Some good woodland

[kiltedrunner]

Hi everyone, very glad I acme across this forum, looks pretty comprehensive and you all seem like good folks! My name is Peter so feel free to substitute that for my username.

I'm mainly interested in wooded areas to camp, preferably somewhere you could get away with lighting a wee fire, and even better if there's a river nearby. Mainly use a tarp and hammock setup so flat ground isnt much of an issue. Used to go to Annalong a fair bit but after the fires I have no idea what state the place is in. The people responsible need found and punished. Live around east Belfast so the closer the better! Any ideas very much appreciated!

Also having a first stab at a Mora clipper rehandle so will post the method and results when Ive figured everything out. For those interested the new Mora companion has a longer tang and would lend itself better to this kinda thing but holding off getting one till I see what I come up with!

thanks for having me, lookin forward to talking with you guys!

Peter

[MG1]

Hello and welcome Peter

[LennyJ1]

Welcome to the forum Peter 

[spartan00117]

Hi Peter and welcome. 

[Paul72]

Welcome Pete!

[RedLeader]

Welcome Peter

[Oisín]

How do you do.

[666_pack]

hello and welcome pete!

[Dusk]

Hey.

I just got myself a brand spankin' new hammock and tarp from Tenth Wonder. Really good gear  

Been out in Castlewellan and was nice but not thought of where to go next. Any suggestions?

[RedLeader]

Throw a post up, I'm sure some people have a few suggestions.

Hey.

I just got myself a brand spankin' new hammock and tarp from Tenth Wonder. Really good gear  

Been out in Castlewellan and was nice but not thought of where to go next. Any suggestions?

[kiltedrunner]

has any one been to colin glen forest park? Discover NI say it's '200 acres of scenic woodland, grassland, waterfalls and ponds.'  Its a 15 minute bus ride from Belfast so handy for a lot of folks. If I get a spare day ill have a wee recce and see if its any good but being that close to the city it could be heavily used and staffed, which just screams 'no fun allowed'.

@Dusk- Went for the DD tarp and camping hammock myself but the tenth wonder stuff looks pretty similar! Had it all set up near Annalong on the day of the fires and around 9.00 I saw the flames circling my way :s. Found some coppers who were there just for a gander and got a lift to newcastle so didn't get a chance to sleep in it but had a wee lie down to test it and it was pretty dam comfy!

[ChuckMcB]

Welcome Peter

Mainly use a tarp and hammock setup so flat ground isnt much of an issue. Used to go to Annalong a fair bit but after the fires I have no idea what state the place is in.

The forest on the west side of the Annalong River was really badly hit (the camp site right beside the path to Blue Lough was almost destroyed by the fire but it stopped just short).

But there is still **loads** of forest on both sides of the tarmac road...couple of streams running through the forest as well. When I finally crack out my TkMaxx hammock, I'll be sneaking into that area.

[kiltedrunner]

Fantastic, thanks for letting me know! Planning a Newcastle to Rostrevor hike in a couple of weeks and will be comin down from rocky mountain direction, you reckon theres enough around there?

[ChuckMcB]

yea, should be fine. I'll be up in the area over the next week, will gram grab some pics, just to see how much it's 'changed' since the last time I was there.

[Kayakgirl]

That is shocking..