Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
General => General Chat => Topic started by: Ed on January 13, 2012
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Hi folks,
So after months of milling about intending to do a proper walk - I finally decided to go for it. A (much fitter) friend and I headed to Donard yesterday.
It was probably unwise to go from absolute sedentary cheese burger eating and laying about to walking up Slieve Donard, but I was in the mood for something challenging :)
Couple my absolute lack of fitness with the last remnants of a chest infection and you have one challenging climb!
Started in Donard car park. The first mile or so was the toughest, it was steep and I was feeling it in the chest more than anywhere else. Once I got as far as the wooded area my chest had opened up very well and things were getting easier.
Really beautiful views, stopped and had a drink from the stream. Any chance I could get I was standing in a stream for a few minutes to wash the muck from my boots and marvel at the wonders of GoreTex!
The walk from the valley to the living rock and the saddle was tough, by then my legs were feeling very heavy and tight around the calves, but I plodded on and was glad to reach the top.
Then it was out with the kelly kettle for a cuppa tea and chicken sandwiches :-)
The way down was a great deal easier, with no need to stop for rests, but I was well knackered and slept like a baby last night!
Next time I'm sure will be easier :-)
Some pics if anyone's interested:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.530122027444.21694.339300004&type=1&l=532f6fd678 (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.530122027444.21694.339300004&type=1&l=532f6fd678)
Ed
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If you can do Donard then you're good for just about anything,well done. Next up, SUMMIT CAMP :D
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Well done Ed! If you liked the views from Donard, try Bernagh next! Its my personal favourite.
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Good man Ed,the hardest part of that walk is through the forest at the start and on the Saddle.That's one of the Seven Sevens done,only six more to go ;D
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I think I might give Bernagh a go Annie, it's amazing how many different walks there are in such a small area. I don't drive but my friend wants to make a weekly thing of heading walking (and my employer will happily let me work a 4pm to midnight on the days I fancy walking) so I figure it's a better way to beat myself into shape than running endlessly on a treadmill watching jeremy kyle.
If I want to be performing better in future I need to sort out my mostly fried diet, so I got myself a big bag of salmon and mackarel at st georges market today, and a healthy sack of veg.
I always have loved the beauty of the hills, but lack of fitness kinda spoils it, that's something I intend to get sorted :)
Mourneman I take it from your name you're around the mournes quite a lot then? My brother in law does a lot of labouring up around the mournes on contract, always telling me tales of great walks and fascinating finds - I'd imagine there's always more to discover :-)
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Downpatrick Ed ,so I try to get walking at least twice a week,different route each time
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Good one Ed, it's a long walk that one. It feels great when you get back down and look back up to where you were a couple of hours earlier.
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well done ed my fitness is the same as yours and my chest is knackered(pneumonia) so not doing donard for a while. now you can do the rest of them knowing the big one is out of the way
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great one ed, now make your self a summit list and start ticking them off, it gets addictive !
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Pneumonia Gaz? Rough! I'm sure you'll have it beaten before you know it though.
You're right Liam, I'm sitting looking out the window right now at the sky clear right over the hills and thinking "I wish I wasn't too stiff to head out again!"
I don't wanna overdo it early on though, if the weather holds till sunday I'll tackle Divis :)
In the spirit of healthy habits, I just had myself a broiled salmon steak with a red pepper, thyme, dill and garlic paste, touch of olive oil - and a baked rooster potato. Beats my usual of a pizza and chips lol.
It really is a beautiful day out there today, anyone been out in the hills today?
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Well done Ed, Seen your photos. Donard is a tought wee climb. You are starting at sea level and you walk evert metre/feet of it so well done. I have just come back from climbing Binnians with Claire Balding of BBC Radio 4 programme called "Ramblings". (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006xrr2). We had great weather and I thing Claire and her sound person Sarah were impressed.
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If you liked that route, try parking at the bloody bridge, walk along the road to Donard wood, do your same route up but go down the other side along the old quarry track and down to your car. nice challenging walk, and if its a nice day try some of the pools in the bloody bridge river, real good fun.