admin, Author at Gap o' the North Hill Walking Club

Cadger’s Pad and Cooleys!

admin News November 25, 2015

This coming Sunday, 29th of November, we are staying local with planned walks for our B and C groups in the Cooleys. If numbers are low we may however walk as one group on the day. The planned walks are around 4+ hours but can be cut shorter to suit the group(s) on the day.

Forecast for this week is giving rain on Sunday, but we are ever hopeful that this may change as the week progresses, so keep an eye on the forecast. At the very least all walkers should have a water/wind proof jacket and have an extra layer, a hat and gloves in their rucksack. Walking boots are a must for all walkers.

Newcomers are very welcome, we will have a Beginner’s Group out on Sunday with our local historian, Seamus. This is a shorter walk around 2/2.5 hours and this Sunday they will be following the Cadger’s Pad, the old path taken by the herring girls carrying their catch from Omeath to Dundalk.

Any newcomer who thinks they are fit for a longer and tougher walk are welcome to join our C Group, check out the FAQ page of our website at www.gaponorth.co.uk for further information about fitness levels.

All walkers should meet at the Gap O’ the North Pub, Jonesboro’ for registration at 10 am.

Our last walk before Christmas will be on Sunday 13th of December and will also be a local walk.

Our Annual Christmas Walk is Monday 28th of December and follows a family friendly route, (please note this is not suitable for pushchairs or very young children), ending up back in “Gap”HQ for grub and entertainment until the wee hours!

Beginner’s Walk

admin News October 30, 2015October 30, 2015

Our resident historian/walker, Seamus is leading a Beginner’s walk this Sunday, November 1st in the Cooleys, taking in the historic “Famine Village”. This walk will last for 2/2.5 hours and is suitable for those with little or no hill walking experience. Walkers must be wearing walking boots and have a wind/waterproof jacket. Bring a packed lunch.

Our other Groups, C and B will be in the Mournes, our route(s) may vary depending on numbers for each group on Sunday, but will be in the Baans Rd-Lough Shannagh-Doan-Ott area. B and C Groups should expect to be out for 4/4.5 hours, (not including travelling time- add an hour for travel in each direction).

Mournes walkers should have a basic level of fitness, for guidance check out the FAQ section of our website. All new walkers are required to walk with our C Group for their first walk regardless of experience and fitness.

All walkers meet at the Gap O’ the North Pub, Jonesboro’ at 10 am for registration.

Spelga Skyline Walk

admin News September 22, 2015

The toughest walk in our calendar is in store for our B and C Group walkers this Sunday, the 27 th of September. 6 peaks in all, Slievenamiskan, Cock Mountain, Pigeon Rock Mountain, Slieve Muck, Carn Mountain and Slievenamuck: in all around 13 km, over 800 m of a height gain and around 5+ hours of walking.

This is not a walk for new comers, or the feint- hearted but we have an alternative available as Seamus our resident historian will lead a shorter, local walk for anyone who wants a more leisurely walk of around 2/2.5 hours. Ideally suited for Beginners or anyone who has not been walking long!!

All walkers should meet at the Gap for registration at 10 am, we will be car pooling and driving to our starting points. Walkers must be wearing walking boots, have a water/wind proof jacket, walking poles although not essential are advisable. Bring a packed lunch/water.

Photographic Competition

admin News September 18, 2015September 18, 2015

DSCN0465 — Entry onto Dhaaicklemore, from Carewamean Rd.

We have taken lots of photos over the year whilst we’ve been out walking in the Ring of Gullion. Perhaps members would like to nominate one in the Ring Of Gullion’s Photographic Competition. This year’s theme is, “The World Around Us, in the Ring of Gullion”. Click on the link below for further information, but hurry the closing date is this Wednesday 23rd of September.

poster final 2015

Slieve Donard

admin News August 15, 2015

The weather is looking fine for our trip to Newcastle tomorrow, Sunday 16th of August. B and C groups will be doing a linear walk, from Bloody Bridge to Newcastle over the summit of Slieve Donard.

Just to push our B’s a little more they will be taking in an extra peak, one that we haven’t been on before and they will have a surprise train journey for part of the way!! Intrigued B Walkers???

Both B and C walks will take 5 hours + and will be a step up from our most recent outings.

Neither route is suitable for beginners but as always walks will be paced to suit the groups.

We will have a Beginner’s Walk but this Group will stay local and will be walking in the Ravensdale area around Ben Rock, they will be out for around 2 hours.

A bus is organised for B and C Groups, as it is a linear walk the bus will not be returning to the start point so if you aren’t going on the bus you will need to arrange your own transport away from the finish point. Bus as usual is £5/ person and will be filled on a first come, first paid basis.The bus will be going by Hilltown both to and from Newcastle.

All walkers should be properly kitted out with walking boots, a waterproof jacket, bring a packed lunch. Remember just because it’s warm before we leave tomorrow morning is no guarantee that it will be warm on top whatever peak you are on. All walkers should be carrying an extra layer. Midge Spray might be needed if the experience of the scouting team is anything to go by!!

All walkers to meet at Gap O’ the North Pub Jonesboro’ at 10 am for registration.