Author Archives: niall

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About niall

Walk | Hike | Camp | Blog 👣⛰️🏕🎥

Your Blog is Out Of Date…Please Update…

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Intro


I was going to start this blog update by saying I’ve neglected it quite a bit this year but to be honest I’ve found myself stepping away from all forms of social media and at the risk of sounding very pretentious, all forms of creativity. I’ve thought about blogging and YouTube quite a bit but the drive to put something in words or on film just hasn’t been there. I’ve also been less inclined to take and post photos this year which is a big change for me. The majority of photos that I have taken have stayed on my phone only.

Last year that would have worried me as over the last couple of years I’d been struggling mentally to get the motivation to get anything done. A large part of that was that I was desperately unhappy at work and that was affecting me mentally and bleeding into my daily life. The main symptom was an increasing lethargy and lack of drive to do anything.

Having changed jobs back in August last year I’ve now had a significant turnaround. 3 years of negativity will take some work to reverse completely but I’m definitely feeling much better than I did this time last year. I’m putting the lack of social media interaction down to the fact that I’m too busy enjoying the moment to be able to document it or even feel the need to.

Cycling

One of the very first changes was a renewed interest in cycling. I hadn’t turned a pedal in over 12 months when I started back briefly in April 2024 with a spurt of 5 short rides over a 3 week period.


Self motivation was desperately lacking though and I stopped again until September following a good start to my new job. I had a few solo short spins again before reconnecting with the Club and joining the Saturday morning Stabiliser Group in mid-October for my first Club spin since February 2023!


Very quickly this became a regular Saturday fixture and I was hitting the 50km marker by the end of October having originally thought that it would be a good aim for the end of the year!

This year, despite a week here and there off the bike, I’ve made cycling a regular activity again and I’m enjoying it too. I’ve increased my distance to completing at least 100km most weeks and hitting the 100km marker at the really enjoyable Donegal Bay Sportive at Easter when a big group from the Club did various routes with many of the Stabiliser beginners completing 50km for the first time also.

For the May Bank Holiday there was an organised group spin from Ballybofey to Buncrana with the option to join depending on the distance you wanted to cycle. I joined in Raphoe for just shy of 90km.

The Club then rounded off the Summer with a fun day on Saturday last week. We bussed to Errigal and did a summit walk followed by dinner and drinks in Lettermacaward before returning to Ballybofey and more drinks before heading home at a very late (for me!) 1am. A great day of fun and laughter and a good physical challenge that was highly enjoyable.

In the last couple of years I’ve struggled to gel with the Club. It’s been mostly my own fault, being in a bad mindset and finding it difficult to connect with the other members, despite knowing some of them for a few years. Thankfully this year has been very different.

I’m not setting any massive records for the year but so far I’ve managed to clock up 2,650km for the year. It’s not a huge amount but considering 4-4,500km is average for me, that my biggest year was 8,000km and the combined total of 2022,2023 and 2024 was slightly over 2,400km I’m doing pretty well for 2025!

On Sunday the Club is running a Sportive again. There are two routes, 62km and 135km, and I’m planning for the longer route. I’ve been doing steady mileage over the last few weeks including two longer rides of 90km and 110km. I’m feeling in a good place for 135km but I’m currently in Spain for a very lazy family holiday and not sure how that will affect my fitness. We’re back home on Friday so I’ll take a short leg loosening spin on Saturday to see if that helps.

Increasing my distance like this and the subsequent increased fitness, has brought back a hunger for Audax. I’ve stayed in all the Audax Ireland WhatsApp groups so I haven’t really lost touch but it’s taken until now to really consider the daunting 200km distance once again.

The RRTY challenge (1 x 200km Audax event per month for 12 consecutive months) has had a new version launched for 2025 called RRTY 100. Basically it’s an introductory challenge for those looking to get into full-on Audax and consists of 1 x 100km Audax event per month for 12 months. I’m thinking of using that as a pathway back to Audax similar to how I used the Club Stabiliser Group to get me back cycling regularly. I’m not setting any great targets for next year but seeing as 2015 was my first ever Audax I’d quite like to get one done before the end of the year and I’m seriously considering giving the Four Provinces Challenge (see the link above) a go in 2026 as I did it previously in 2016.

To get the RRTY 100 completed I’m going to have to get at least one route published for Donegal. The nearest is currently in Sligo and the only one I’m currently aware of in development is a massive 1600m of climbing in 106km!

Hillwalking & Camping

My last solo hillwalk was in The Sperrins at Banagher Glen in the last of the Winter snow on 11th January. I’d earmarked that route for a period of snow and just managed to time it right although I did have a mild panic at the car park, deep in the Glen, when I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to get the car back back out in the compacted snow!

I haven’t given up on hillwalking though as I’ve been active with the Bluestack Ramblers Walking Club this year, completing 8 group walks from January to June with 3 in June alone. There were some great walks in there with Knockalla and the Aghlas definitely being my favourites.

Outdooractive Link
Outdooractive Link

I didn’t get out at all during July or August as the walks weren’t as interesting and I was busy with jobs around the house and cycling. As my cycling mileage increased my free time for hillwalking decreased and, if I’m being honest, I struggled to get enough fitness for cycling and hillwalking in the same weekend! However, I have two of interest in September that I’d like to do. They’re on the 7th and 14th which will hopefully allow me a chance to get an Audax 100 completed later in September to get the RRTY 100 started.

Another victim of cycling and the lack of solo hiking has been camping. Despite buying two new tents in the last 12 months my last wild camp was in April 2024 ! I simply haven’t had the time to give up two days for an overnighter and have had too many other things I wanted to do instead. I would like to get out and do something in the Bluestacks before the end of the year though, preferably in September or October. If nothing else I need to try out my new 2 person tent I bought specifically for Spring and Autumn camping! It was my Xmas present last year but I haven’t even managed to get it out of the box for a test pitch…

Camperlists Link

YouTube

Of all my social media posting it’s YouTube that has taken the biggest hit this year. My last video release was in November last year. I did record my hike in Banagher Glen that I mentioned above, but somehow haven’t had the time or drive to get it edited and published. I’ve given it a go a couple of times and have it about 50% done so I probably will finish it eventually. However, I wasn’t really in a filming mood that day and it’s a bit disjointed. It could be a feeling that it’s not that great that’s as much to blame as lack of time for not getting it finished. I do enjoy filming and editing for YouTube though so I do see myself getting back to it, possibly with a return to solo hiking and camping but I’d like to start adding some cycling content also. That will involve some solo cycling as I don’t like to film with groups so might kick in if I start into Audax preparation…

More to come…

This is already too long so I’ll add the rest in the next couple of days.

Part II can be found here…

Club Hike: Horn Head

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Yet another absolutely stunning walk on Donegal’s North Coast with the Bluestack Ramblers. This time on Horn Head with amazing cliff views seen from multiple angles and a trip out to the tip of the horns before heading inland to the “helicopter landing pad” (Duncap Isle) and a stiff climb back up to the highest point of Croaghnamaddy (252m) ⛰️👣

9.5km and an accumulated elevation of 734m with all the ups and downs typical of a coastal walk

Link to the walk on Outdoor Active: https://tinyurl.com/3vzenb8f

Hike: Dooish from Maumlack (Derryveagh Mountains)

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What a day! A hard earned 11km climbing Dooish (651m) via Maumlack (480m) and returning via Dooish SW Top/Edenadooish (528m). We had every weather today with heavy rain showers and hail that turned to snow leaving Maumlack. Lots of sunshine between the occasional shower before more heavy rain and hail to finish.

Heavy snow leaving Maumlack
Looking ahead to snow capped Dooish
Errigal and Mackoght from Dooish Summit
Errigal and Mackoght on the left, Aghla More on the right. From Dooish Summit.
A cross in the Dooish Summit Cairn

Dooish is an Arderin and Dooish SW Top is an Arderin Beg. I’ve climbed both before but not from this side and Maumlack was a new summit for me.

Link to route here

Monellan Post Storm Éowyn

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My first time in Monellan since Storm Éowyn. It’s a mess! What was started by Darragh was finished by Éowyn. Some of the trails have been at least partly cleared but judging by seemingly unplanned and random way it’s been done I’d say it’s enterprising locals with a chainsaw rather than Coillte. Based on the sign at the gate Coillte’s policy seems to be ignore it and it will go away 🙈😔

The startling evidence of the power of the storm isn’t the number of downed trees. I’ve seen footage of other forests and it was expected. What wasn’t is the number of trees simply snapped like matchsticks. A very small part of me would like to have been there to experience the sheer power of the wind but it must have been terrifying also….

New Arrival on the Way ❤️

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For a few weeks now I’ve been lurking in the local dog rehoming sites, testing the feelings about the possibility of a new dog. A couple have caught my eye but nothing really grabbed me until about 2 weeks ago I spotted this guy…

He’s called Cooper and is a 4 year old Springer Spaniel. He was bought by a family at the beginning of Covid and they are no longer able to give him the attention or the activity that he needs. He’s a typical Springer, a bundle of pure energy and exactly what we love in a dog. He’s like a male version of much loved Rosie and perfect for our house.

We put in our adoption application straight away but as he was being neutered we had to wait until this weekend to see him once his stitches were out.

First of all though, a home check was completed on Thursday evening. I was nervous about this as our garden isn’t fully enclosed. I had trained Rosie to stay in our garden and I’m convinced we could do the same again but would they? Thankfully, it wasn’t an issue and the lady was very sensible agreeing with us that behavioural training is best as any dog will get out if it really wants to!

This evening was the big day and we finally got to meet him. The minute I got out of the car I knew he was for us! However, it was important for all of us to be comfortable, to see what he was like and make sure that he was happy with us too. A while in the outdoor pen with him and it was like he was always a part of us. He was very excited but not mental, running and jumping but not jumping up, begging to be played with and rolling over to get his belly rubbed. He was just the perfect blend of excitable and energetic yet submissive enough to behave himself.

The lady offered us to take him for a short walk up the road to get a chance to be alone with him. He’s OK but not great on a lead as the previous family didn’t walk him and it was only when he came to the Rescue Centre that he started this training. Even with that short time though he was pretty good and I know he’ll get better very quickly with daily walks. We all got a chance to walk him and it was a very easy decision to make.

Back at the centre we finalised the arrangements and we’re to collect him on Saturday morning to give us a full weekend to get him settled in. It’s a long weekend for St. Patrick’s Day and I’ve booked the Tuesday off as well so I’ll have 4 full days to work with him before he has to be left alone during the day. I can’t wait and we’re all looking forward to welcoming this wee man into the house ♥️

Day 1 at the Rescue Centre

It’ll never be possible to replace Rosie and she’ll always hold a special place in our memories but our house feels empty without a dog and we want to have another special friend that we can give all our love to and give him a new forever home. At the centre the lady said that maybe Rosie sent this wee man to us. I’m not sure how I feel about that but it’s certainly a lovely thought…

Springer Style

Grieving For A Pet

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It’s coming up on 9 weeks now since we had to say goodbye to poor Rosie. I always knew losing her would be hard but I was totally unprepared for just how hard it would actually be! I’ve always been a firm believer that unless you have owned a dog then it’s not possible to understand just how much they become a part of the family and that the loss of a dog can’t really be understood by someone who has never had a dog. The last two months have taught me that unless you’ve been through the death of a dog then you don’t really understand either…

I know there are people that are reading this who are grieving for the loss of loved ones. I have been through that myself and I know that the loss of someone close, either family or friend, is so much more significant than the loss of a pet. However, I still wasn’t prepared for the rawness of the grief I experienced with Rosie.

I believe a large part of that came from the fact that she didn’t die, we had to decide it was time to let her go and ultimately that decision came down to me. Hand on heart, that was the most difficult decision I’ve made in my life and the most horribly guilt ridden one also!

I’m not a great person for poetry but I did find two poems that gave me comfort at the time. One of these I shared on my post back in January and this is the second:

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this — the last battle — can’t be won.
You will be sad I understand,
But don’t let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn’t want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where my needs they’ll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don’t grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;
We’ve been so close — we two — these years,
Don’t let your heart hold any tears.

~~ Unknown

We all made sure that Rosie went as calmly and as settled as possible. We were all with her right to the end and I held her while she slipped away. The least I could do was make sure that I was the last thing she saw. Afterwards, we brought her home and buried her at the top of the garden so that she will be with us as long as we’re here.

It hasn’t been easy this last couple of months. There have been a lot of tears but the rawness has mellowed to a dull ache. It’s the little things that hit the hardest. Leftover dinners that now go in the bin, lifting the garage keys that always used to bring her running, the back door that’s hardly ever unlocked any more, keeping little tidbits on the side of your plate that are no longer needed. Toughest of all is going to let her out for a pee in the morning and realising that she’s no longer there…..

The biggest difference with losing a pet is that, raw though the grief may be, it’s not as all consuming as losing a person and the grief does begin to fade much quicker. Eventually the mind does begin to turn to finding a new friend to come in to the family.

I’ve been lurking in a couple of local rehoming groups for the last couple of weeks, trying to see how I’m feeling and waiting to see if one would catch my eye. I’m trying not to get too excited but we’re going to go and see a dog early next week (we have to wait a little while as he’s recovering from neutering surgery). He’s 4 years old and a Springer Spaniel so he’s like a male version of Rosie. We know nothing of his history and we may not click so we’ll just take it as it comes without too many expectations. Watch this space….

Club Walk: Knockalla

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Brilliant walk up on the Knockalla ridge in North Donegal. Brilliant day and one of the most enjoyable hillwalks I’ve had for a while. Great views in all directions out over Mulroy Bay, Lough Swilly and along the coast to Horn Head, Fanad and even North East to Malin Head.

A place I’ll definitely be returning to and having identified a couple of possible camping spots I might even get up here with a tent.

I forgot to start my watch until I was almost 2hrs in so I’ve no real idea of the distance.

Edited 03.03.25 22:45

One of the other group members was tracking the walk and shared his gpx file with me. Turned out to be 9.7km with lots of up and down 🙂

More details on OutdoorActive

Operator Error

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The plan was to cycle this evening but when I got home it was just too blustery to be enjoyable. I find it hard enough to get motivated to go out in the dark so it needs good weather conditions as a minimum.

It was the kind of work day where I was able to sort all my emails during the day so when I got home at 5:30pm I decided to make the most of the last of the daylight, took a sneaky half hour and headed to the forest for a walk.

The last time I was here was just after Storm Éowyn so there were loads of fallen trees across the tracks including one track that I decided to avoid altogether as it looked bad and I’d already navigated around a few falls. As it was still fairly clear I decided to go see how bad it was in daylight.

Altogether I’d say there were approximately 15 trees down in 4 different locations but I was able to divert around, through and under them to get to the junction with the main loop. This had been cleared but as the other one wasn’t I guess it was the farmers that use the main tracks to access fields rather than an organised forestry job.

I didn’t need the headtorch until approximately 6:10pm but by the time I stumbled upon a small herd of deer just before the 3km it was fully dark and all I could see were eyes glowing in the light of my headtorch as they scattered in all directions. It was cool though being able to see their eyes back in the trees as they kept a wary eye as I passed on by.

Shortly after I realised that I should have charged my headtorch last night and it was in power saving mode, on one of the dimmer settings. I decided that trying to negotiate back through the fallen trees without good light wasn’t the greatest of ideas so headed back to the car via a rough little road section.

A more eventful walk than I expected and definitely more enjoyable than fighting a blustery wind on the bike…

Better late than never…
Flirting with the border again…

Back home to dinner while watching the superb American Primeval that I discovered after a recommendation from Rootchopper. He’s worth a follow for many great reasons, not least among them, his book, film and TV choices.