So, after 2 long weeks of travelling with work.... Home (Waringstown), Wexford, Rosslare, Clonmel, Kilkenny, Swords, Home, back down to Gort, on to Ennis for a Gala Ball (doing the Cliffs of Moher en route of course!), home via Galway, Bundoran, Rossnowlagh, off to Southampton, then 2 days in the north in Newtownards and Coleraine.... I was craving some home cooking and a nice soft bed.... BUT....
But, the sun deciding to grace us with its company for a change.... well, it would have been rude not to go out and play!
A last minute decision to head off not just for a dander but an overnight "somewhere" in the beautiful Mournes, we set off just before lunch on Saturday and parked at the tennis courts on the Bryansford Road. We headed onto the Mourne Way with our 2 faithful companions - our wee miniature Schnauzers (Suzi and Zoe), who are apparently becoming quite famous.... We met a total stranger at the gate who asked us if we were on NI Wild - she recognised the dogs! It was Annie/ Are We There Yet! Hi Annie - Hope the wee man enjoyed his cub camp :-)
Not being the fittest pair in the world (especially me
) getting anywhere with the kit we carry is a challenge - we really must get tips on packing lighter!! We got to the top to Tipperary Wood and the other half (T18con) was rolling his eyes at my puffing and panting
and subtly suggested that I go back to the car (crossing his fingers behind his back all the while) and meet him at Meelmore - he even tried to use the dog being limp as an excuse! But being slightly competitive, not to mention stubborn, and knowing I would never hear the end of it, I carried on.
We stuck to the path and several arguments later as to where exactly we were - I can barely read a road map never mind an OS - we hit the Spinkwee area and having heard of the campsite there, thought we might try to find it and kip there, but not having researched it well enough beforehand we decided to push on and head for Meelmore. It was a beautiful day but I have to say I wasn't keen on the route - not enough viewpoints for my liking, but it was still good to be out in the fresh air and the dogs were loving it.
We got to the carpark just down from Meelmore and it was decision time - go to the campsite itself at Meelmore or head on up the Trassey track. We're never sure what the sites are like for letting the dogs off the leads - we hit one near Lug in Wicklow last year where we had to keep them tied up which we don't like having to do. We opted to push on the last little bit up the Trassey, meeting one couple on the way down who stopped to pass a few words and must have thought we were super unfit if we were that out of puff just coming from the carpark! lol
We passed a group of kids set up for the night just at the wall, but thankfully there was no-one about at the spot we were aiming for. By that stage I don't think I could have gone another 10 yds! We usually prefer somewhere more remote or higher up with better views, but it was near water which we needed for the dogs and its my favourite sound. Sausages, champ and beans and into bed - no luxury BBQ, beer and campfire this time - we were TRYING to pack lighter and there wasn't much around in the way of firewood - but as mentioned before we don't seem to be quite getting it right! We only saw a few souls coming down and one going up - who we have since discovered was none other than Kyle heading up to camp on Bearnagh!
I like my heat and though we have 4 season sleeping bags, I was still a bit cold. I had brought my hot water bottle the last time after seeing someone on the forum say he had brought his once, and it was a godsend, but I left it behind this time. I have to say the wee handwarmers I got in Cotswolds were amazing - I put them inside my socks and in no time at all I was toasty warm
No finer way to fall asleep than by the sound of the running water beside us (and some snoring dogs) and when the wind settled it was actually quite a still night.
After a fairly late breakfast of porridge and a decidely unhurried pack up, by which time quite a few people had passed by on the track, we set off for home. Heading up to Hare's Gap for a quick brew, then along the Brandy Pad to the saddle at Slieve Donard we were surprised there weren't more people about with it being the holiday weekend. Though, sure enough, when we got to Donard there were loads of family groups. It's not one of our favourite mountains for that reason - not that we're anti-social or anything (!), but it does get a lot of traffic and I really enjoy the quietness of lesser travelled routes. Quite a lot of low cloud when we arrived which cleared again as quickly as it had come and by the time we got back to Donard park the sun was splitting the stones. All in all, we had been lucky with the weather and the camp spot, and while this may not have been a marathon trek for most of you, I was pleased I hadn't been banished back to the car from Tippperary Wood and had actualy made it as far as I had with full pack on!!
(This is T18con's idea of being funny! My pack in smaller than his - hence the reason he got his coat and fleece into his pack and I didn't!)
So all in all, a good weekend. I just need to get the fitness sorted before I do my Mountain Skills & Navigation course in July and who knows, maybe next year we'll even do a sumit camp. Until then, heres to the sun making many more appearances and a few more last minute camps - all suggested spots welcome! (We've done Lough Shannagh, shelter stone at Ben Crom and Shepherds Point).
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Topic: Mourne Way Camping Trip (Read 17787 times)