Wild Camping?

heresjohnnie

Hi,

myself and my girlfriend were thinking of just getting the tent and going to somewhere (was thinking of Glenbarrow in the Slieve Blooms), just wondering have people on here done it before?!

Is this illegal, a mate of mine said that you have to actually stay in camps, but what exactly could the punishment be? Does anyone have any advise and tips? We had been thinking of going to a nice remote/scenic location when the weather picks up for a bit of a romantic two day get away?! But neither of us have any experience or know too much about the area/ camping. Could it be particularly dangerous?

We've a tent and car and all the bits and bobs, but just would like to hear some views from more experienced campers & also from people who might know the area?! =]

Chris O Donoghue

Strictly speaking you need permission from the landowner to camp, but if you head for remote areas that shouldn't be a problem (don't blame me if you're woken up at 3AM:)

Head well off the beaten track, which usually means going to a mountainous area. The Reeks, Galtees, Mournes, etc offer good spots for camping.
Try to stay out of sight; farmers are busy in sheep rearing areas, so you'd need to go a bit further than you would later in the year.
Don't bring a dog.
Avoid livestock.
Pitch your tent as late as you can (allowing tiime to make grub) and try to move on as early as possible next morning.
Even in remote areas it's not a good idea to leave the tent for a day and go walking.
Leave no trace: leave everything as you find it, leave no rubbish (including biodegradable stuff)
If you build a fire, do it on a rock or gravel from a riverbed.
Make sure it is not a danger to forestry or gorse.
For toilet purposes find a spot at least 50 metres from water and paths. (about 35 paces on level ground)
Take a small trowel to bury your offering, at least 6 inches deep.
Keep weight down: 1 change of clothes is plenty.
Test your tent, cooker before you go.
Bring a spare lighter!
Don't bring any liquids, use local water sources but boil water for 10 minutes for drinking, or add chlorine tablets.
Tell somebody where you are going.

Esel

Search this forum for 'wild camping'. It's been discussed a fair bit here recently.

ScottStorm

"But neither of us have any experience or know too much about the area/ camping. Could it be particularly dangerous?"

Yes, This would not be recommended if neither of you has real outdoors experience.

Donny5

ScottStorm wrote: »

"But neither of us have any experience or know too much about the area/ camping. Could it be particularly dangerous?"

Yes, This would not be recommended if neither of you has real outdoors experience.

Ah, bull****. It's not like Ireland is the ****ing Arctic Circle. OP, go camping, don't leave a mess, and leave a report for future campers.

ScottStorm

Of course no inexperienced hikers have ever fallen foul of our changeable weather, op gives no indication that either he or his partner has experience with navigation and implies that they have little camping experience.

It is irresponsible of anybody to recommend that 2 inexperienced individuals grab a tent and wander off into the hills for an overnight stay.

Esel

^ Did you google the area in which the OP is considering camping with his girlfriend?

jimbob86

heresjohnnie wrote: »

Hi,

myself and my girlfriend were thinking of just getting the tent and going to somewhere (was thinking of Glenbarrow in the Slieve Blooms), just wondering have people on here done it before?!

Is this illegal, a mate of mine said that you have to actually stay in camps, but what exactly could the punishment be? Does anyone have any advise and tips? We had been thinking of going to a nice remote/scenic location when the weather picks up for a bit of a romantic two day get away?! But neither of us have any experience or know too much about the area/ camping. Could it be particularly dangerous?

We've a tent and car and all the bits and bobs, but just would like to hear some views from more experienced campers & also from people who might know the area?! =]

Glenbarrow is very busy in the summer but you could camp there if you went off the track a bit,id just say be carefull there when its dark cause its very uneven ground.If youre brave enough theres an old ruins of a town not far from there called the "famine village" were you could camp!! its 4 or 5 stone houses out in the middle of the forrest that havent been touched in prob 200 years.Its a cool place but id say its freaky at nite plus they say its haunted if ya beleive all that crap!

Theres loads of good places to camp in the sleive blooms,if you drove around and just took a look you find somewhere even but there's a place that has a mad name that i cant spell!! but its pronounced like this MON-A-KIN-YOU!! Its a big old stone bridge with a large flat grass area under it thats good for camping,and its surrounded by woods and theres a river and all that.Went camping there a few times and had great craic.

A few other places of interest are the catholes waterfalls,the ridge of capard,the stoney man walk,brittas lake,the cut and caddams town has a nice walk and waterfalls.:D

I wouldnt be worried bout gettin any hassle off people,farmers ect....if you just leave the place the way you found it theres no hassle.

Donny5

ScottStorm wrote: »

Of course no inexperienced hikers have ever fallen foul of our changeable weather, op gives no indication that either he or his partner has experience with navigation and implies that they have little camping experience.

It is irresponsible of anybody to recommend that 2 inexperienced individuals grab a tent and wander off into the hills for an overnight stay.

Oh, man, Scott, I know you mean well, but like Esel says, you should Google Glenbarrow.

ScottStorm

Donny5 wrote: »

Oh, man, Scott, I know you mean well, but like Esel says, you should Google Glenbarrow.

Apologies lads, was supping a scotch and had just finished a great book which was giving me visions of too muppets heading off up a mountain without the proper gear and training (cue bad survival movie scene) :rolleyes:

Heresjohnniee : enjoy your trip, just make sure you leave a trip plan with someone responsible.

heresjohnnie

I'll keep in mind your concerns ScottStorm when we are locating a spot to camp, we wont go too far astray from the car methinks.

Hmm... yeah, I might look at for another spot in the area so, if the ground is uneven that could be an issue at night, and I dont think the idea of the famine town would go down a treat with herself! =P Thank you for the suggestions though, Ill through them up into google and have a look!

Thanks to everyone for your replies, much appreciated - especially the checklist, will remember to work from it!

jimbob86

The name of that place i said is good for camping is actually Monicknew,you should check it out

Gocman

Hi there A group of us went to killishandra in Co. Cavan its a remote wood belongs to the state forestry coillte there is a large lake there catch some fish there if youre into all that and cook on a fire most important we left no trace so you should follow our example if you go out there perfect for a couple just be discret try not attract any attention from local walkers rangers do patrol the area from time to time if you keep the camp clean and a small fire then you should be OK!:o

heresjohnnie wrote: »

Hi,

myself and my girlfriend were thinking of just getting the tent and going to somewhere (was thinking of Glenbarrow in the Slieve Blooms), just wondering have people on here done it before?!

Is this illegal, a mate of mine said that you have to actually stay in camps, but what exactly could the punishment be? Does anyone have any advise and tips? We had been thinking of going to a nice remote/scenic location when the weather picks up for a bit of a romantic two day get away?! But neither of us have any experience or know too much about the area/ camping. Could it be particularly dangerous?

We've a tent and car and all the bits and bobs, but just would like to hear some views from more experienced campers & also from people who might know the area?! =]

Gocman

Hello any body out there interested in camping or wants to go camping I'd like to start up a group of guys to go on winter camps just to get away from youre problems and a break from youre families a sort of time out with a few guys with a love for the outdoors survival and camping. Done a lot of remote camping in valley glen ma lure cavan slieve bloom mts leitram off the beaten track some fishing thrown in as well and hikeing if any body interested drop me a line used to be in a group of campers but most of the guys are doing other things trying hard to get a group started up again:o

RoryM21

Anyone have any idea about camping in Knocksink wood? Is it illeagal to camp here? If me and my friends were to go camping what precautions should we take?

beveragelady

As has been said above, wild camping isn't strictly legal in Ireland. I've done a lot of sneaking around in Coillte-owned land, always on the principle that it's easier to seek forgiveness than permission.
Common sense: If you don't have the gear, don't risk it, especially in the cold or wet.
Don't bring lots of booze, it renders you incapable of dealing with anything that does go wrong, and imagine the humiliation of explaining yourselves to the relevant rescue/law enforcement personnel.
Don't make a mess. You'll spoil it for the rest of us. Keep your fire small, don't go to bed until it is 100% dead.
Somebody above said not to bring a dog. The only reason I enjoy these escapades is because I travel with highly specialised elite camping dogs. They double as hot-water-bottles.
Is your girlfriend the sort who will spend the night nudging you to make sure you don't drop off to sleep? Friends of mine are no longer welcome on camping trips because they wait until I'm half asleep to decide that the night is dark and full of terrors, and they don't want to face them alone. Seriously, it's no fun if one of you is a wuss. If you're both wusses, forget it.