …. I thought I’d share what we got up to last weekend. I guess if I can’t be out there, being here is the next best thing.
So, we headed off on Saturday morning after our usual argument over where we were going and got to Errigle about lunchtime.
We picked up the OSI 1, 1:50 en route but certainly didn’t need it to guide us to the start point – the carpark at the bottom was overflowing as was the road on both sides! Our plan was to camp at Lough Altan and summit Errigle on Sunday morning so we headed back down the road to find another parking spot to lessen how far we had to walk with the kit. Stopped at one point and went for a quick dander, as much to let the dogs stretch their legs as anything, and someone (T18con) maanaged to drop himself to his udders into a foul smelling bog pit, which gave me a giggle and a sick stomach from the smell, in equal meassure!
Quick dip in the nearest river and on down the road about a mile to this little spot where we parked the car for the night.
This was 5.3 miles past the entrance to Glenveagh National Park – Grid Ref 970,210 (this is approximate as its just off the corner of OSI 1). I know securtiy is always a concern, but in the interests of not carrying the kit any further than necessary, and not leaving anything valuable in the car, we decided to chance it.
The track to Altan Lough was well marked with tractor tracks for the first part, and the rest being a well trodden path skirting the trees initially, then along the edge of the river. In all, about 1.5 miles to the camp spot, which in the blazing heat was enough for both me and the dogs!
While someone went for a proper dip to get the smell and the goo from his nooks and crannies, I started to set up camp and get the BBQ on.
It was a beautiful evening but after the BBQ and a few cheeky beers, knowing we wanted to get a fairly early start the next monring we turned in about 11pm. I know midges are a pain at this time of the year, but we only had them for about an hour – though I did come home with a fair few bites the next day.
We have a 3 man tent, for us and the 2 dogs … who have plenty of room at our feet to sleep ….
Although this one, Suzi, is the spoilt one in our house, at least she knows where the feet are…. Zoe, however, seems a little confused….
Anyway, a decent nights sleep ensued with the sound of running water beside us, and another beautiful sunrise to wake up to. The plans for an early start were abandoned in favour of a lazy breakfast, and just enjoying the peace and quiet. To be honest its 50/50 for us in terms of enjoying both the hiking and the camping.
We decided to head back to the car and dump our kit, drive back up to the main carpark and do the “touristy” path up. It was again packed but it was to be expected on such a fine day. We were a little surprised at the footwear of some… open toed sandals with no socks etc… I had debated whether to ditch my old faithful Brasher’s and juat go in trainers, but half way up I was glad I hadn’t done that!
Looking back down just after I had attended to a casualty on the way up. A young boy who had run ahead of his guardian (his friend’s father), had got up such a pace on the loose scree that he couldn’t get stopped and lost his footing. On hearing the howls just left of where we were, we scrambled over to find his knee well busted open. I got to play Florence Nightingale, getting the first aid kit out, cleaning and covering the wound and checking out his many other scrapes and bangs. Poor lad had a massive bruise on his side which he said was even more sore than his knee (which I reckon he probably ended up with stitiches in!). Could’ve cracked a rib judging by the bruise and the pain, but at least there were no bones protruding! Caught up with his friend’s father further up the slope and left him with paracetamol and good luck for getting the lad back down to his father! He initially thought it was his own son and said “acuh he mustn’t be too bad – he’s still smililng”. His face changed dramatically when we said, “no no, its not YOUR son, its the other one!” The air turned blue, and his face turned white when he realised it was someone who he was looking after! Hope they got down safely and there was no major trauma for all involved!
Nearly there ….
The views from the top were truely stunning and for any of you who have been unfortunate enough to be there in bad weather and had no view, you really should go back. The view over Dunlewey is like something straight off a postcard. We ran into an old man, who was JUST 77 years old, who stood with me and toghether we counted about 19 loughs (I could have got that wrong, coz my brain got stuck on the fact that he was 77 and I lost count!)
I can truely say that, while I had been cursin on the way up every time I slipped, or thought I was going to lose a dog, I could have sat at the top for hours just admiring the view.
We stopped for a while on the way down and Conrad couldn’t resist getting a few pics of the Rescue Team, which, please God, I hope we we never have to call on!
This was one of the nicest spots, with the best weather, we have had in a long time. I have to say, it was the first time that I was the one dragging my heels when it was time to go home. I talked Conrad into going back up to Roarty’s (wee filling staion/shop just past Dunlewey) for a cup of tea before we would leave, and even then, as we headed off, I talked him into stopping at the wee church in The Poison Glen.
I’ll leave yous with a few pics of that, but have to say a big shout out to the guys who had posted on Errigle before as it guided us to that perfect camp spot. If you haven’t read that thread, then hopefully ours will encourage you to give Errigle a go. Check the weather and go last minute on a good day if you can. Its well worth it.
Enjoy 🙂
