Topic: Sunny Sperrins (Read 10729 times)

Rich.H · « **on:** April 21, 2014 »

Been slowly accumulating some nice shiny gear recently and needed a day out to really test things out, so Got myself down to the Sperrins yesterday. Sadly I caught a dose of lazyitis getting out of bed and so didn't get down and started until just after 11am. But with good weather and plenty of late light I figured I could still make a full day of things. Had no intention of staying out but decided to lug some extra things like tent etc to give me an idea of just what sort of weight I would be carrying on a lightweight weekend or over nighter. This mean a total weight of around 8.5-9kg, so still nice and light.

Had this day decided and planned a couple of weeks ago but still kept a hopeful eye on the weather and turns out it was.

Parked up in farmland central and had to take a rough trudge through a tiny forest area that had terrible ground underfoot, although I did come across this abandoned building which I can only guess is at least a hundred or so year old farm house. Would make a good camp spot though in future.

Wasn't too long before I was at the end of the fields and starting on hills.

The start of actual hills and first climb of the day

A distant snap of both Dart and Sawel Mountains on the left and right respectively.

With the weather I had and only carrying 750ml of water at any one time I had already decided to just take things nice and slow and take frequent breaks, if it had been wetter recently I would have been able to use streams as nav points, but found that only the largest streams were still flowing. Once past those your only water options are to squeeze out moss or conserve it. I chose the second option so took full advantage of the last real water source for a sit down lunch and refill. Kudos to the Water 2 Go folks as it was my first time using the bottle properly and it worked a dream. Spent all day filling up with brown water but drank nothing but nice clear liquid.

http://A quick snap of Dart Mountain followed by Sawel and both as I got closer. I ended up taking the saddle route between the too from right to left after getting up Dart.

The top of Dart looking north westerly out towards far off Binevenagh.

The summit stone on Sawel, as much as a slog this mountain can be I was actually feeling pretty good at the top and with dropping sun and the wind decided not to hang about too long up there so just had a look around before moving on.

Did have a go at a panorama shot from Sawel summit though.

Finally a shot of the entire day from viewranger, I took a longer route back to the car as I wanted to contour around a mountain side rather than steamroll over it. Turns out it was either terrible luck or an abysmal navigation error, the route was all good and the terrain nice and easy to walk. However it seems farmers over this way have a great dislike of either gates with working hinges, or the sheer concept of a style. As soon as I crossed the road at the base of Sawel I was into sheep field fence hell and after precariously picking my way over the 17,456 rusty barbed wire fence. I had lost that David Bailey feeling and just wanted back to the car. Camera didn't come out again and ended up taking the most direct route to the nearest road to trudge the last couple of miles to the car. It's no wonder these mountains are so unused by walkers and the like as they are near impossible to get to without the risk of annoying some miserable farmer of sorts. This is a shame as there is some really good scenery around them and they are just vast and ripe for exploring.

Mourneman · « **Reply #1 on:** April 22, 2014 »

Nice report Rich,the Sperrins are indeed a great place for hiking

whoRya · « **Reply #2 on:** April 22, 2014 »

Brilliant Rich, loved reading that.

I've only done a very easy peak in the Sperrins and so love to see a wee bit more about them. Top weather, I expect that the Sperrins, like the Antrim Hills, are vast, a wilderness and a beautiful isolation in good weather, but often bleak and desolate in bad weather.

Rich.H · « **Reply #3 on:** April 22, 2014 »

Quote from: whoRya on April 22, 2014

Brilliant Rich, loved reading that.

I've only done a very easy peak in the Sperrins and so love to see a wee bit more about them. Top weather, I expect that the Sperrins, like the Antrim Hills, are vast, a wilderness and a beautiful isolation in good weather, but often bleak and desolate in bad weather.

In general you do get a harder time of it in bad weather than areas such as the Mournes, but I think it is due more to the area being one massive rolling landscape. In general the weather tends to be better and less changeable than the Mournes however being so much more open you do have a bigger exposure issue if you do not come prepared.

You are totally correct on the vast part, on days like this with clear weather you an see way out beyond everywhere and get an idea of just how daft that notion of "oh I'll have a bite to eat then nip over to this hill on the map". Reality suddenly steps in and you see that little hill on the map is a good few hours of heavy hiking in the distance. If I could just finally find somewhere I would feel reasonably safe leaving the car I would love to do a full weekend out there as there is so much to explore that just can't be done in a single day no matter how good the weather.

polroger · « **Reply #4 on:** April 22, 2014 »

picked a good day. nice to have a report from somewhere other than the mournes.

whoRya · « **Reply #5 on:** April 23, 2014 »

I had a juke at the Sperrins activity map and right enough I couldn't find a single style marked on the map. I would have thought even from the landowner/farmers perspective it would be preferable to have people using a style rather than standing on fences, which will weaken and eventually break.

Rich.H · « **Reply #6 on:** April 23, 2014 »

Quote from: whoRya on April 23, 2014

I had a juke at the Sperrins activity map and right enough I couldn't find a single style marked on the map. I would have thought even from the landowner/farmers perspective it would be preferable to have people using a style rather than standing on fences, which will weaken and eventually break.

I would be happy to be able to just find a gate that opens let alone anything like a style. A large majority of the gates that are not linking directly to a road/track tend to be just tied to the posts at each end so you have no choice but to climb on them. You do get something I guess that is meant to be for climbing on I should of taken a picture for the giggles. Essentially what you get is around 2ft of fence stump driven into the ground normally halfway between two posts and against one side of the fence. this lets you balance like a circus clown with one foot on the post while trying to hold barbed wire for balance and not remove your chances of procreation while somehow hopping over.

I'm guessing part of the problem too is that there is no real access point to the area in the form of car parks etc. You either pick a lay by on a road or find an old track that has a reasonable flat section at it's end and just cross your fingers your car will still be there. Other than a couple of places on roads through the hills you are almost sure to have to cross at least 2-3 farmers fields before you get into anywhere that resembles hills. I would of thought that will the billions they will be gleening from the recent gold mine deals that someone would at least have the sense to spend some of it in getting decent access to the area.

Although as a small silver lining you do get a real sense of alone time in the Sperrins. I haven't been to the Mournes often but each and every trip I have seen a lot of general rubbish anywhere and everywhere. So far for the Sperrins my total rubbish count (minus the old rolls of wire from farmers) has been a single boot on the side of a track. This trip I encountered a grand total of one other person, I don't just mean talked to but was able to see anywhere at any distance. Once you get up in them you are out there on your lonesome, so I guess the annoying fences can be considered a small price for that.

LandyLiam · « **Reply #7 on:** April 25, 2014 »

Nice one Rich, those hills would be tricky to navigate in if the cloud came down, thank goodness for our Mourne Wall

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Author Topic: Sunny Sperrins (Read 10729 times)

Rich.H

Sunny Sperrins

Mourneman

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whoRya

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Rich.H

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polroger

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whoRya

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Rich.H

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LandyLiam

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