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Unfortunately age and life got the better of a lot of us.
There's still people wanting to hike and camp, we could probably get something organised if anyone fancied getting the old band back together 

Thankfully it now looks like this is not going ahead.
Sadly it seems a lot of money was spent on it before it even got off the ground, money that could have been better spent on other initiatives (such as helping the Tollymore centre weather their recent difficulties)

I've always seen accessibility as a double edged sword. It's a great thing to make the hills (or parts of them) more accessible to people with health or mobility difficulties. However, by improving ease of access you also increase the flow of people who don't care for the area and leave a collection of beer bottles and festival tents in their wake.

I think covid/lockdown hypnotised a lot of people into habitually staying closer to home.
For me personally, that whole timeframe coincided with having a young child at home.

I had subbed my hill walks for greenway walks around Belfast and 1hr slogs on the stair master. Decent exercise, but not the sort of thing you'd rush to discuss with others here.

I'm getting out a bit more now that he's bigger, and sometimes he even comes with me.

Forums belong to that "old fashioned" type of long form communication that I often think is preferable to be honest. Reels and 20 second soundbites have their appeal (ahem, dopamine) but for the most part, I'd say that posts on a forum tend to be somewhat more considered, less given to breaking down into trolling/abuse or 5000 replies of "nice try Diddy".

Yes, the traffic on NI-Wild has reduced somewhat, but I do hope it sticks around

would be great to see the forums active again, so much local knowledge was here

Just passing too!! I haven't been out much lately myself.  Need to get back out more often again!!

Just passing, hi Darran, must have a reunion camp some time. Hadn’t camped for a few years but just back from a weekend camping in Donegal so have caught the bug again. I echo your comments. this forum has made major positive impacts to my life, thank you NI-Wild.

Hi all,

I must say that I really didn't expect the NI Wild Forum to be one of the things hit hard by covid, and I really don't understand why exactly, especially given how the forum was at it's most active in Jan 2020. I would have imagined outdoor pursuits to be the least of the things to drop!

Nevertheless, as someone who still occasionally stops by to see what's going on, I want to say that I really am thankful for this forum. It made up a large part of the awe that the outdoors has put into me since I first started heading out all those years ago.

So, to the owners of the forum. Thanks. You're awesome. You've made me and I'm sure plenty of other people just that bit happier for making the outdoors and the Mournes just that bit more accessible. We have wonder where we previously didn't. Job well done 

If there's any help that the forum could use in order to keep going, be it admin or advertising or anything else, do be sure to holler. I'd want it to keep going as long as possible.

To anyone else dropping by, do be sure to comment on here. Don't just pass by!

All the best,

Darran.

When I first heard it discussed (years ago) I thought it was going to the summit of Donard and I was raging.  This plan seems to be going partly up to quarry.  I don't like the idea of cable cars swing as a visual in the sky.  They could probably a rail car system up instead which would be less visible.  Don't know how cable cars  it work work in winds, probably wouldn't run half the time with weather.  It would also put pressure on infrastructure of the town which on certain days is packed with cars.   I can understand why they want to do for tourism development, good for businesses and as an attraction and I'm sure people would love the views.

Saying that I don't think it would to see it and it should be left alone. 

I was disappointed to hear about this idea resurfacing. It is just going to make the wilderness area smaller.
fred

there's going to be a cable car ride half way up Donard 

https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2023-03-28/the-44m-alternative-to-seeing-the-mourne-mountains

good or bad?
i'd rather not see it personally
is this why all those trees have been cleared on the way up 

[RedLeader]

A comment of appreciation by RedLeader [August 27, 2025]

Cable Car ride up Donard by Ed [August 26, 2025]

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crabbing by Glenn B [July 19, 2021]

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