Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more

General => Meets, places, trips and reviews => Topic started by: admin on August 10, 2009

Title: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: admin on August 10, 2009
Please use this thread for any suggestions and ideas you might have for potential trips. Anything goes, if you fancy doing it, post it on here so people can mull it over!
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: RedLeader on August 10, 2009
Our initial suggestions were:

* Salt Island canoe camping trip
* A family day out or weekend to get the kids all introduced and encouraged to have fun outdoors
* A lightweight bivvying trip (Organising here http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=379)
* The "Can Jonno make it up Bernagh without being sick" trip
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: 666_pack on August 10, 2009
I think it has now been proven that jonno can in fact make it up a mountain without being sick ;D
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: NeilB on August 10, 2009
Any of the above sound good jonno, what about trying to get a few canadian kayaks and make it bushcrafting trip to salt island
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: billy backpack on August 10, 2009
I think it has now been proven that jonno can in fact make it up a mountain without being sick ;D


Too true.......... RED LEADER is now talking about BOMBING up Bernagh................ lol :)

Me thinks he could be a bit of a dark horse,  Has he been holding back?
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: RedLeader on August 11, 2009
I think it has now been proven that jonno can in fact make it up a mountain without being sick ;D


Too true.......... RED LEADER is now talking about BOMBING up Bernagh................ lol :)

Me thinks he could be a bit of a dark horse,  Has he been holding back?

Haha. If only. I'm well game now though. I was looking at the photos I took of it from Slievenaglogh and it looks awesome. If we can't manage to get an overnighter organised soon maybe we should take a quick day up Bernagh instead. I reckon we could persuade the kids up it too.
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: MG1 on August 11, 2009
The day trip would suit me i've a wedding end of this month holiday early next month then all being well the MMM end of Sept. Between all that i've to fit in my Birthday ;D
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: MG1 on August 11, 2009
How about setting are selves a target for early next year to get the group to the top of Ben Nevis or Snowdon we could you use the winter to build our hill fitness?
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: chris on August 11, 2009
How about setting are selves a target for early next year to get the group to the top of Ben Nevis or Snowdon we could you use the winter to build our hill fitness?

I'd be up for that. I've done them both and they are def achievable goals. would you be talking tourist paths or ridge walks? Be warned tho snowdon is VERY touristy, and the magic is somewhat lost when your hunched down calves about to explode and some fat american danders of the train with fip flops and gets his picture taken at the trig point before you!
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: RedLeader on August 12, 2009
How about setting are selves a target for early next year to get the group to the top of Ben Nevis or Snowdon we could you use the winter to build our hill fitness?

That's a great idea if we were all fit enough.
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: 666_pack on August 12, 2009
As for Ben Nevis I was think that the Carn Mor Dearg arete route looks top class.


(http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:vjkwRCfKrNgEbM:http://farm1.static.flickr.com/29/40626176_9c724134f1.jpg)
http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/carnmordeargarete.shtml

And As for Snowdon once we all fell comfortable with our wildcamping/bivvi skills the snowdon horseshoe is also a viable option

And we get to tackle this little beauty

(http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:YMS4_H5vUab28M:http://s0.geograph.org.uk/photos/33/95/339540_01c8fdd4.jpg)



http://www.walk-snowdonia.co.uk/snowdonia/snowdon/rshoe.php
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: MG1 on August 13, 2009
Thats routes i was thinking off try and keep away from the Tourists.
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: Wolf_Larson on September 13, 2009
Belfasts Cavehill rises to almost 370 metres (1200 ft) above sea level.  

Carrauntoohil in County Kerry, it is 1,038 metres (3,406 ft) irelands highest.

Ben Nevis (1,344 m), highest mountain in Scotland and the United Kingdom.

Hoverla - highest peak in Chornohora,Eastern Beskids in Eastern Carpathians, Ukraine (2,061 m)

Triglav (2,864 m), highest peak of Slovenia.

Fansipan (3,143 m), the highest peak in Vietnam and Indochina, located in the Hoang Lien Son Mountains, Lao Cai province.


WORK ARE WAY UP TO THE BIG BOYS, THERES NOTHING THE PRO ACTION LITE 1 MAN TENT CANT HANDLE  :-\
BRING ON BASE CAMP  ::)

Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: suspectmonkey on January 28, 2010
I forgot I had been considering this trip last year, but it kind of fell by the wayside.  I'm hoping to do some more long distance routes, and am wondering if you could get away with doing this one with some wild camping?  NI-Wild trip for further down the line?

Wicklow Way (http://www.wicklowway.com/index.php)

Quote
Distance: 127km | Ascent: 3,200m | Time: 7+ Days

The Wicklow Way begins in Dublin's southern suburb of Rathfarnham and travels in a south-south-westerly direction across the Dublin and Wicklow uplands, then through the rolling hill country of southwest County Wicklow to finish in the small, County Carlow village of Clonegal 127 kilometres later.

A combination of suburban parkland, forest trails, wild and scenic mountain landscape and finally rolling countryside offers a wonderfully varied, 8 to 10 day experience for a hill-walker of average fitness. En route the Wicklow Way passes mountain lakes, ruined buildings -stark reminders of previous widespread human habitation- occasional memorials to historic events of past centuries and extensive remains of the early Christian monastic settlement in the beautiful Glendalough valley.

The other idea I had was similar to the Salt Island trip, but on Copeland Island instead.  Any one know if you can get away with a paddle to the Copelands and have a bit of a wild camp there?
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: RedLeader on January 28, 2010
The Copelands are only about 1 mile from the shore (the inner one anyway) but there's nothing between you and Scotland but sea. I daresay you could do it in very favourable conditions - just not sure if you would ever see them up there :) I've been to Salt Island in Strangford Lough a few times and even in there it can get hairy in even lightish winds.

Do you have a canoe?
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: suspectmonkey on January 28, 2010
Do you have a canoe?

Nope, but I figured that was a fairly minor detail :D
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: RedLeader on January 28, 2010
Time to get one then. Canoe camping is a great laugh - you can get to some reasonably isolated places. Or at least as isolated as it's possible to be somewhere as small as Northern Ireland.

Do you have a canoe?

Nope, but I figured that was a fairly minor detail :D
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: tweeders on April 27, 2010
i see someone mentioning the copeland islands.......if you don't fancy doing it by canoe, i have a 20' yacht which will do it easily and an inflatable tender to get from the yacht to the island when we get there.  i can take about 6 or so including myself if anyone fancies it?
plus if it get's too uncomfortable on the island i can always sleep on the boat.
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: RedLeader on April 27, 2010
That sounds pretty awesome. Where is your boat moored? I've never stayed on the Copelands, only picniced years ago - what are the rules for camping?

i see someone mentioning the copeland islands.......if you don't fancy doing it by canoe, i have a 20' yacht which will do it easily and an inflatable tender to get from the yacht to the island when we get there.  i can take about 6 or so including myself if anyone fancies it?
plus if it get's too uncomfortable on the island i can always sleep on the boat.
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: suspectmonkey on April 27, 2010
I'm still keen to get to the Copelands some time, be it by wind power or by paddle power :)

There is also a boat that runs day trips from Donaghadee harbour to the Copelands, but I'm not sure if they would operate as a taxi service if you wanted to do an overnighter.

Come to think of it, Kat's friend has a rib moored in Donaghadee.  Perhaps we could get a Bear style drop off and pick up the next day :D
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: tweeders on April 27, 2010
hi J
my boat is moored in larne lough, so the Copelands  are well within reach, just knw that there's a stong tital rip there, which kicks up a steep chop in the right (or wrong ) conditions, but where's the hardship in that? lol
Ailsa Craig and rathlin are also possible for the more adventurous who don't mind a good few hours sailing. but where's the hardship in that? lol
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: RedLeader on April 27, 2010
Sounds awesome. I've sailed out of Belfast Lough lots, mostly to the Inner Hebrides and lots and lots of drunken weekends in Portpatrick :)

hi J
my boat is moored in larne lough, so the Copelands  are well within reach, just knw that there's a stong tital rip there, which kicks up a steep chop in the right (or wrong ) conditions, but where's the hardship in that? lol
Ailsa Craig and rathlin are also possible for the more adventurous who don't mind a good few hours sailing. but where's the hardship in that? lol
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: andy1984 on April 28, 2010
Yeah that does sound awesome!! i'd defn be up for that, a wild camp on a island, think it would have to be by boat though! maybe a bit exposed for canoe with no experience!!


Quote
Posted by: J  
Insert Quote
Sounds awesome. I've sailed out of Belfast Lough lots, mostly to the Inner Hebrides and lots and lots of drunken weekends in Portpatrick


Quote from: tweeders on April 27, 2010, 05:18:01 PM
hi J
my boat is moored in larne lough, so the Copelands  are well within reach, just knw that there's a stong tital rip there, which kicks up a steep chop in the right (or wrong ) conditions, but where's the hardship in that? lol
Ailsa Craig and rathlin are also possible for the more adventurous who don't mind a good few hours sailing. but where's the hardship in that? lol
 
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: andy1984 on April 28, 2010
One idea I had was, what about a trip, either day or overnighter to somewhere in the Sperrins?

I've never walked over that way and it would make a change from the mournes?
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: cruben on May 19, 2010
The Copelands would be a great trip, I hav'nt paddled out there for years. Born in Donaghadee I know them well.
The sound can be fairly chalanging and conditions and tides can change quickly. Sea kayaks would be a safer and more reliable option
Paddling during neap tides and during slack water would be easiest time to cross, and a pleasure in good weatherThe current can throw up quite large standing waves in the middle of the channel when the tide is at max flow which can be great fun for the more experienced paddler but quite commiting as you could be up to a mile off shore.
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: darren on January 20, 2011


any local members want to join me on a leisurely walk ;D from portadown to bewry.
it would start at the bridge at edenderry following the path all the way beside the bann until it reaches newry.
i expect to do it in under 4 hrs.

ive cycled to newcastle in 2 and a half hrs from portadown going through gilford banbridge,katesbridge.
now im challenging myself again.
once i get some equipment ill do this walk and then camp out as well.
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: 666_pack on January 20, 2011
i'll do this with you. all we need is a stove, sleeping bag and a bivvi. When do you want to do it? 
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: darren on January 20, 2011
i'll do this with you. all we need is a stove, sleeping bag and a bivvi. When do you want to do it? 


if your not working i was thinking of a real early start.
but if we are camping out id start around 12 noon.

id do it tomorrow,saturday, if you are ok for that.

want to do some good hard mountain walking.

ill phone u later mate.

i could perhaps have a lend of your spare bivvy bag.
weather is to be good and dry for the next few days.
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: 666_pack on January 20, 2011
Darren if you could leave it till next weekend mate I'll def go with you. this weekend is out for me.
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: whoRya on January 21, 2011


any local members want to join me on a leisurely walk ;D from portadown to bewry.

Fixed for you:

"any local members want to join me on a leisurely walk ;D from portadown to brewery"

Now you'll be inundated with offers ;)
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: darren on January 21, 2011


any local members want to join me on a leisurely walk ;D from portadown to bewry.

Fixed for you:

"any local members want to join me on a leisurely walk ;D from portadown to brewery"

Now you'll be inundated with offers ;)
newry i mean.
hope i have edited it it time WR. ;D
Title: Re: Trip Suggestions and Ideas
Post by: spynappels on April 16, 2013
Has anyone paddled/sailed to Ram's Island on Lough Neagh? What's it like for a night or two wild camping?