Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
General => Meets, places, trips and reviews => Topic started by: Matthew on July 15, 2011
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Finally I have had a few days free which suited two others friends for an overnight in the hills. As everyone was off for the 12th and 13th and the sun splitting the clouds we decided this was our window of opportunity.
Leaving Bangor at 11:00, we made it to Meelmore Lodge for 1:00 after a stop for lunch and a trip around Tesco for the much-needed supplies.
We made good progress and had reached Hares Gap within the hour via the track to the right hand side avoiding the boulder field. After a brief air stop at the Hares, we pressed on up the steps for the approach to Bearnagh. Deciding we were all hungry we opted for a stop just before the going got tough filled up on soup and ham and cheese sandwiches. After a fill of the water bottles, we were on our way.
After looking closely at potential routes up Bearnagh se settled for the right had side of the wall, as it looked easier with less unstable ground to navigate. It was instantly tough slow going coupled with the heat of the day I was not having much fun. Seeing the first summit tor spurred us on until we had enough and took a break at the collapsed section of the wall. Finally, we were able to appreciate the view from half way up which I must say was fantastic.
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e144/matthewrblack/Slieve%20Bearnagh%20July%202011/IMG_1136.jpg)
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e144/matthewrblack/Slieve%20Bearnagh%20July%202011/18.jpg)
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e144/matthewrblack/Slieve%20Bearnagh%20July%202011/IMG_1118.jpg)
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e144/matthewrblack/Slieve%20Bearnagh%20July%202011/Untitled_Panorama1.jpg)
A final hard push had us at the top. With all the stops it was around 3:30-4:00 before we hit the summit.
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e144/matthewrblack/Slieve%20Bearnagh%20July%202011/24.jpg)
Following a brief climb on the first tor, we pressed on and headed for the second summit tor with the aim of finding somewhere up there to put the tent. After an explore we never came across anywhere that was slightly sheltered so a few photos followed and we headed back to the area of the first and set about putting up hotel North Face for the evening.
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e144/matthewrblack/Slieve%20Bearnagh%20July%202011/9.jpg)
Tent was up kit was sorted mates were sorted and happy so I had a half hour in bed. Waking up and looking out the door, I was greeted with the most fantastic wakeup view.
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e144/matthewrblack/Slieve%20Bearnagh%20July%202011/IMG_1144.jpg)
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e144/matthewrblack/Slieve%20Bearnagh%20July%202011/IMG_1142.jpg)
It was getting on so we opened the celebratory bottle of Magners at the top and started into it while the chicken casserole was cooking nicely on the stove. The sun started to go down and this is when I love being in the mountains with the last bits of light hitting areas and the shadows creating weird and wonderful shapes.
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e144/matthewrblack/Slieve%20Bearnagh%20July%202011/IMG_1202.jpg)
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e144/matthewrblack/Slieve%20Bearnagh%20July%202011/IMG_1156.jpg)
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e144/matthewrblack/Slieve%20Bearnagh%20July%202011/IMG_1149.jpg)
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e144/matthewrblack/Slieve%20Bearnagh%20July%202011/Untitled_Panorama2.jpg)
We finally piled into our sleeping bags around 1 am with the temperature quite a bit colder. I was out like a light after the arduous climb during the day, only to be woken by something at 3 which turned out to be nothing, a few more hours sleep and we were all up around 7:00. Running short on water we opted for breakfast where we could clean the cooking equipment and get enough water for a good cup of coffee, this turned out to be at the end of the boulder field below Hares gap.
The bacon was hovered down and we came across the first walkers of the morning who informed us the smell of our breakfast was wafting down Trassey Track. A quick jaunt back to the car had us there for 10:00
All in all Bearnagh is a great hill to get up and with good mates it was great sport.
Matthew
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Lucky gits ;)
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Great story and photo's. 8)
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Class mate. Those pic's have got me itching for a night in the hills.
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Looks awesome Matt, nice write up and photos! I've yet to do a summer summit camp, always seems to be in wet, windy, gloomy winter! Think will have to dust off the bivvy bag and get a trip up Bearnagh again :)
PS: Good to see the TNF tent where it belongs... on top of a mountain 8)
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What a view from your bedroom window. You got a great couple of days up there. Slieve Bearnagh is a wee cracker.
You can get a run of bad days or a run of good days. I reckon I'm due a rough one soon. You'll be relieved to know my next planned trip is solo and is in England.
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We got lucky with the weather for sure normally I experience at least a little rain when I am out for the night.
Bearnagh is a great hill but I am not sure I want to get up it again I was broken or perhaps its owing to a lack of hill action.
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Matthew, well done. Your report is forming part of my decision making process whether to venture into the hills or not this week-end. This is tipping the scales in favour of a solo (or not) trip somewhere yet to be decided. have yet to check on the local weather. The forecast after the news wasn't promising. We'll just have to see. Good photos.
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Nice one matt, what about the mates, did that adventure get them hooked into the outdoor sceen at all then? sturdy lookin tent aswell, was that its christining.
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great pics, looks like a good time was had by all, thanks for sharing!
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Matthew, well done. Your report is forming part of my decision making process whether to venture into the hills or not this week-end. This is tipping the scales in favour of a solo (or not) trip somewhere yet to be decided. have yet to check on the local weather. The forecast after the news wasn't promising. We'll just have to see. Good photos.
Go for it, the shelter stone is somewhere I have been looking at for a while as I have never been but I have heard allot about it. I had always looked at tackling it from Meelmore and dropping down from Hares.
Nice one matt, what about the mates, did that adventure get them hooked into the outdoor sceen at all then? sturdy lookin tent aswell, was that its christining.
I would do allot of stuff with my mate Paul and Jamie used to do allot years ago. The tent has had a few outings namely a back garden camp and a night at Bloody Bridge so this was the first proper outing.
Matthew
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Great stuff, Bearnagh is a top peak for a summit overnighter. Loads of space, plenty to explore and the views are brilliant.