Topic: Hello to all from new member (Read 11815 times)

specimanYak · « **on:** August 11, 2011 »

Hi to everyone,

I've been checking out the site and forums for a while now and i'm really impressed with all the tips and advice/help that i've found so i thought i'd better join up. My name's David from Belfast, and i'm starting out with camping after years of inactivity, i'm a keen mountain biker and like a hike, usually up Cave Hill or the Lagan/Belvoir Forest.

I've planned a trip down to the Carlingford Activity Centre this weekend for a spot of rock climbing and a few other trips later in the month and was wondering if anyone knew of any good, out of the way places for a spot of 'wild' camping as i don't know the area. I've checked out the local camping/caravan sites and they just make my heart drop, not what i'm looking for at all, the Activity Centre has hostels and bunks but i'd much prefer to camp out under the stars and catch as much of the Perseid Meteor shower this weekend, and really just to enjoy being out in the open, i'm sure a lot of people know how i feel.

Any advice or locations would be gratefully appreciated, many thanks in advance.
David

Spud · « **Reply #1 on:** August 11, 2011 »

Welcome to the forum! Lookin forward to seein the perseids myself!

LandyLiam · « **Reply #2 on:** August 11, 2011 »

welcome david, nice spot down in carlingford but i've never ventured into the hills there, yet ....

whoRya · « **Reply #3 on:** August 12, 2011 »

Hi David, welcome to the forum.

Sorry, not sure of the area down round Carlingford, however using the normal rules of set-up camp late, not near roads or houses, and leave early with no trace, I'd say there are plenty of spots. That served me well recently on a National Trust property in England where I got a sneaky wildcamp in.

And besides if you just throw it all on on your back and head off into the unknown, it usually makes for a more interesting report on here

LennyJ1 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 12, 2011 »

Sorry no help on that location but welcome to the forum

Paul72 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 12, 2011 »

Velkommen til forumet!

RedLeader · « **Reply #6 on:** August 12, 2011 »

Welcome!

Mat Wilson · « **Reply #7 on:** August 12, 2011 »

Welcome

Kayakgirl · « **Reply #8 on:** August 12, 2011 »

Hello and welcome!

specimanYak · « **Reply #9 on:** August 12, 2011 »

Thanks for all the kind comments everyone, the rucksack is packed and i'm rearing to go, i've checked a few locations on google maps and with the help of a friend who use to live in Carlingford years ago (i wasn't aware he did) he's pointed me to a couple of good spots. The idea is to pitch late, enjoy the meteor shower if it's not too cloudy and leave early without a trace, looking forward to a quiet, calm night out in the open.

Dollywaggon · « **Reply #10 on:** August 12, 2011 »

Welcome from a wild camping hardened back-packer who will never go back to the Mournes in summer !!!!! Vinny

whoRya · « **Reply #11 on:** August 12, 2011 »

Quote from: Dollywaggon on August 12, 2011

Welcome from a wild camping hardened back-packer who will never go back to the Mournes in summer !!!!! Vinny

Why so?

LandyLiam · « **Reply #12 on:** August 12, 2011 »

midges?

Dollywaggon · « **Reply #13 on:** August 13, 2011 »

Quote from: whoRya on August 12, 2011

Quote from: Dollywaggon on August 12, 2011
Welcome from a wild camping hardened back-packer who will never go back to the Mournes in summer !!!!! Vinny

Why so ?

Spent all of July camped about 400 mtrs north of Ben Crom on the way to Hare's Gap and did "circulars" using the tent as a base. Oh the midges !!! What cuisine ; midges with everything !! They looked like coarse black pepper in the smash and I knew that I didn't add any pepper !!! I normally use T-bags in the flask to brew up but you got the impression that you were using "loose" tea ---midges floating on top and gasping for breath at the bottom of the cup. Eventually I bought a spray when I went to restock with food. Was using a scarf over my face to do the cooking, gloves, etc.
The tent wasn't "molested" during this time and sometimes I may have left it un-visited for 2-3 days; carry sleeping & bivvy bags in the day sack. Met and seen people who had checked my tent " for the dead body" ; is it unusual in the Mournes to pitch for than a few days?

Dollywaggon · « **Reply #14 on:** August 13, 2011 »

Quote from: Flipmeb on August 13, 2011

Out of interest, what tent did you have pitched? Just wondering if I saw it at any point

It was a Terra Nova Laser Comp. It was the only one there in that small "green field" beside the path on your way up to Hare's and I might add that it was fellow back-packers that were showing concern. One day as I was approaching from Hare's I noticed this couple standing and staring / contemplating the tent from the path (20 mtrs) and then made a decision to go and check if anything was wrong ---dead body syndrome !! Try to draw their attention but the wind was in the wrong direction and then realised that they were climbing up and I would meet them. Back-packers on their way home and their conscious wouldn't allow them to pass a tent they notice a couple days ago !!!! There were other tents down at the head of the res. and 4 back-packers passed down one night, each carrying a metre of plank !!! My 1st thought was the vandals, they have broken the plank at Hare's Gap !!! I apologise to the group if they are reading this ; the plank was still there the following morning. Vinny

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Author Topic: Hello to all from new member (Read 11815 times)

specimanYak

Hello to all from new member

Spud

Re: Hello to all from new member

LandyLiam

Re: Hello to all from new member

whoRya

Re: Hello to all from new member

LennyJ1

Re: Hello to all from new member

Paul72

Re: Hello to all from new member

RedLeader

Re: Hello to all from new member

Mat Wilson

Re: Hello to all from new member

Kayakgirl

Re: Hello to all from new member

specimanYak

Re: Hello to all from new member

Dollywaggon

Re: Hello to all from new member

whoRya

Re: Hello to all from new member

LandyLiam

Re: Hello to all from new member

Dollywaggon

Re: Hello to all from new member

Dollywaggon

Re: Hello to all from new member

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