Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
General => Meets, places, trips and reviews => Topic started by: andymcinroy on April 24, 2014
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Hi all,
My son and I had an excellent easter trip to Lough Altan in Donegal. It was wild camping at its finest. An idyllic pitch, a campfire which burned all evening, a haunted mansion, and stars bright in the sky. And best of all, not a midge in sight!
We parked up at the Errigal carpark and walked half a mile up the road to meet the old bog road which heads over the hill to the Lough. And what a beautiful walk. Just long enough to keep the remote feeling but not too long a walk in for my young lad (walk out is a little tougher). We retunred to the Errigal car park the next day to climb Errigal. All in all, I think my son has got the wild camping bug.
Beginning the winding descent to Lough Altan
(http://www.andymcinroy.com/altan/altan1.jpg)
(http://www.andymcinroy.com/altan/altan2.jpg)
The Coleman Cobra3 all piched up and handling the gusty wind very well
(http://www.andymcinroy.com/altan/altan3.jpg)
Chocolate pud and custard on the Trangia
(http://www.andymcinroy.com/altan/altan4.jpg)
The old ruined folly.
(http://www.andymcinroy.com/altan/altan5.jpg)
Plenty of dry driftwood about to make a campfire.
(http://www.andymcinroy.com/altan/altan6.jpg)
(http://www.andymcinroy.com/altan/altan7.jpg)
(http://www.andymcinroy.com/altan/altan8.jpg)
(http://www.andymcinroy.com/altan/altan9.jpg)
Light painting inside the tent after sunset.
(http://www.andymcinroy.com/altan/altan10.jpg)
Beautiful clear skies for taking pictures of the stars from the warmth of my sleeping bag.
(http://www.andymcinroy.com/altan/altan11.jpg)
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And a few more from the walk up Errigal on the 2nd day.
(http://www.andymcinroy.com/altan/errigal1.jpg)
(http://www.andymcinroy.com/altan/errigal2.jpg)
(http://www.andymcinroy.com/altan/errigal3.jpg)
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What a scenic location and perfect spot to camp, it looks like you had it all to yourselves. Those photos are great and well worth the journey out there. :)
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Brilliant Andy and what weather. It seems like you couldn't do much better for watching the sun set. Thanks for sharing.
I'm glad to hear your car was all right too. It's a fairly isolated place to park. You didn't end up covered in wee spikey plant things? After I was there it took me about and hour to pick the things out of my socks alone. Mind you I was in for a swim so I think I put my clothes right on top of one of the plants.
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Thanks folks,
I drive an old car and I just leave it empty with the parcel shelf removed and the glove compartment open. That's my solution to theft stress :D
Funny thing was that there was a rescue on Errigal on Saturday night and the carpark was crawling with police cars, an ambulance and some sort of mobile radio antenna. My car was in the photo that some of the newspapers used the next day. As far as I know, the rescue services didn't think that my abandoned car was suspicious.
I know what you mean about the thorns. I was gathering dry grass tinder off the beach and got quite a few in my fingers. I think it might just have been old gorse needles.
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Great looking trip there, been too long since I got out Dongal direction so i'll have to rectify that soon. One possible solution to the car issue can be to put a sign in your window. It's a double edged sword though, I tend to just put a sign saying "Walking in hills 07*****" leaving mine and my other half's number. I tend to do it incase there is some emergency I need to be back at the car for or to prevent anyone thinking it is suspicious etc. Of course anyone could see it as a freebie with no hurry.
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Hi Andy, I've just looked at your trip report there and man that rings back some good memories, you really got a good spell of weather for it, I've heard of lots of folk that when then go up Errigal the mist kills alls the views, sadly this was the same for myself and WhoRya.
It looks like your getting some nice pieces of kit gathered up and I'm sure your son can't wait for his next trip, well done!
RB. 8)
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Looks like a great trip. Some good photos for the competition too??
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Beautiful pictires Andy, Errigal is high on my bucket list.
Here's the rescue details
http://www.thejournal.ie/teenager-donegal-rescue-1427239-Apr2014/
(http://f3.thejournal.ie/media/2014/04/helicopter-1-630x472.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/1897682_10152059625608531_3722998185584928133_n_zpsa07aef5d.jpg)
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camped there ourselves last year. great spot. very secluded. coincidentally we too saw the mountain rescue on the sunday, don't know who/what they were rescuing though. we parked up where the wee road down starts (where all the locals dig their peat). car was grand too.
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Looks like a brilliant trip, Donegal is a beautiful spot. We should definitely visit more being only 2 hours from Belfast.
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Andy great blog. Taking the Wee man around the same dates as he is doing his DOE Bronze and needs to know the kit he is using. Can you tell me if the track from the road to Lough Altan is drive able with a 4x 4 . My wife is nervous of leaving it in the car park . Even if it can be parked up the track out of site would be ideal.
Looking at walking back fro Altan to Eriigal the next day. Not arriving to Friday evening so time for walking the track would be appreciated.
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Hi Windy,
(Un)fortunately, the bog road is blocked by a locked gate. To be honest, on the Lough Altan side it gets very boggy anyway and probably is only suitable for a quad.
I had no problem with my own car in the Errigal carpark but I always make a point of opening up the glovebox, boot cover to make it clear that there is nothing in it. Another option is a taxi up from Dunlewy and the walk back to the car is all downhill.
The bog road probably only takes an hour to walk (slightly longer for the return back up the hill).
Hope that helps.
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Andy thanks for the advice. We completed today. Took in Mackoght and Errigal. Great spot to wake up to .Youngsters have different speeds...lol
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Hi Andy
Just going through some old posts and came across this one. Was thinking of taking my daughters on this hike, do you think its doable as a day hike for a 6 year old from errigal car park to loch altan and back again.
Was thinking about a day hike and your photos swung it for me!
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Yes RDeckard, this is a great one to do with a budding adventurer.
A fit six year old should manage a walk in and out in a day provided you have a good rest and picnic at the lough. It's a bit of a slog up the road from the carpark to meet the bog road but once you are off the main road it starts to feel really wild.
Of course, a camp would be the best way to do this. Kids will never forget it.
Glad you enjoyed the photos.