Even if it doesnt appear to be private land, it probably is. A BAD EXPERIENCE.

TireeTerror

I had a terrible experience yesterday. I went out camping after spending hours and hours on google and bing maps trying to find somewhere with a flat piece of grass that didnt look like it was a field.

I found what I thought was a suitable spot near Streedagh beach in Sligo. Set up my tent and had dinner etc. Ended up not being such a quiet spot and engaged in many conversations with passing joggers, people walking dogs, cyclists and even people riding horses. Just as the sun was setting we were washing up the plates etc when a man drives over the dunes in his 4x4 and stops literally 3 inches from the table and beckons me over. He told me that camping isnt permitted and why was I there. I said I didnt know it wasnt permitted and I asked him why it wasnt permitted and if it was private land as I assumed it wasnt as there were no fences or anything like that. He said he was one of the owners and that I had to go. I asked him if it would be OK to stay until the morning as it was literally getting dark right then as the sun had just dipped below the horizon and I promised him that I would leave no sign that I had been there and I even apologised that i had not sought permission, but that it was a genuine mistake on my part. He then exploded and started swearing at me, saying that if I didnt pack up straight away, he would go and "get the others" who would lift us off and he would be back with his shotgun and to "have a nice night!".

So my girlfriend and I packed up the tent by torchlight and trudged back to the car with a wet tent. The worst of it was all of the other people we had met were warm and friendly and even a man who lived just over the dune had stopped and chatted with us for a while and he was talking about how he had an Orkney Longliner boat just around the headland, and that we should go for a walk over and told us where his boat house was and we should feel free to walk in and have a look at it if we wished. This was my very first experience camping in Ireland and it was very distressing and disappointing to have been threatened in that way. I hate to think what it would have been like had I actually been rude to him, or even had stood up to his threats. Of course I could have called the Gardai etc, but realistically what difference would it make. I now really appreciate the rights to roam we have in Scotland, I always took them for granted!

On the plus side I did get a few photos before this all happened.

Tabnabs

It's a shame about the bloke you met, it may well be that others were not as thoughtful as you and had left the place in a mess, hence the attitude. That's some setup you had, looks very comfortable.

I guess the moral of the story is always seek landowners permission, or risk being evicted. I find state employees a bit more accommodating if you are caught out close to nightfall.

The have freedom to roam laws in quite a few countries, but Ireland isn't one unfortunately.

TireeTerror

Where can you go? What I was looking for was somewhere away from people. That spot was a bad choice because it became quiet busy and I didnt expect that. I honestly went scrolling up the coast, around lough after lough, followed rivers, all on bing maps trying to find somewhere from Sligo a good way up into Donegal. All along the coast its just field after field of agri land.

I would like somewhere that you wake up and there is little sign of humanity, where there is privacy. Where I can hear the birds singing and just observe nature. Because the tent is not exactly tiny, I need somewhere with a flat piece of grass, which is actually quite hard to find if youre not in a field used for agriculture. I dont want campsites or facilities or any of that stuff. You couldnt pay me to go there.

I will buy a roof tent at some stage for my Land Rover and that will open up a lot more options, but in the meantime I would love to actually try out the airbed I bought yesterday especially for this trip! Ive always used small tents and a sleeping m,at, but the girlfriend insisted on an airbed. I did lay on it when I blew it up, it was unlike any camping experience Ive ever had!

Pat Mustard

TireeTerror wrote: »

Where can you go?

Assuming permission has been given etc, Coillte land.

It can be hard to find a good spot in this country. Even if a particular spot looks great on a map, it can turn out to be unsuitable.

Carawaystick

TireeTerror wrote: »

Where can you go?

Mountains, Forests. Certain national parks.
Wild land.

laoch na mona

a few things, your man is clearly a dick most landowners would be more tolerant. All land in Ireland is owned in one form or another so it's up to the land owner, farmers can be hit and miss coillte forestry, national parks and mountains are usually grand. Using online maps isn't a good idea you would have been better off heading out and pick a spot after a few hours that way you would know it's suitable.

Finally Ireland needs freedom to roam laws

sheesh

sounds like a bad experience. There not much you could do in a situation like that. he should not have threatened you with a shot gun. maybe he has had a bad experience with people before.

I would imagine that camping sites would be getting pretty empty soon as the schools go back so have a look around some of them can be quiet nice.

Have a look around places that are near beaches there are a couple of places that are near beaches here in kerry that people camp and seem to get away with it.

Also go over to the sligo board and ask for local info someone might help.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Sorry to hear about your horrific experience OP. I have been camping in Ireland for 30 years and I have never ever had a problem. When I camped with my parents my dad would normally ask landowners and there was never an issue. I try to find a rural enough area where the chance of passers by is minimal. Sounds like you were a bit unlucky in your choice of spot.

Regarding his threat to bring back his shotgun, if you report that to the Gardai he could very well lose his firearm license, and rightfully so. A responsible gun owner doesn't use his/her firearm to threaten people.

Streetwalker

+1 on reporting this guy. No way on earth should any firearm licence holder threaten another person. Hopefully you got his reg I defo wouldn't let that go.

looksee

I'm a bit late to this party, but really, looking at the photos, how could anyone imagine that was not private land? That is not a dry-stone field-wall, its a bit of recent building, and the grass looks like someone's lawn! I wonder what they were using as a toilet? Waving a shotgun was ott, certainly, but really, if you are going to wild camp, look for somewhere a bit wild!

TireeTerror

looksee wrote: »

I'm a bit late to this party, but really, looking at the photos, how could anyone imagine that was not private land? That is not a dry-stone field-wall, its a bit of recent building, and the grass looks like someone's lawn! I wonder what they were using as a toilet? Waving a shotgun was ott, certainly, but really, if you are going to wild camp, look for somewhere a bit wild!

Of youre going to be late to the party then you have time to get your facts right.

The grass is short because cows were wandering and eating it. The stones are not a building, there was no building in site. The stones are an ancient wall.

As for wild camping, it was as wild as I could find within an hours drive that I could use equipment this big. Its hardly stuff you carry.

Ive got my Land Rover back now, so if I saw him again I would just ram him out the way if he threatened me.

iwillhtfu

TireeTerror wrote: »

The stones are an ancient wall.

Handy they had some cement lying around

draiochtanois

This post has been deleted.

TireeTerror

draiochtanois wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Next time some clown is threatening you with being shot when its getting dark and you're in a relatively isolated spot, we shall see how you react.

draiochtanois

This post has been deleted.

TireeTerror

draiochtanois wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I think its time you grew up. If you have nothing constructive to add may I suggest you go and troll elsewhere.

Oh and I moved to County Donegal just before Christmas. Much better up here, so many places to go!

I took a small drive out yesterday, what a beautiful place it is.

squadro

Gerroff my land!!!

Kovu

TireeTerror wrote: »

Of youre going to be late to the party then you have time to get your facts right.

The grass is short because cows were wandering and eating it. The stones are not a building, there was no building in site. The stones are an ancient wall.

As for wild camping, it was as wild as I could find within an hours drive that I could use equipment this big. Its hardly stuff you carry.

Ive got my Land Rover back now, so if I saw him again I would just ram him out the way if he threatened me.

I am also late to the party but this part stuck out.
There were cattle on the land and you camped there? That's a fairly big no no in any part of Ireland.

TireeTerror

Kovu wrote: »

I am also late to the party but this part stuck out.
There were cattle on the land and you camped there? That's a fairly big no no in any part of Ireland.

Yep, there were about 10 cows wandering about 50 acres of land. Im not scared of cows, they dont wield shotguns.

Dont all get too excited about it anyway, its only a bit of grass. I've come to accept that the majority if Ireland has been ruined for the people. I wont even get into a big debate about it, it seems that years of being oppressed has stolen the balls from the majority of the inhabitants of Ireland, nowadays you just accept you have no freedoms to do anything.

Kovu

TireeTerror wrote: »

Yep, there were about 10 cows wandering about 50 acres of land. Im not scared of cows, they dont wield shotguns.

Dont all get too excited about it anyway, its only a bit of grass. I've come to accept that the majority if Ireland has been ruined for the people. I wont even get into a big debate about it, it seems that years of being oppressed has stolen the balls from the majority of the inhabitants of Ireland, nowadays you just accept you have no freedoms to do anything.

Yea but what if you were injured by one of them? No farmer wants strangers in the midst of his livestock, let alone camping in the field with them. It's also a fairly good sign that the land is privately owned!!

I (and many other farmers I'm sure) would have moved you off the land too. You don't camp in a field with livestock, simple as that.

Edited to add- If you ask permission first, most campers are welcome. It only takes a few mins and shows you're respectful and responsible.

dazed+confused

To me there is one factor that really makes it obvious that it's not wild ground.

Cows aren't wild, free living creatures that inhabit wild ground!

Even if it is common ground, it's not properly wild.

iwillhtfu

TireeTerror wrote: »

Yep, there were about 10 cows wandering about 50 acres of land. Im not scared of cows, they dont wield shotguns.

Dont all get too excited about it anyway, its only a bit of grass. I've come to accept that the majority if Ireland has been ruined for the people. I wont even get into a big debate about it, it seems that years of being oppressed has stolen the balls from the majority of the inhabitants of Ireland, nowadays you just accept you have no freedoms to do anything.

Nice attitude to have.

I'd imagine wherever you come from it's also illegal to camp on private land.

Although I'm sure you wouldn't mind a few caravans pulling up on your drive and staying for a night or two.

At the end of the day feel free to move on to another country that lets you do whatever you please you won't be missed.

Stone Deaf 4evr

looksee wrote: »

I'm a bit late to this party, but really, looking at the photos, how could anyone imagine that was not private land? That is not a dry-stone field-wall, its a bit of recent building, and the grass looks like someone's lawn! I wonder what they were using as a toilet? Waving a shotgun was ott, certainly, but really, if you are going to wild camp, look for somewhere a bit wild!

Just logged in to say the same thing, the place looks mint! Id be happy if my back garden looked like that.

runawaybishop

TireeTerror wrote: »

Yep, there were about 10 cows wandering about 50 acres of land. Im not scared of cows, they dont wield shotguns.

Irrelevant, the land is clearly private. You don't camp in fields with livestock, not only could you get injured but you could easily injure them.

TireeTerror wrote: »

Dont all get too excited about it anyway, its only a bit of grass. I've come to accept that the majority if Ireland has been ruined for the people. I wont even get into a big debate about it, it seems that years of being oppressed has stolen the balls from the majority of the inhabitants of Ireland, nowadays you just accept you have no freedoms to do anything.

We are free to tell trespassers to get the **** off our land, thats what we fought for after all

TireeTerror

runawaybishop wrote: »

Irrelevant, the land is clearly private. You don't camp in fields with livestock, not only could you get injured but you could easily injure them.



We are free to tell trespassers to get the **** off our land, thats what we fought for after all

Within the constraints of the law though! I don't think the threat of a shotgun is permitted, private land or not.

I also don't think you fought for anything personally, last I looked out my front window only a few miles down the road is Northern Ireland, a large part of the country not returned to the terrorists.

runawaybishop

TireeTerror wrote: »

Within the constraints of the law though! I don't think the threat of a shotgun is permitted, private land or not.

I also don't think you fought for anything personally, last I looked out my front window only a few miles down the road is Northern Ireland, a large part of the country not returned to the terrorists.

Lol, no wonder you were told to **** off.

syklops

Jesus, this thread escalated fast.

mickdw

Yes I can only imagine how the conversion with the farmer really went.

Canis Lupus

I obviously don't post in this forum so correct me if I'm wrong but for me wild camping is something you do when you hike or cycle tour. When I cycled from London to Kerry I found no shortage of great hidden spots and me and my hubba hubba were a bother to no one.

Looking at your pics OP and that's not so much wild camping imo but moving in for a night. You may as well have brought a caravan.

Having said that, the dude was still a dick.

Pat Mustard

runawaybishop wrote: »

Lol, no wonder you were told to **** off.

Mod:

No more posts like this and less of the messing, please.

sheesh

TireeTerror wrote: »

Yep, there were about 10 cows wandering about 50 acres of land. Im not scared of cows, they dont wield shotguns.

Dont all get too excited about it anyway, its only a bit of grass. I've come to accept that the majority if Ireland has been ruined for the people. I wont even get into a big debate about it, it seems that years of being oppressed has stolen the balls from the majority of the inhabitants of Ireland, nowadays you just accept you have no freedoms to do anything.

you realise that it puts a completely different colour on you original story originally you sounded naive and the farmer overly aggressive, now you sound like you feel entitled to camp there. The farmers reaction seems to been done out of frustration and disbelief.

I'm on the farmers side now

Bigus

Our own professional travelling people have land owners wound up to this level of aggressiveness , with probably good reason.

didds

TireeTerror wrote: »

Within the constraints of the law though! I don't think the threat of a shotgun is permitted, private land or not.

I also don't think you fought for anything personally, last I looked out my front window only a few miles down the road is Northern Ireland, a large part of the country not returned to the terrorists.

Wow. True colors showing there, what is your point in posting here exactly? Whinging that a landowner wouldn't let you have your own way when you wanted to car camp on his land? Reading this thread, I've gone from thinking, that was a bit of an overreaction to feeling sorry the landowner didn't smack you. Your attitude and actions are precisely why we don't have a right to roam or wild camp here.

Kraft.l

Wish we had more of a right to roam, I'd love to camp on the beach.

TireeTerror

mickdw wrote: »

Yes I can only imagine how the conversion with the farmer really went.

It did actually go exactly as I described it. I have a very high tolerance when I have to.

It would have been a very different situation if I had not been there with my girlfriend, most likely I would have dragged him out of his bashed up paddy wagon and thrown him over that wall into the rocks below before he had a chance to even consider phoning his friends or perhaps grabbing the shotgun if it was in his vehicle.

I couldn't react like that with my girlfriend there though, I would have never heard the end of it and I couldn't take the chance to expose her to risk.

TBH the more hostile this thread becomes, the more inclined I am to go back there without her, with some of my own mates and see what he says then. maybe I will post up some new content, firstly the video where he comes over and then his reaction when he recognises me from before and then the look of horror on his ugly Irish face as he realises the outcome wont be quite the same as before.

Land owners.....its a bit of land at the edge of a rocky shore. Im buying a roof tent in the next couple of weeks, how about I drive right through the gap in that wall and bump onto the rocks, There is plenty of space to park right on the other side of the wall. He cant stop me being on the foreshore.

Maybe I can turn this nice flat bit of grass into the most wild camping experience you could imagine.

TireeTerror

sheesh wrote: »

you realise that it puts a completely different colour on you original story originally you sounded naive and the farmer overly aggressive, now you sound like you feel entitled to camp there. The farmers reaction seems to been done out of frustration and disbelief.

I'm on the farmers side now

Oh my, youre on the farmers side now. I dont think I will be able to sleep in my bed tonight worrying about which side a random internet user is on.

I was perfectly nice to this clown, he probably saw my politeness, and ability to speak English properly as a sign of weakness. He was probably also jealous because my girlfriend didn't look anything like the inbred munter of a wife he was probably going back to that night after spending hours toiling all day in a career that cant support itself without handouts from the state. His self-loathing existence was probably only temporarily improved by giving the freak a little joy at the thought of having some authority over someone.

In hindsight I was back home within 1 hour of meeting the halfwit, and besides this thread, I had forgotten all about it. For him, his miserable life will continue like Groundhog day, out there protecting his little bit of grass, as if it means something, in his clapped out peasant 4x4 scrounging off the tax payers who have chosen a career that can sustain itself. Then one day he will die and that will be it.

riffmongous

Wow, I bet all those people who posted about you 'showing your true colours' earlier are feeling pretty smug right now

TireeTerror

riffmongous wrote: »

Wow, I bet all those people who posted about you 'showing your true colours' earlier are feeling pretty smug right now

If it makes them feel better about themselves then good on them. Personally I think it makes them a sad bunch of losers.

Now how about we either get this back on topic is even better, just close it.

topmanamillion

Horrendous thread.
While being threatened with a fire arm is not acceptable the ops subsequent comments lead me to believe there's more to this story than his side.
If I saw someone camped on my property without permission I'd certainly be angry.
It's not as simple as being nice or mean. If someone gets injured on your property you're liable whether you knew they were there or not. The chances are this farmers insurance didn't cover unannounced campers.
From reading your own account he asked you to leave and when you refused he lost his temper.
The OP has also as good as admitted he knew/or should have known it was private property.
If I was in the farmers position I would have rang the guards after my request for you to leave was refused.
As for insulting our nationality and independence it shows a lack of intelligence on your part.

AngryHippie

TireeTerror wrote: »

Oh my, youre on the farmers side now. I dont think I will be able to sleep in my bed tonight worrying about which side a random internet user is on.

I was perfectly nice to this clown, he probably saw my politeness, and ability to speak English properly as a sign of weakness. He was probably also jealous because my girlfriend didn't look anything like the inbred munter of a wife he was probably going back to that night after spending hours toiling all day in a career that cant support itself without handouts from the state. His self-loathing existence was probably only temporarily improved by giving the freak a little joy at the thought of having some authority over someone.

In hindsight I was back home within 1 hour of meeting the halfwit, and besides this thread, I had forgotten all about it. For him, his miserable life will continue like Groundhog day, out there protecting his little bit of grass, as if it means something, in his clapped out peasant 4x4 scrounging off the tax payers who have chosen a career that can sustain itself. Then one day he will die and that will be it.

Train-wrecking your own thread, and your own cause there.

Maybe if you'd spent less time on google or
actually approached one of the landowners about stopping the night, prior to setting up camp on their land.

You might have had a civil conversation with them and gotten a reasonable answer like...sorry, but no, I've got cattle in there, or...not a problem, just don't worry the cattle.
Instead you just cruised on in there, set up shop, cooked some dinner for yourself, had a bit of a gas with the locals. (one of whom FYI probably mentioned your presence to the farmer)

I would have run you out the gate too, I'm a regular camper and I come from a farming background, so believe me I do see both sides of the argument. You have no right to be there, so the onus is on you to seek permission prior to entry.
Was it the farmers fault he only got wind of you being there just before sun-down ?
Did you ask any of the locals who owned the land or for a phone number to ring and ask him ?

Name calling after the fact really does betray your initial sob story.

You are entirely responsible for your own bad experience on this occasion.

Your attitude towards the people that essentially feed you stinks, you don't deserve wilderness the way you are carrying on.

Wise up.:mad:

TireeTerror wrote: »

I think the responses people here are getting is more of a reflection on them than the places they visited.

Some people just have those faces which people dont like.

Ive got a beautiful and friendly face, people respond well to me and everywhere is great....

LMFAO BTW.....

jimd2

OP, you probably thought that you would get the nice, easy, cheap ride off your gf when the farmer came and spoiled your party just as you were about to get down to business.:D

It doesn't excuse his behaviour but you comments here subsequently are a bit bizarre tbh.

Neyite

TireeTerror wrote: »

I had a terrible experience yesterday. I went out camping after spending hours and hours on google and bing maps trying to find somewhere with a flat piece of grass that didn't look like it was a field.

Dude. It had a wall around it. And 10 cows in it. It was obviously a field.

I think that you knew full well it was private land but judging by those beautiful views, you chose to ignore it and hope for the best. The farmer knows bulls!hit too, in every sense of the word so probably lying to him pretending you thought it was public land took away any shred of goodwill he may have had initially.

He probably wanted to protect his cows against potentially getting injured on your camping equipment or choking on rubbish that might be lying around. (and considering you didn't recognise a field when you saw it, you are unlikely to know how to camp safely amongst curious livestock.) Farm safety is a big issue, and anything that happened during the night to either his cows or you and your stuff could have wiped out his farm insurance. They don't farm for the craic, this is their livelihood.

You could have easily gone to the nearest house and asked "excuse me, do you know who owns *that* field?" and sorted out something amicably before you stuck a peg in the ground. You could have asked any of the locals passing by who owned the land and likely even be able to get a mobile number off them for him. Your gamble backfired and you got moved on.

If cows that weigh a ton panicked and decided to stampede your tent or damage your camping equipment, you'd not be long in finding out who owns them, assuming they didn't kill you.

Mango Joe

Report him - Who does he think he is threatening young couples with a gun?

- I don't think the filth in drug gangs around our Cities sink to that low.

I'd ring the local Garda Station and give a full description of this individual, the exact location and the threats made - At the very least the local gossip might get back to his wife, friends, family, local Parish Priest etc. - At least then people would know he is an utter c**t.

*PS* - Didn't realise the OP was gone postal since, have just read more of thread! But still, this guy shouldn't be threatening to shoot people......

borderlinemeath

TireeTerror wrote: »

It did actually go exactly as I described it. I have a very high tolerance when I have to.

It would have been a very different situation if I had not been there with my girlfriend, most likely I would have dragged him out of his bashed up paddy wagon and thrown him over that wall into the rocks below before he had a chance to even consider phoning his friends or perhaps grabbing the shotgun if it was in his vehicle.

That's a particularly nasty aggressive temper you have in your imagination.

I couldn't react like that with my girlfriend there though, I would have never heard the end of it and I couldn't take the chance to expose her to risk.

The risk of her realising she's going out with somebody who will resort to insults followed by violence if he doesn't get his own way?

TBH the more hostile this thread becomes, the more inclined I am to go back there without her, with some of my own mates and see what he says then. maybe I will post up some new content, firstly the video where he comes over and then his reaction when he recognises me from before and then the look of horror on his ugly Irish face as he realises the outcome wont be quite the same as before.

Hostile?
Honestly, are you reading back your own replies to this thread? You sound utterly delightful to deal with.

Land owners.....its a bit of land at the edge of a rocky shore. Im buying a roof tent in the next couple of weeks, how about I drive right through the gap in that wall and bump onto the rocks, There is plenty of space to park right on the other side of the wall. He cant stop me being on the foreshore.

Maybe I can turn this nice flat bit of grass into the most wild camping experience you could imagine.

More threats, to landowners property. This is why landowners are so protective of their property and livelyhood. So far there's threats of violence, intimidation and threats to destroy property. How you don't realise that you are the problem is astounding.

I live surrounded by farmland. I know my neighbours and landowners and there is no way in hell I would even take a shortcut through land I was not meant to be on. It's just not on. They don't come tramping through my garden and I shouldn't feel entitled to walk on their land.

Next time, go to a campsite.

Nekarsulm

Troll.
Had to be.
No same person would post some of the violence/fantasy the OP is coming out with.

TireeTerror

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Troll.
Had to be.
No same person would post some of the violence/fantasy the OP is coming out with.

I cant believe its taken this long. I mean how ridiculous did I have to get before someone guessed! The thread was so boring, it needed livening up a bit.

syklops

TireeTerror wrote: »

I cant believe its taken this long. I mean how ridiculous did I have to get before someone guessed! The thread was so boring, it needed livening up a bit.

Good job!. Now welcome to my ignore list.

SmartinMartin

TireeTerror wrote: »

I couldn't react like that with my girlfriend there

You should have deflated her, then you could have shown how tough you are.

draiochtanois

This post has been deleted.

cnocbui

laoch na mona wrote: »

...

Finally Ireland needs freedom to roam laws

Can we start with your backyard?

TireeTerror

draiochtanois wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Do my posts convey that I really care how I'm appearing to random internet posters? I think not.

The original story is 100% accurate, I was nothing but polite and courteous to the farmer and I never refused to pack up either, I only asked if it was OK to stay and promised I would leave in the morning and would of course leave no trace. He was a complete gimp and that is all there is to it.

The posts afterwards, quite some time later, were simply for mild amusement and it was comical to see the so predictable posts coming thick and fast. What amazed me was how ridiculous it had to get before the penny dropped. Normally someone would post a wee popcorn GIF after a couple of replies.