Mourne Way Overnighter - Sat 23rd October

[ChuckMcB]

Weather's looking good, may join you guys for the overnight...

[suspectmonkey]

Weather's looking good, may join you guys for the overnight...

Yeah it looks like its gonna be one of those nice clear, crisp nights!  Fingers crossed

Will drop you a PM with my mobile no. in case you want to join us.  Chances are we will be camping at that spot Liam mentioned earlier in the thread, all being well!

[ChuckMcB]

Cheers. Will have my radio on channel six as well.

[Sawyer]

I haven't actually tarped before so was keen to see it in action, but looks like everyone is in a tent this trip. Just on my way to Holywood to check out their bags.

Are you from Bangor?  If so then don't forget Surf Mountain on Main St. or even TK Maxx.  Think Surf Mtn. do some of the Vango synthetic bags which seem good value.

Thanks, but all sorted. Snugpak sleeper lite down to a low of -7C for £40.

[suspectmonkey]

Thanks, but all sorted. Snugpak sleeper lite down to a low of -7C for £40.

Nice one, there are a few Snugpak fans on here so should be a good job.

[ChuckMcB]

Thanks, but all sorted. Snugpak sleeper lite down to a low of -7C for £40.

Is that the comfort or extreme temperature?

[whoRya]

Have a good night guys, but beware of the full moon, and stick to the path

[ChuckMcB]

I didn't make it to the hills in the end.

[Scribble]

I didn't make it to the hills in the end.

What about Tuesday night  

[Sawyer]

Hope you guys enjoyed the 2nd half of the trip. T'was a bit of a cold one last night wasn't it - Kat you were right after all!

Did you hear about the chopper crash not far away? Looks like family of 3 killed. Tragically sad http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-11615219.

[LandyLiam]

Are you all back safe yet? I got tied up with family activities and didn't get a day pass out til 7pm but thought why waste such a good day and I'm now standing on slievenamuck after my first proper night hike, on my own so picked an easy one

[Matthew]

Made it back in one piece, a wee bit cold but nothing blasting the heat at full tilt in the car did not cure.

[suspectmonkey]

Yep, we all made it home safe and well - no thanks to Translink! 

Was a cold overnighter, but it was pretty cool (no pun) waking up to tents covered in frost and ice, and a pair of frozen boots   Will post up a bit more about the trip when I get home later!

[Dowser]

Yep, we all made it home safe and well - no thanks to Translink! 

Was a cold overnighter, but it was pretty cool (no pun) waking up to tents covered in frost and ice, and a pair of frozen boots   Will post up a bit more about the trip when I get home later!

I'm looking forward to hearing your review.  Can't wait to get a frosty one myself.

Apologies in advance if anybody on here works for Translink but I'm keen to hear about your Translink experiences too.  I left my Motorbike in Belfast one time, after a night on the sauce, and tried to use Translink to get it back the next day.  It tooks about 2 1/2 hours and three buses to get from Bangor to Belfast.  I also took the train recently to Belfast for the Chillifest and it cost a clean fortune.  When the ticket guy told me how much it was gonna be for me and my family I actually laughed out loud!.  It would have been cheaper to drive my Jag in second gear the whole way and park on a double yellow when I got there.

I'm not a big fan or Translink now 

[suspectmonkey]

Apologies in advance if anybody on here works for Translink but I'm keen to hear about your Translink experiences too.  I left my Motorbike in Belfast one time, after a night on the sauce, and tried to use Translink to get it back the next day.  It tooks about 2 1/2 hours and three buses to get from Bangor to Belfast.  I also took the train recently to Belfast for the Chillifest and it cost a clean fortune.  When the ticket guy told me how much it was gonna be for me and my family I actually laughed out loud!.  It would have been cheaper to drive my Jag in second gear the whole way and park on a double yellow when I got there.

Well I haven't used Translink in quite a few years, but I was keen to try using the bus service as it would open up a lot more options for linear walks like the Mourne Way.  I got all the timetable information from the Translink website, although the "Journey Planner" on the website is next to useless. 

To get from Rostrevor to Newcastle you need to take two buses; one takes you from Rostrevor to Kilkeel and the other takes you from Kilkeel to Newcastle.  The first bus arrived on time and picked us up from just outside Kilbroney Park which was grand.  However, it was £3.20 for a single to Kilkeel and we were on the bus for no more than 20 minutes! 

We arrived at the bus depot in Kilkeel with about 30 minutes to kill before the 16.25 to Newcastle.  Needless to say 16.25 came and went with no sign of the bus.  Around 5pm a bus pulled up which was assumed was our bus, but when I went to buy the ticket the driver told me he wasn't going to Newcastle but Newry.  I asked him about the other bus that hadnt arrived and he said he didnt know anything about it, but confirmed that going by the timetable we were in the right place at the right time. 

In the end Matthew used an iPhone app to get the number of a taxi company in Kilkeel who collected us from the bus stop and dropped us off right at our cars in Donard Car Park.  The taxi cost £15, the bus would have cost £12.80 for the four of us.  Think in future I will go for the taxi as I reckon even from Rostrevor it would have only been around £5 more expensive than bus and a lot more reliable!