Mourne Way - Jan 2012

[RedLeader]

Better turn that frown upside down or Santa might not come 

Yes Very grumpy today  Full on anti-social mode required - in office Ipod on.

[LennyJ1]

That is a very bar humbug mood there dave. I got my leave for this 

[LennyJ1]

lol. I could see you wearing a green santa hat

[RedLeader]

I think a Xmas thread is called for.

[Daithi2004]

I enjoy the day. I just hate absolutely everything else associated with it.

My names Dave and Im the Grinch 

I agree with TypoOn, I enjoy the day. I just hate absolutely everything else associated with it.

[MG1]

Could you add me to the maybe list Dave? If you don't mind.

[Kayakgirl]

I would be interested in this and I might try and get my bro to tag along. Shame I couldn't borrow the mini bus from the YC as it would be handy to leave in Donard.

[Craigy123]

Can you count me in? I did this hike not so long ago only the other way round plus I stayed in Meelmore lodge so roughing it a bit might be nice. Where are you considering camping?

[RedLeader]

A group did the Mourne Way last year, they used a spot roughly half way round that was right by a river, can't remember exactly where though.

Will need to browse my map again, I was thinking simply camping at the mid point if it was going to be a good spot.

[Craigy123]

Fofanny is roughly half way. There is a spot near by a river towards meelmore lodge.

[Oisín]

Is anyone doing any training for this?

I'm no marathon man. I'm hoping others are in the same boat.

[Kayakgirl]

The kids camped at Leitrim Lodge and then Trassey track, both close to rivers.. but then they did this over 3 days.

[Fred]

Is anyone doing any training for this?

I'm no marathon man. I'm hoping others are in the same boat.

Im with you Oisin. Im making an effort to get a bit fitter. 41km with heavy winter packs is no small undertaking but it is achievable.
I think that Fofanny is more than half way through the route but if we got that far on the first day we would be doing well. The section between there and Newcastle is probably less demanding.
fred

[RedLeader]

Thought I'd look more closely at this trip. Obviously Dave and Lenny will be choosing the route etc so I just picked Fofanny Dam as a potential overnight spot meaning that most of the hard work will be done on day one and we'd be close to water and shelter. However when I plot the full hike it comes out at 22.5miles when most sources say it's 26 which is worrying, although Suspectmonkeys writeup puts it at 22 also.

It's defo not going to be an easy walk but should be totally doable, I'll not be racing it

Review of the last time the NI-Wilders did it:
http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1488.0

You can see it on an interactive map here:
http://www.walkni.com/ulsterway/sections/mourne-way/

WalkNI info:
http://www.walkni.com/Walk.aspx?ID=194

TwentyClicks blog posts (where he walked it in a day!)
http://www.twentyclicks.co.uk/?tag=mourne-way

Here are some route maps / details:
Full Route : 22.5miles / 1,155m ascent
Day 1 : 13.2miles / 878 ascent
Day 2 : 9.2m / 276m ascent

Images:
Full route:


Day 1


Day 2

[twentyclicks]

Fofanny is good for me I think we should aim for that as our camp.

When I marked it out it was 22 also (thought I was missing something lol)

'I love it when a plan comes together' - Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith

You probably get a bit more with the twists of the path, but it's certainly a bit shorter than a marathon. The 26extreme race alters the route out of Tollymore into back of Donard and up past the quarry to get the distance up (and the ascent!). It also takes the road past Spelga. I think they're extremely accurate on the distance, so the regular route can't be too much shorter by the looks of it. I'd say it's close to 24miles.