Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Username: Password:

Follow NI-Wild

Pages: [1] 2

Author Topic: Overnight at Randalstown Forest  (Read 12481 times)

Rich.H

  • Has Camped With NI-Wild
  • Hero Poster
  • ******
  • Karma: 31
  • Posts: 522
Overnight at Randalstown Forest
« on: July 02, 2013 »
Well was up at the Shane's castle game fair on the 29 &30 and due to firstly not wanting to have an extra 3 hours driving and saving the better part of 30 quid in petrol we decided to find a quick camp spot. Since there is no camping allowed in the castle estates and due to the sheer amount of folk their for the fair I decided not to risk stealth camping there. But Randalstown forest being only 10 minutes up the road seemed ideal.

After a brief walk around the forest we decided on trying just at the lough edge partly for the views and partly for the ease of water giving less to carry. So arrived around 6pm on the Saturday evening to some fine weather.





Plus nice calm waters had me thinking of having an early dip the next morning (How I should I just done so that evening instead).



So threw up the tarp in an open tent format and put up the solo tent as the other half decided she was against the idea of buzzing things  ???. However I was a little hasty that morning with the packing and forgot to bring some extra pegs and lines for the tarp, with no axe/machettoe or saw either due to not having any big fire intentions, I was left without any real way to make pegs. Hense having to resort to lumps of logs improv pegs (Oh how nature laughed at me later).



So after something to eat and sorting everything out in good order we went for some bird waching in the hut before bed. Things took a turn that night with the wind suddenly picking up around 3am to the point of near taking the tarp away and dropping the temperature to the point where for the OH and dogs sake I decided we should bug out to the birding hut, so a quick dash and gear grab was made. Come morning the wind had died down a fair amount however it was still a fair gusty day with the lough slightly choppy.



With the wind still blowing there was little space safe enough for the trangia meant breakfast was done in the hut and I chickened out on my morning dip having no warm gear for afters.

All in all it goes to show how much extra you have to think about when not going solo, had I been by myself I could of simply lowered everything and stuck it out. Not a mistake to make again, but all good fun. Plus no biting midges always a plus.
« Last Edit: July 02, 2013 by Rich.H »
Logged

twentyclicks

  • Has Camped With NI-Wild
  • Hero Poster
  • ******
  • Karma: 57
  • Posts: 1079
  • Photographer, wanderer, bike enthusiast
    • twentyclicks
Re: Overnight at Randalstown Forest
« Reply #1 on: July 02, 2013 »
Nice way to save fuel and have a little adventure in the wild.

Unlucky being short on the pegs - we've all forgotten a useful wee thing before: you were just right to get it out of your system where there was a decent back-up (hut)  :)
Logged
Craig
-----------------------
"Go thou my incense upward from this hearth,
And ask the gods to pardon this clear flame." - Thoreau

whoRya

  • Has Camped With NI-Wild
  • Hero Poster
  • ******
  • Karma: 165
  • Posts: 1798
Re: Overnight at Randalstown Forest
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2013 »
Am I the only one not able to see the pics?
Logged
"Not all those who wander are lost."

RedLeader

  • Has Camped With NI-Wild
  • Hero Poster
  • ******
  • Karma: 175
  • Posts: 1977
Re: Overnight at Randalstown Forest
« Reply #3 on: July 03, 2013 »
I can't either?

Quote from: whoRya on July 03, 2013
Am I the only one not able to see the pics?
Logged

Wolf_Larson

  • Has Camped With NI-Wild
  • Hero Poster
  • ******
  • Karma: 37
  • Posts: 1442
  • Adventure
Re: Overnight at Randalstown Forest
« Reply #4 on: July 03, 2013 »
Sounded fun Rich !

No pictures mate
Logged
The core of mans' spirit comes from new experiences.

admin

  • Administrator
  • Hero Poster
  • *****
  • Karma: 34
  • Posts: 632
Re: Overnight at Randalstown Forest
« Reply #5 on: July 03, 2013 »
If you email the pics to the address on this page we can add them for you.
Logged

Rich.H

  • Has Camped With NI-Wild
  • Hero Poster
  • ******
  • Karma: 31
  • Posts: 522
Re: Overnight at Randalstown Forest
« Reply #6 on: July 03, 2013 »
I had the pics up on an external site using [img] links as figured it would reduce the amount of bandwidth for the NIWild site but guessing not the best way?

Am I best to just attach the 4 per post limit and spread it across multiple posts?
Logged

Wolf_Larson

  • Has Camped With NI-Wild
  • Hero Poster
  • ******
  • Karma: 37
  • Posts: 1442
  • Adventure
Re: Overnight at Randalstown Forest
« Reply #7 on: July 03, 2013 »
I'm not great with this sort of thing also rich  :-\

Sorry mate
Logged
The core of mans' spirit comes from new experiences.

admin

  • Administrator
  • Hero Poster
  • *****
  • Karma: 34
  • Posts: 632
Re: Overnight at Randalstown Forest
« Reply #8 on: July 03, 2013 »
Some sites don't allow hotlinking images like that. If you use imgur it would work, there are instructions here : http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/forum-news-information-and-help/how-to-easily-post-pictures/

Or just email the to us and we can save you the hassle.


Quote from: Rich.H on July 03, 2013
I had the pics up on an external site using [img] links as figured it would reduce the amount of bandwidth for the NIWild site but guessing not the best way?

Am I best to just attach the 4 per post limit and spread it across multiple posts?
Logged

Rich.H

  • Has Camped With NI-Wild
  • Hero Poster
  • ******
  • Karma: 31
  • Posts: 522
Re: Overnight at Randalstown Forest
« Reply #9 on: July 03, 2013 »
No probs I'll just throw them up here and limit to 4 per post.

Here's the arrival evening nice and warm plus calm waters.
Logged

Rich.H

  • Has Camped With NI-Wild
  • Hero Poster
  • ******
  • Karma: 31
  • Posts: 522
Re: Overnight at Randalstown Forest
« Reply #10 on: July 03, 2013 »
The tents.
Logged

Rich.H

  • Has Camped With NI-Wild
  • Hero Poster
  • ******
  • Karma: 31
  • Posts: 522
Re: Overnight at Randalstown Forest
« Reply #11 on: July 03, 2013 »
The next morning still windy and choppy.
Logged

Rich.H

  • Has Camped With NI-Wild
  • Hero Poster
  • ******
  • Karma: 31
  • Posts: 522
Re: Overnight at Randalstown Forest
« Reply #12 on: July 03, 2013 »
Overall leftover evidence of the camp.
Logged

Wolf_Larson

  • Has Camped With NI-Wild
  • Hero Poster
  • ******
  • Karma: 37
  • Posts: 1442
  • Adventure
Re: Overnight at Randalstown Forest
« Reply #13 on: July 03, 2013 »
Good job Rich thanks for sharing pictures  ;)
Logged
The core of mans' spirit comes from new experiences.

whoRya

  • Has Camped With NI-Wild
  • Hero Poster
  • ******
  • Karma: 165
  • Posts: 1798
Re: Overnight at Randalstown Forest
« Reply #14 on: July 05, 2013 »
I'm delighted this worked out for you.  It was a great idea to do.

Has anyone ever seen Lough Neagh link anything other than choppy?
Logged
"Not all those who wander are lost."
Pages: [1] 2
« previous next »
 

Bottom Sponsor

Recent Topics

A comment of appreciation by Rugged Track [November 04, 2024]
Lough Shannagh by Scribble [March 22, 2023]
Where has everyone gone? by Glenn B [March 02, 2023]
Hello 👋🏻 by RedLeader [March 13, 2022]
Overnighter on 21st August by Wolf_Larson [November 02, 2021]
crabbing by Glenn B [July 19, 2021]
Slieive Binnian Hike by Rugged Track [November 06, 2020]
Silent Valley by Binnianboy [June 28, 2020]
Is it safe... by Rugged Track [June 02, 2020]
You've got a mention... by NorthernSky [December 12, 2019]
Hen Mountain Wild Camp by Rugged Track [November 28, 2019]
Happy Valley by Binnianboy [September 30, 2019]