Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
Information => Introductions => Topic started by: artist_james on February 05, 2014
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Hi everyone introducing myself as a new member. I am almost sixty years old and for many years spent time with my mother suffering from dementia, she died just over a year ago and I am catching up on parts of life which had been on hold. I live in the greater Belfast area
My main love is cycle touring and I have a wife who does not mind me following my great love. The love for hill walking and camping in the Mournes started at an early age. My uncle introduced me to the Mournes and I love to read about parents introducing their own family. I believe that first experience can capture you for life. My uncle like me had no children and compared to the rest of our family was financially well off, allowing me to inherit equipment he used. Always buying the best I still now use as one pair of my boots his vintage Raichie boots. The scouts was also another introduction venturing at one time to a jamboree in Denmark. Watching all this Scandi drama now takes me back. I am afraid as an outdoor person I am a bit of a loner, whether this was being an only child I often wonder, so I do not imagine joining many group outings.
I intend to look towards experiencing it more in the Autumn/winter months, come the beginning of April the Troon boat starts back on and I can head out to the islands off Scotland. My desire will be to wild camp as high as I can. I cannot imagine having any advice or help you bunch of seasoned Mournes walkers, but if anyone wants any advice on cycle touring to the Scottish islands I would offer my penny worth. Last June I had a full month journeying up through many Inner and the complete Outer Hebrides camping and using the Gatliff hostels on the Outer Hebrides. That was on top of another three weeks at various times. My initial enthusiasm took my away early April using the boat from Ballycastle to Campbeltown. I camped near Campbeltown and for some reason stayed a second night. The wind changed direction and 70 mile gales whisked up over that flat and unsheltered land. My new cycling tent a Terra Nova Voyager started to lift at one point through my enthusiastic use of new light titanium pegs and that was it. I hastily emptied the gear into the site store and with the help of another man started to take the tent down. The mistake was unpacking the tent on removing the fly sheet the inside took off 20 ft into the air sailing like a kite over all the Caravans and Wooden Wigwams lodging itself into the hedge, the other side being the river out to sea. Luckily all I lost was three pegs and the tent now erects easier with slightly warped poles, they pull into shape on erection and are none the worse. Needless to say I was down into Campbeltown the next morning and longer pegs bought. I was put up in the Wigwams that night and the experience was an education and formed those memories you never forget. I have enjoyed reading much of what is on the site and found it very helpful. We have such an asset on our hands with the Mournes are own Lake District.
I hope you all have a great year. I forgot to mention that the month trip in June I had no rain lets hope this year is the same.
James
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Welcome to the forum James. It was a pleasure reading your introduction!
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Hi James, it must be a pleasure to take in those places at a pace to really take it in. Any time my mind floats towards visiting these places it is always along the lines of making an assault and trying to get it all done in the limited time available :-\
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Welcome James. I spent a lot of time on the Scottish Islands as a kids, they're really beautiful and the locals are very welcoming. I always meant to take a once up Goat Fell on Arran when I was passing but but haven't managed to yet.
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Hi, Arran is part of my route to the islands. I travel over from Ardrossan and up over Torr Nead to Lochranza. The hostel there is first class but I often catch the boat immediately over to Claonaig. Then up another massive climb to Tarbert and hopefully Lochgilphead for the night. If you timed it right there is a service on Wednesday and Saturday to Islay and Colonsay from Kennacraig. I made Barra (5 hours on the boat) from Oban on the second night in June, I was really chuffed. Cal Mac ferries are dirt cheap compared to what the big boys charge us. I can pay £40 single over on the Sealink Ferry to Belfast, 5 hours out to Barra was £14. I camped there beside the Airport where the planes land on the beach.
As regards Arran it is only 14 miles from Troon, so it is very easy to get there. The sign posts mention Golden Eagles to be seen where you are talking about.
James
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Welcome James, great introduction.
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Welcome to the forum James ;D