Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
General => Meets, places, trips and reviews => Topic started by: Matthew on July 22, 2011
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Given that the weather is fantastic and the recent talk of the shelter stone I am planning to head down later tonight for a quick bivvy and home at a reasonable time in the morning. If you fancy it give me a shout.
Matthew
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I'm in. Never been to the Shelter Stone, anyone know how easy is it to fine from Hares Gap?
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I'm in. Never been to the Shelter Stone, anyone know how easy is it to fine from Hares Gap?
Very easy red, there is a path down from the gap below bearnagh most of the way but as far as I remember you have to cross a riverand keep it on your right as you head down
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From what I know you head to the steps for Bearnagh, instead of going up them you contour to the left of them and follow a track down.
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Looks like there will be a fair few of us up the mournes tonight! Don't forget the midge repellent! ;D
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We'll probably not at camp until after 9 so hopefully they'll be gone by then.
Looks like there will be a fair few of us up the mournes tonight! Don't forget the midge repellent! ;D
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Its pretty simple theres a trail leads you down to Ben Crom from the hares gap.
I think its the kilkeel river runs into Ben crom cross it and your not far from the shelter stone.
Have a good one guys, would love to go tonight but wouldn't be able to get a babysitter sorted.
Bring midge spray ;D
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I was going to go up Doan tonight but if theres a group of you going to Ben crom i might come along to it instead if thats okay, get a bit of crack going between us all.
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We'll probably not at camp until after 9 so hopefully they'll be gone by then.
Looks like there will be a fair few of us up the mournes tonight! Don't forget the midge repellent! ;D
hope yer right mate, maybe see yous up there somewhere! Busting to get out there!
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I was going to go up Doan tonight but if theres a group of you going to Ben crom i might come along to it instead if thats okay, get a bit of crack going between us all.
Yea bust along buddy
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Yeap... I'm in. I'll be at Meelmore for 19:30ish
If I don't see you in the carpark I'll see you at the Shelter Stone ;D
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I wanna come, may need to butter up the wife when I get home????
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A half day off work today, car packed with big plans to head to Slieve League (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcrobert/5646864823/in/set-72157626561319496/) in Donegal for a bivvy and stuff, but a couple of immovable objects got in the way at the last minute ::) ....so it looks like I'm slumming it in the Mournes ;D
Will join you if I may?
Trying to get out of the house shortly to have a wee explore somewhere. If anyone's about feel free to give me a shout.
Anyone got any plans for Saturday? Getting down to the shelter stone should be an easy enough toddle ;D , so I'm thinking about another explorer of Ben Crom itself (caves and summit) if anyone's up for it.
I wanna come, may need to butter up the wife when I get home?
(/me whispers: don't go home.....better to seek forgiveness than ask permission)
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I can't make it I'm afraid :( Would love to go but I'm booked up this weekend... Have a good one though, looks like you'll get great weather. I expect plenty of photos :)
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Everyones welcome as ever! We're only leaving Meelmore at 730pm so it will likely be 9ish before we're at the Shelter Stone.
Anyone got any plans for Saturday? Getting down to the shelter stone should be an easy enough toddle ;D , so I'm thinking about another explorer of Ben Crom itself (caves and summit) if anyone's up for it.
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Lads me and the mate are gonna tag along to this tonight if thats ok? We will prob be there before yous so see you there hopefully!
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All good. We'll be bivvying, expect to see a couple of DPM tarps I should have thought. PM me a mobile number if you want me to keep you updated on plans.
Lads me and the mate are gonna tag along to this tonight if thats ok? We will prob be there before yous so see you there hopefully!
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All good. We'll be bivvying, expect to see a couple of DPM tarps I should have thought. PM me a mobile number if you want me to keep you updated on plans.
Lads me and the mate are gonna tag along to this tonight if thats ok? We will prob be there before yous so see you there hopefully!
lol DPM tarps the whole idea is not to see them
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We are leaving now so we will see you up there were in a silver tent so will be easy to spot!
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It's a green tarp, not Harry Potters invisibility cloak :P
All good. We'll be bivvying, expect to see a couple of DPM tarps I should have thought. PM me a mobile number if you want me to keep you updated on plans.
Lads me and the mate are gonna tag along to this tonight if thats ok? We will prob be there before yous so see you there hopefully!
lol DPM tarps the whole idea is not to see them
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A half day off work today, car packed with big plans to head to Slieve League (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcrobert/5646864823/in/set-72157626561319496/) in Donegal for a bivvy and stuff, but a couple of immovable objects got in the way at the last minute ::) ....so it looks like I'm slumming it in the Mournes ;D
Will join you if I may?
Trying to get out of the house shortly to have a wee explore somewhere. If anyone's about feel free to give me a shout.
Anyone got any plans for Saturday? Getting down to the shelter stone should be an easy enough toddle ;D , so I'm thinking about another explorer of Ben Crom itself (caves and summit) if anyone's up for it.
Your always welcome Chuck... Will be great to catch up. I'm in no hurry home tomorrow so I'll probably join you for the Ben Crom Exploration if you don't mind.
See you at the Shelter Stone if not before ;D
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At hares gap the mites are lethal! Not a breath of wind and the suns just come out!
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has anyone seen dowser! i think he was eaten alive by midges, this was found by the river :o
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110722bencrom/P1060007Small.jpg)
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Lol... surely they would be in camo?
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Was good to meet you all last night, those midges were lethal the air was thick with them, those with the face nets had the right idea!
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has anyone seen dowser! i think he was eaten alive by midges, this was found by the river :o
How dare you accuse me of wearing Action Man boxers... I go Commando I'll have you know ;D
Is that too much information... Do I need to moderate myself again? :D
Great night guys... I crawled out of my bivvy bag about 9am and you were all gone, except for Chuck. You missed a cracking day weather wise. I have totally walked the legs of myself and Sal. The Wee dogs asleep on my sofa and I'm guessing she will be there for many hours to come!!!
I'll stick up a few photos and a route taken a bit later on. Excellent trip as always :)
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Great night, really glad i brought the midge net (scouts are always prepared ;) ) i had fully intended on bivvying for my first time but chickened out at meelmore lodge and packed the tent in, boy was i glad of that. However i did manage to cook my own meal so i'm getting a little wilder ;D the midges didn't settle until after 11pm >:( i think in future calm night should be summits nights 8) (all night are summits nights in my book ;) ) geocaching t 2.30am was fun too ! got a bit cold for me during the night then at 5am i remembered i still had the bivvy bag in the rucksack so i threw that over my sleeping bag and i was nice and toasty again.
I left about 8am with intentions of summiting bearnagh but i couldn't muster the energy so i went to bearnagh quarry to get another geocache and sat there for half an hour taking in the views (sunbathing). Good to meet new faces (rumblebum and redspud are all the names i can remember) and see old ones again.
p.s although it felt like i was getting eaten alive by midges i used avon skin so soft for the first time and it turns out i have very few itchy bites to scratch today, we buggers did find a few bits i forgot to soak like behind my ears >:(
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heres some pics I took last night and this morning! great spot, fully intend to go back there, but out of midge season!
(http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/redspud1/ben%20crom%20camp/P1040074.jpg)
(http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/redspud1/ben%20crom%20camp/P1040071.jpg)
(http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/redspud1/ben%20crom%20camp/P1040069.jpg)
(http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/redspud1/ben%20crom%20camp/P1040067.jpg)
(http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/redspud1/ben%20crom%20camp/P1040065.jpg)
(http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/redspud1/ben%20crom%20camp/P1040061.jpg)
(http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/redspud1/ben%20crom%20camp/P1040060.jpg)
(http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/redspud1/ben%20crom%20camp/P1040058.jpg)
(http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/redspud1/ben%20crom%20camp/P1040056.jpg)
(http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/redspud1/ben%20crom%20camp/P1040055.jpg)
(http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/redspud1/ben%20crom%20camp/P1040053.jpg)
(http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/redspud1/ben%20crom%20camp/P1040052.jpg)
(http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/redspud1/ben%20crom%20camp/P1040051.jpg)
(http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/redspud1/ben%20crom%20camp/P1040048.jpg)
(http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/redspud1/ben%20crom%20camp/P1040046.jpg)
(http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/redspud1/ben%20crom%20camp/P1040044.jpg)
(http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/redspud1/ben%20crom%20camp/P1040043.jpg)
(http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/redspud1/ben%20crom%20camp/P1040042.jpg)
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Hi guys, just to say thanks for making me so welcome last night, i throughly enjoyed myself. It would have been hard to get better weather than what we had, cheers to Liam for the head net and thanks dowser for being the entertainment for the night, your a troubled man. ( ive been trying to remember your joke about the polar bear but i forgotten how it went) it may not be postable lol.
I like the way you didnt burn my firelog, oh i, let the new guy carry it back to the car, gits haha!
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some of my pics
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110722bencrom/P1050965Small.jpg)
starting off at meelmore lodge
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110722bencrom/P1050967Small.jpg)
the ni-wild mascot (dowser, not the dog ;D )
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110722bencrom/P1050974Small.jpg)
up the goat track to hares gap
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110722bencrom/P1060001Small.jpg)
view of ben crom (not silent valley ;) ) reservoir
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110722bencrom/P1050997Small.jpg)
the shelter stone, emergency use only!
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110722bencrom/P1060025Small.jpg)
hobo stove fired up, were gonna need a bigger stove!
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110722bencrom/P1060054Small.jpg)
the taliban?
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110722bencrom/P1060041Small.jpg)
the landyliam supper: spaghetti, grated cheese & a dolmio stir-in sauce, delicious :)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110722bencrom/P1060064Small.jpg)
billy backpack arrives around midnight, fair play to him for finding his way here in the dark, smoke that man a kipper
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110722bencrom/P1060074Small.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110722bencrom/P1060112Small.jpg)
morning view of the reservoir
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110722bencrom/P1060111Small.jpg)
chuck and dowser having a lie in
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110722bencrom/P1060135Small.jpg)
on the way back i spot the moon we couldn't find last night
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110722bencrom/P1060140Small.jpg)
me parked up at bearnagh quarry taking it easy
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Twas good to get out and meet you guy's even if it was only brief, maybe next time I will have a bit more time to fully interact :P
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Good times had would've been so much better had the midges not been quite so dreadful but hopefully next time.
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Thank's to everyone for making it such an enjoyable night in the hills.
Matthew
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Looks like a class spot.
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Top night lads. Shame the midges were of some never before seen mutant variety but it was still a blast. I don't survive well on 3 hours sleep so the rest of the weekend was a bit of a blank ;)
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Glad you all enjoyed the camp spot. The midge bite marks will start fading in a week or so. Not too itchy, just a little unsightly. Looks like you've got measles. So what's the midge job spec then? What do they do that we could advertise for a less annoying replacement ?
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Trip report here:
http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/blog/2011/07/camp-at-ben-crom/
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Thats a good read buddy
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(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110722bencrom/P1060064Small.jpg)
I refuse to believe it... can't be Billy Backpack, he hasn't been seen in the flesh for years! Must be a ghost or something :D
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He did appear after dark and went home before 7am so even we're suspicious as to whether he was real. That slightly fuzzy photo doesn't help, he actually does look a little ghostly!
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110722bencrom/P1060064Small.jpg)
I refuse to believe it... can't be Billy Backpack, he hasn't been seen in the flesh for years! Must be a ghost or something :D
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He did appear after dark and went home before 7am so even we're suspicious as to whether he was real. That slightly fuzzy photo doesn't help, he actually does look a little ghostly!
Sounds like you all had a drop too much of JD ;)
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I felt a bit fuzzy myself on Saturday morning ::)
He did appear after dark and went home before 7am so even we're suspicious as to whether he was real. That slightly fuzzy photo doesn't help, he actually does look a little ghostly!
Sounds like you all had a drop too much of JD ;)