Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
Outdoor Activities => Northern Ireland Hiking, Walking, Running, Orienteering and Geocaching => Topic started by: paulocon on October 15, 2010
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Hi all,
I've set myself a long-term challenge to climb all the mountains in Paddy Dillon's 'Mountains of Ireland' book. 43 of the 212 down so far.
I've just 2 left in the Mournes (Cove and Chimney Rock). Having dropped plans to do the Mourne Wall on Sunday due to time constraints, I've decided I'll try and bag these two.
Just looking for suggestions of a route to take in the two as I might be short of time. I was thinking of Carrick Little->Lamagan->Cove->Beg->Brandy Pad->Wall at Bog of Donard->Chimney Rock->Blaeberry/Spence's Mountain->(Make up a route back to Carrick Little that doesn't involve that horrendous crossing of Annalong River and climb up that horrible slope at Annalong Woods)..
I have no idea how long that walk will take - will need to do some calculations. Anyone else any suggestions for a more direct route, nervous about the ground between Cove and Chimney Rock should I take a short-cut...
Thanks in advance,
Paul
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If you are short of time and looking for a more direct route that doesn't involve crossing the Annalong Valley then how about staring at the Bloody Bridge. Cross the river where they have the new stone waymarks to get people to use the Quarry Track and then pick your way up to Slievenagarragh and onto Chimney Rock Mountain. Go straight along CR, across the bog to the wall and then join the Brandy Pad. Scoot round to Slieve Beg, then Cove and then retrace to drop straight back down to the Bloody Bridge car park. It's not a connoisseurs route, but it is pretty short and direct. If you prefer to stick to tracks then instead of heading up Slievenagarragh then just go up to the the bog and along CR before returning to the Brandy Pad.
If you have more time and want a longer/more interesting route then there are a few other options such as starting at Carrick Little and heading up past Lower Cove to Cove and then around to Chimney Rock ... essentially following the route you described but without summiting Lamagan to save you a bit of time.
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I did the route simon suggests up the side of Slievenagarragh (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcrobert/4846467587/in/set-72157624497999041/) a while past, it's not too steep (that hill side was recently burned so the heather's all bug gone so you are walking on grass. Tip: if you want to keep your feet dry, try to go from CR directly to the wall...that way you will avoid most of the Bog of Donard.
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Hi,
Thanks for the suggestions - route looks good. Must crack up my copy of MapyX and map that route out..
Actually saw that fire when driving down to Newcastle to do the Trailtrekker Challenge - was wondering exactly where it was..
Is the trail from where I cut off from the Brandy Pad towards Beg and Cove any way distinct? Haven't been up that way before.
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It's very distinct. All the upland paths in the Mourne are so badly damaged these days that you could walk from the Bloody Bridge to Cove and back without a map and justa decent description (not that I'm recommending it!). Anyway, when you pass around the head of the Annalong Valley and rise up to the sort-of-saddle between Beg (to the south) and Commedagh (to the north), you should see a fairly distinct track off to the summit of Beg, if you walk past the cairn on the Brandy Pad as it passes between Beg and Commedagh then you have gone too far, the cairn more or less marks where you turn off.
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It's very distinct. All the upland paths in the Mourne are so badly damaged these days that you could walk from the Bloody Bridge to Cove and back without a map and justa decent description (not that I'm recommending it!). Anyway, when you pass around the head of the Annalong Valley and rise up to the sort-of-saddle between Beg (to the south) and Commedagh (to the north), you should see a fairly distinct track off to the summit of Beg, if you walk past the cairn on the Brandy Pad as it passes between Beg and Commedagh then you have gone too far, the cairn more or less marks where you turn off.
Excellent. Just plotted it on MapyX and it's 16km altogether (8 out and 8 back) so I think 5 and a bit hours should cover it. I'm just being lazy asking about the track (have map, compass and gps) but with limited time, I don't want something that'll need loads of navigation and this is pretty much the last area of the Mournes that I haven't yet walked. Cloud cover looks like it should be above the mountains (according to accuweather but I've learned not to trust that).. Really hoping I get some views along the coast off Chimney Rock. If I do have the time, do you know if it's worth diverting to Rocky Mountain? Passed pretty close to the summit when walking the wall but was too wrecked at that stage to pay any notice to it..
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It's an easy enough diversion around the head of Spence's River and across the stile at the wall smack bang next to Rocky. It's interesting enough, there is an old stone tumbledown and other evidence of stone working on it. If the weather is good then you get good view across the Annalong Valley to where you'll be heading to. If the weather is bad then it's your call. It depends on your motivation for doing it - if it is peak bagging then go for it while you are there!
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Thanks for all the suggestions. Didn't make it up today due to some family commitments cropping up so plan to get out one day next weekend..
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Hi folks,
Sorry to drag up an old thread but hoping to get a walk in over the new year and will take in either one (or both) of Cove and Chimney Rock.
Just wondering what conditions are like up around the Mournes (the roads as well as the hills!).
Had a bad experience last year with black ice up around the Trassey Track!
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All fine. No snow or ice on any roads, only pockets of snow along the Mourne Wall. It's very easy to stay clear of any remainng snow or ice. I was up yesterday and it is fairly wet, as you might imagine after the thaw. The gaiters certainly proved their worth!
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Thanks a million for that. Hoping to get up the 2nd or 3rd and do Bloody Bridge->Chimney Rock->Wall at Bog of Donard->Brandy Pad->Cove->Brandy Pad->Wall at Bog of Donard->Bloody Bridge.
The Bog of Donard could be fun this time of year! If too messy, I'll probably give Cove a miss..
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The Bog of Donard could be fun this time of year!
Just take the shortest route from Chimney Rock to the wall and you will avoid the worst of it...
2nd's look the better of the two days.
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Just to follow up on my original post.. Finally got up today to do the final couple of Mourne 2,000 footers I hadn't walked before. Thanks Simon, Chuck and WhoRya for all the help - took Simon's route from Bloody Bridge->Chimney Rock->Brandy Pad->Cove (Via Beg) and back to Bloody Bridge. 17kms in 4hrs 21 - a great walk to get back into the swing of things. As Chuck said, the climb up Chimney Rock from Bloody Bridge was made easier due to the fact that the heather was virtually non-existent after the fire back in September (actually saw the fire on my way down to do TrailTrekker). The frost covered ground made for lovely walking conditions and meant that the normally tortuous crossing of the Bog was a lot easier that usual. Having done most of my walking along the wall, it was great to take the Brandy Pad and get a different viewpoint of the bigger mountains.
Superb conditions up there today with the initial cloud moving off to give beautiful clear skies. Really one of those days where you feel so lucky to be on the hills.
That's all the Mourne 2,000 footers done but I'll definitely get back up there this year. Planning on having a go at beating my time of last year for walking the Mourne Wall (10:43) and hope to do the Mourne 7 7's.
Will post up my route and some pics when I get around to downloading them.
Thanks again for the help folks. Really appreciated.
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Glad you had a good walk, I'll have to keep an eye on Mountainviews for a couple of updates ;)
I've fallen out with the hills a bit, I've been sick as a dog since I was up last week :'(
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whoRya - I do indeed post on mountainviews so I'll probably stick something up there.
First time on the hills for me since early November I think - hard to get the time with a young family. going to try and get out at least once a month this year - problem I have now is that I have most of the local hills done so drives getting further and further!
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Just for the sake of completion of this thread and for anyone who is interested..
Route is at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/61837148
A few pics on Flickr.. http://www.flickr.com/photos/50277096@N00/sets/72157625631544999/with/5342406299/
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We're always interested, looks like you got a great day up there. How far on are you with your attempts to bag all the big ones? I think I saw that you had done all the big hills in the Mournes.
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Cheers whoRya,
Smashing day alright - early cloud moved off to reveal lovely clear winter-blue skies!
Still only in the early stages of the 2,000 footers. Chimney Rock and Cove were the last two I had left in the Mournes but to date, I've only got 45 out of 212 done to date - I've a list of the ones done at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/50277096@N00/sets/72157621887388155/with/5342406299/.
It's pretty much a long term project. With 4 children ranging from toddler to teenager, it's hard to get the time to get out on the hills!