Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
Outdoor Activities => Northern Ireland Camping and Bushcraft => Topic started by: RedLeader on August 30, 2010
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I'm considering a trip to some more outdoors "urban" areas for exceptionally brief overnighters - arrive at dusk, out again around dawn ish.
I'm thinking of places like Cairn Wood, Cave Hill, Black Mountain, local beaches etc. Technically the places I'm considering either you're not supposed to camp or it's a grey area so the plan is bivvy bag and little else. Wander in late evening for a bite to eat and maybe a few beers round the hobo stove, night under a tree somewhere off the beaten track then up again first thing the next morning before the locals arrive.
Any thoughts, suggestions / takers?
(http://armyphoto.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/lrs5.jpg)
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I would be up for this .like the sound of the beach and cave hill .
Ps is that dowser bottom right in pic ;D
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Nope, you can see him ;)
I would be up for this .like the sound of the beach and cave hill .
Ps is that dowser bottom right in pic ;D
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:D are these nights going to be soon and during wk or all at wkends I'm sure going into work straight after a bivvy would be fun if not a little smelly
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I'm thinking Fri/Sat nights.
:D are these nights going to be soon and during wk or all at wkends I'm sure going into work straight after a bivvy would be fun if not a little smelly
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Do we have to bring our M4's?
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Weaponary optional :)
Do we have to bring our M4's?
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I like the sound of Cavehill. Could park in the residential area just outside the gates to the castle as it would be secure. I think they lock the gates to the castle overnight? Not so sure about Cairn Wood... I always heard there were weird folk up there at night ;D Then again perhaps we are the weird folk!
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Nope, you can see him ;)
I would be up for this .like the sound of the beach and cave hill .
Ps is that dowser bottom right in pic ;D
Finally, my DPM kit can unleash it's true potential. I'm well up for this. Cavehill looks superb for this. I was looking at stealth bivvi spots the last time I was up with Lenny and Andy. It's a shame that the cave looks like it has been used as a latrine many many times or it would be a really cool place to spend the night.
Cairn wood definately has potential... I think we would put the frights up any weirdo that happens to stumble across us. I've did a couple of reccies recently and it would be simple to remain inconspicuous. It's also 10 minutes away should J get the call that baby is on its way.
Beach wise, there's some very remote areas around the shores of Strangford Lough. Would be really cool to try and live off the land on this one. Plenty of shell fish and other various marine life there for the taking. Nothing like a well seasoned cockle, muscle, oyster or limpet wash down with a zesty Laflor Sauvignon Blanc.
Lets get one of the above organised as soon as possible. Remember to leave your Hi Vis vests at home :o
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Nothing like a well seasoned cockle, muscle, oyster or limpet wash down with a zesty Laflor Sauvignon Blanc.
That sounds like a brilliant plan. I say we get something pencilled in. Maybe an easy starter in Cairn Wood for a bit of practice.
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sounds good guys I'm in.
Sorry I missed Binnian looks like a rough one and load of craic
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I will have to buy a bivvy bag. ;D
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With the M4 and ACU/Woodland I'm presuming your an airsofter J?
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Nah, thats just a photo from Google images. I wouldn't know one end of a gun from the other :) I bag all my animals from Tesco.
With the M4 and ACU/Woodland I'm presuming your an airsofter J?
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yes i'm up for this too, i have no camo gear tho, but i have a duck catapult !
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Get the green and black paint out.
yes i'm up for this too, i have no camo gear tho, but i have a duck catapult !
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yes i'm up for this too, i have no camo gear tho, but i have a duck catapult !
Well... If you haven't got one of these then your not coming ;D
(http://imgur.com/7dlh5.jpg)
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Where'd you get the photo of my 5th form girlfriend?
yes i'm up for this too, i have no camo gear tho, but i have a duck catapult !
Well... If you haven't got one of these then your not coming ;D
(http://imgur.com/7dlh5.jpg)
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now that sounds like it could b good fun (can i bring my .22 air rifle lol)
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i'm definitely up for this. might be useful to have a krav maga instructor in your midst in case of the afore-mentioned weirdoes too, lol
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Would love to get along to some of these. Cave Hill has loads of spots... wish I had a hammock :)
Need a new bivvy bag also, but could prob get away without if the shelter is ok.
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I have camped up cavehill quite a few times. You can park at the top of the upper Cavehill Road quite safely and head straight into the forest.
Sometimes there are others around basically lighting fires and getting pissed so I tend to walk that bit further for peace and quiet. You really have to watch out for falling trees - there is a lot of standing deadwood which tends to break off suddenly.
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I do a bit of birdwatching and have often thought that the area round Lough Beg (between Bellaghy-Toome Bridge) would be good for staying out in the bivvy bag. It's not urban but is closer to civilisation than the hills hence why I mention it in this thread.
Would have to be spring or summer cos it gets very flooded at other times. In summer its easy to walk out to a number of "islands", raised areas of scrub and trees (Church Island and Coney Island are two), on the west shore of the Lough. Would be secluded and plenty of wood for fires etc. Could also try a bit of birdwatching/fishing.
Note I'm not sure if camping/bivvying/fishing is strictly speaking allowed there, parts of it are a nature reserve.
Check OS map for details.
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I've been on Church Island by canoe. Outside the ruined church would be an ace spot for a stealth bivvy.
I do a bit of birdwatching and have often thought that the area round Lough Beg (between Bellaghy-Toome Bridge) would be good for staying out in the bivvy bag. It's not urban but is closer to civilisation than the hills hence why I mention it in this thread.
Would have to be spring or summer cos it gets very flooded at other times. In summer its easy to walk out to a number of "islands", raised areas of scrub and trees (Church Island and Coney Island are two), on the west shore of the Lough. Would be secluded and plenty of wood for fires etc. Could also try a bit of birdwatching/fishing.
Note I'm not sure if camping/bivvying/fishing is strictly speaking allowed there, parts of it are a nature reserve.
Check OS map for details.
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We where talking about this in work and we Where thinking about sprucefield roundabout main fact being If hungry we could shoot over to the mcdonalds :-)
Would still like to try cavehill so might be doing that soon
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The closer to winter it gets the quieter Cave Hill will be. By the time Nov comes around chances are there'll be no tossers about after dark and we can plough up and party on!
We where talking about this in work and we Where thinking about sprucefield roundabout main fact being If hungry we could shoot over to the mcdonalds :-)
Would still like to try cavehill so might be doing that soon