Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
Information => Introductions => Topic started by: Pheunos on January 12, 2012
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Morning all,
I was planning a bit of a walk in the Mournes at the weekend and came across this forum - looks good so far!
I did a bit of walking up there a good few years ago, Duke of Ed award stuff mostly, but I'd like to get back up there again.
I've just dug out my old map to plan a few routes but can't for the life of me remember what my walking speed was!
Can anyone give an idea what a rough average might be given that I'm pretty unfit so will be taking it steady?
Failing that can anyone tell me how long it might take me to walk from the car park at Trassey Track to hare's gap and back?
I'm more used to enjoying myself outdoors in a 4x4 these days so I'm a bit rusty with all this stuff.
Cheers,
Phil.
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welcome Phil! As flip says, 2 hours would be a good benchmark to start with! enjoy!
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Thanks guys, from memory there's a bit of a scramble of some large boulders as you approach Hare's gap - did I imagine that or does it get a bit tricky up there? I have a couple of wee dogs and don't want to end up carrying them!
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You didnt imagine it, thats good or bad depending on how you look at it lol :) I dont think your dogs would have a problem, they seem to cope much better than us two legs ( unless they are micro dogs you 'might' have to lift them up a couple of bits depending on your approach)
Well at least I'm not losing my marbles :)
Hopefully the dogs will be ok then. Is there a recommended approach or is it just a case of walking at it and hoping for the best?
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Thanks guys, from memory there's a bit of a scramble of some large boulders as you approach Hare's gap - did I imagine that or does it get a bit tricky up there? I have a couple of wee dogs and don't want to end up carrying them!
If you head straight on when you reach the top of the trassey you will have to do a little scrambling, but if you bear to the right towards the quarry, there is a track running along that you can take also!
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Welcome!
Hares gap would be a 2-3 hours at a slowish pace. I'm forever getting tortured on the boulder field by dogs so unless you've got tiny animals I'd say you'd be fine. Farmers still drive sheep up there after all but I don't know if they go straight up or use the goat track to the right.
More info here:
http://www.walkni.com/Walk.aspx?ID=454
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Welcome Phil, does Quinton know your here ;D
that track mentioned near the quarry is very boggy at the hares gap end, best to just go straight up through the boulder field, there isn't really a path to follow through it but i think its easier if you stay left of centre awhen travelling up, remeber to take your time, sit down a lot and take in the view (if with friends bring a camera, taking pics is a great excuse to stop for a breather ;) thats why i take so many photos :) )
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Welcome Phil, does Quinton know your here ;D
that track mentioned near the quarry is very boggy at the hares gap end, best to just go straight up through the boulder field, there isn't really a path to follow through it but i think its easier if you stay left of centre awhen travelling up, remeber to take your time, sit down a lot and take in the view (if with friends bring a camera, taking pics is a great excuse to stop for a breather ;) thats why i take so many photos :) )
Thats funny Liam,seem to remember you taking that path ,while bic and me went down the boulder field lol,anyway welcome to the forum.That would be a ideal first walk out for you,just go through the gate at hare's gap,there's some view.
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that track mentioned near the quarry is very boggy at the hares gap end, best to just go straight up through the boulder field, there isn't really a path to follow through it but i think its easier if you stay left of centre awhen travelling up, remeber to take your time, sit down a lot and take in the view (if with friends bring a camera, taking pics is a great excuse to stop for a breather ;) thats why i take so many photos :) )
Welcome to the forum. I agree with LandyLiam. At the top is gets boggy. That was the my fisrt route in the mournes all those years ago. Enjoy this forum.
Here is the map for Walking Ni. http://www.walkni.com/d/walks/454/Hare's_Gap.pdf
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Hi Phil. Welcome to the forum. I can't really give any more info. Have fun.
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Thanks for all the info, very helpful indeed.
Liam, good to hear from you, I hope that Disco of yours is still going strong?
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I hope it is too! but its gone to pastures new, so just a bit of rambling (verbal and physical) for me now :)