Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
General => Meets, places, trips and reviews => Topic started by: suspectmonkey on August 09, 2010
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After a bit of discussion on the Red Arrows trip I’m trying to get an overnighter organised for this Friday, 13th August. Usual plan of attack; head up after work on Friday, bivvi and home on Saturday for brunch.
So that’s the “what” and “when”, now just need to decide the “where”! Summit camps on Binnian and Doan came up, but I’d be keen to have an overnighter in the Antrim Hills for a change of scenery. I don’t know the area very well, but Agnew’s Hill looks like it has potential and can be accessed using the Antrim Hills Way. There is a car park to the north of Agnew’s Hill close to Robin Youngs Hill/Knock Dhu, or there are car parks to the south in Ballyboley Forest. Not entirely sure of how secure they would be, or if there are any particular access restrictions in the forest park, but I can always give the Forest Service a call about that.
So, anybody interested? All tents, tarps and bivvi’s welcome!
Because we are a bit restricted as to what car parks we can use, we have decided to start out from Laragh Lodge near Glenariff Forest Park. The route will follow part of the Waterfall Walk in the Forest Park, before joining a section of the Moyle Way. Camping will be on top of Trostan or thereabouts.
Members going so far:
suspectmonkey
J
LennyJ1
Possibles:
Andy
Chuck
More info:
Antrim Hills Way - http://www.walkni.com/Walk.aspx?ID=51
Section map - http://www.walkni.com/d/walks/51/Antrim_Hills_Way_Section_4.pdf
Agnew’s Hill info - http://mountainviews.ie/mv/index.php?mtnindex=533
Moyle Way - http://www.walkni.com/Walk.aspx?ID=187
Section map - http://www.walkni.com/d/walks/187/Moyle_Way_section_6_and_7.pdf
Trostan info - http://mountainviews.ie/mv/index.php?ids=summit_view&mtnindex=361
Laragh Lodge location - http://www.google.com/maps?q=55.018065,-6.098131&num=1&sll=55.040711,-6.063993&sspn=0.027178,0.038935&ie=UTF8&ll=55.019215,-6.097133&spn=0.005905,0.013754&z=16
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Friday the 13th - not superstitious then?
I'm in for an ultralight bivvy if I can get perms from home. I'm bringing a lucky rabbits foot though!!!!
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I will come if I can get a lift.
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Slemish might be worth a thought.
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Friday the 13th - not superstitious then?
Not at all. Whats the worst that can happen on a summit bivvi :D
Slemish might be worth a thought.
Had crossed my mind, but not sure where to park. There is car park at Slemish but I don't think there would be much walking at all involved. I did walk some of the route from Glenarm before, but the first few miles out of Glenarm are just an uphill slog on country roads... Zzzz
I will come if I can get a lift.
Whereabouts are you from Lenny? Might be able to help you out if its en route.
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Okay, we're considering parking at Larragh Lodge and walking in the general direction of Trostan. We'll probably camp somewhere about the forest.
Map attached.
Edit:
The distance on the map is the round trip, not one way!
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I am in North Belfast and have permission to go away this Friday. Can't have the car as I have it next weekend.
Cheers
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I am in North Belfast and have permission to go away this Friday. Can't have the car as I have it next weekend.
Cheers
No problem, we should all be able to travel together so will drop you a PM about making arrangements soon!
Any other takers? This is a good walk, we did it before and its easy going through a beautiful area of the country. If you haven't been out in a while then its the perfect time to dust off your gear... and I'm sure there are a few folk who could do with cutting the shop tags and labels from their gear and airing it on the hillside rather than their back garden ;)
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I'm sure there are a few folk who could do with cutting the shop tags and labels from their gear and airing it on the hillside rather than their back garden ;)
Harsh but fair ;)
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What time would you be aiming to be there at ? I'm working till 8 but could try to sneak away early if possible
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Hadn't organised a time yet but it's at least an hours drive for me so I couldn't see me being there before 730. I'd gladly sit and have a beer in the lodge waiting for any stragglers ;)
What time would you be aiming to be there at ? I'm working till 8 but could try to sneak away early if possible
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I'd gladly sit and have a beer in the lodge waiting for any stragglers ;)
Thats a top idea... never even crossed my mind! I'd say 7.30-8pm sounds like a reasonable enough time to meet at, but we can be a bit flexible as we dont have a massive distance to walk or anything.
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Cheers guys I will see what favours I can pull in . Will let you know
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I'll be free from 6pm.
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Going by google maps this should take me around an hour from Dromore ,this is postcode I can get bt44 0qx I have no 3G at minute so options limited
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an hour from Dromore
Via Annahilt (or Hillsboro') perhaps? (If I get clearance from SWMBO)
ps. I've got Laragh Lodge as being BT44 0RG and 1hr25 from Dromore.
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I can't get cover so won't be able to leave dromore until 8 but I would def come pick you up where ever suits and a nice little night(ish) hike to meet up with others if your up for it .. You can hold the map :-)
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Yup, sure (subject to clearance)...I kinda know the the first bit of the route....may as well be the pair of us getting lost in the woods then just one...
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Do either of you guys have radios?
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No prob I will keep an eye on the permission slip as I'm still working on mine :-)
No radio here J but what's the mobile signal like up there
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Honestly not sure about mobile reception but I suppose there's a good chance that they should work.
No prob I will keep an eye on the permission slip as I'm still working on mine :-)
No radio here J but what's the mobile signal like up there
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Just gotta go get some gas. Then sorted to go. just wondering if anyone is gonna pick me up?
please PM me if thats possible to arrange a pick up.
Cheers
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We'll get something sorted!
Just gotta go get some gas. Then sorted to go. just wondering if anyone is gonna pick me up?
please PM me if thats possible to arrange a pick up.
Cheers
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For anyone meeting at Laragh Lodge tomorrow, here is a link to a Google Map (http://www.google.com/maps?q=55.018065,-6.098131&num=1&sll=55.040711,-6.063993&sspn=0.027178,0.038935&ie=UTF8&ll=55.019215,-6.097133&spn=0.005905,0.013754&z=16) with the exact location. Laragh Lodge do have a website (http://www.laraghlodge.co.uk/), but from memory the map they have on there isn't actually where the car park is.
Lenny, I will drop you a PM this afternoon to organise a lift. We never leave a man behind :)
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Bit of a change of plans - Suspectmonkey isn't well so he wont be joining us tonight. Am thinking for ease we hit the Mournes instead?
That way if Chuck/Andy are coming a bit later it will be easier to find us, plus we'll be in more familiar territory. I reckon a peak somewhere.
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Okay, new plan - Me, LennyJ and Chuck for a summit camp on Slieve Meelmore leaving from Meelmore Lodge. Would say the best time we could expect to be there would 745.
I've attached a route.
Allcomers welcome as ever.
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Route looks good J,
I will be ready from half 6.
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See you at Meelmore Lodge (or on the trail if I get itchy feet and leave the house a bit early)
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No probs, just txt me to let me know. And get the kettle on ::)
See you at Meelmore Lodge (or on the trail if I get itchy feet and leave the house a bit early)
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Anyone bringing a firelog?
Also, if it's clear we should see some meteorites from the Perseids.. We saw loads last week in Meelmore - saw the Milky for the first time too!
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Ready and waiting.
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well looks like you guys had a glorious evening for a summit camp, i went for a wee jog (well walk-jog-walk-jog-rest) this morning up meelbeg to see if i would bump into you lot on way down (tried to predict your escape route) but you seem to have evaded my stalking attempts again, ah well, it was a good excuse for a jog, did the route in 2hrs 5mins (meelmore lodge - trassey track - pollaphuca - meelbeg - happy valley car park & back to the lodge) so really chuffed with myself, 2 months ago i couldn't have run the length of the car park ;D only problem is i feel aggrieved that i paid £4 for the car park and was only there for a wee while >:( ;D nice to support the locals though
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Added my photos and played around with Photoshop
http://www.flickr.com/groups/niwild/ (http://www.flickr.com/groups/niwild/)
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Looks like you got the weather ;D did you get to see any of the shooting stars .. Nice photo to
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Really sorry couldnt make it fellas, had a nasty stomach bug which had me in bed for the best part of 48 hours! Gutted, but I guess its better I was sick the day before I went rather than up on the hill!
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Only one photo from my side:
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4891865332_095e3bfd56.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcrobert/4891865332/)
Nice wee trip, thanks guys.
you seem to have evaded my stalking attempts again, ah well, it was a good excuse for a jog, did the route in 2hrs 5mins (meelmore lodge - trassey track - pollaphuca - meelbeg - happy valley car park & back to the lodge) so really chuffed with myself, 2 months ago i couldn't have run the length of the car park ;D only problem is i feel aggrieved that i paid £4 for the car park and was only there for a wee while >:( ;D nice to support the locals though
Started out very hot with clear sky but a wee touch of cloud came in that cooled everything down, which was good...but hid the stars from view, which was bad. Sorry you missed us, we ended up on the Hare's Gap. Excellent wee spot, but still rather windy.
Yea, Meelmore is more expensive than Belfast city centre parking for short stays, try your charm on the lovely tea ladies, see if they would give you discount on a slice of their apple pie since you where only there a little while...you earned it doing that route in two hours :)
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Another cracking trip chaps... Sorry we missed you Liam - we saw a couple of Landrovers in the car park when we were coming down, probably about 11ish.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4896801909_3287492a3b.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4897396210_1dff86189e.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4897396350_23082d77c7.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4896802447_c4c2b02aac.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/4896802761_44e5af7684.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4896802987_ea82e7db23.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/4897395846_c374742e8f.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4896803199_6d7b9f9a20.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/4897397418_fe242032bd.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/4896803589_74249b8e68.jpg)
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So why did you change your mind on the campsite? would have thought Meelmore summit was more sheltered with all those walls up there, nearly every walk i do alone i change my mind on the way and go an different route ;D
there's a wee house on the side of Meelmore (on way down to Happy Valley Car Park) which would suit bad weather camping, but i get the feeling its been used as a loo :-[
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So why did you change your mind on the campsite? would have thought Meelmore summit was more sheltered with all those walls up there, nearly every walk i do alone i change my mind on the way and go an different route ;D
there's a wee house on the side of Meelmore (on way down to Happy Valley Car Park) which would suit bad weather camping, but i get the feeling its been used as a loo :-[
We changed our mind because I was so unfit and/or knackered that I wasnot able to make it.
I told Chuck & J to summit but they will never leave a man behind.
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but i get the feeling its been used as a loo :-[
I often have the same fear with stone buildings in the Mournes. Im equally suspicious of the stone hut at Loughshannagh and the one on top of Commedagh!
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Be suspicious of everything...last trip up Donard the dog found something to roll in beside the wall at the summit....pulled him away before he got his shoulder fully into it...but then I lifted him over the stile...(sniff) (sniff)...what's that on my jacket...ahh... ya dirty bast&^ds....kinda put me off my cheese and pickle sarny :-\
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Be suspicious of everything...last trip up Donard the dog found something to roll in beside the wall at the summit....pulled him away before he got his shoulder fully into it...but then I lifted him over the stile...(sniff) (sniff)...what's that on my jacket...ahh... ya dirty bast&^ds....kinda put me off my cheese and pickle sarny :-\
The pickle would of put me off the sarny