The Mourne Way (March 2023) Twenty Four Mile Hike and Wild Camp

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This was my first time doing the Mourne Way. I had done a decent amount of research about it, but I have to admit, that I think I underestimated it. It is often described as "going through the mountains", rather than up and over them, but it can still be challenging. There are parts that can be left out, which could make it easier, like the mountain section over Spaltha, which I think the way-markers are a little bit questionable, and sparse, especially if doing this section in low visibility. The section along the wall that leads towards Butter Mountain was extremely boggy, and although my boots had performed fantastically up until that point, they were no match for that bog.

Also, unless using a bivvy bag, there are no good locations that I can see for a tent ie not in a way that you could break the trail up evenly into equal distances. There is one possible location that might accommodate a one-person tent, at a bend in the river before you start ascending to the Hen/Pigeon Track. Where we camped was actually really nice, but we had only covered six miles, which left a big hike for the next day. This was partly due to us choosing to start at Rostrevor and having to get transport there first from Belfast. If we had arrived at the start earlier, we may have managed to hike as far as Pofanny to camp [although, it seems they are now discouraging people from camping there].

All of these things would have been far easier to take in my stride, had I not over-packed. Hard to admit this, considering I am not a total novice, have spent plenty of time in the mountains, and do actually know how to pack light. What series of events or thoughts, led to my over-packing, I am still ruminating over, but when I unpacked everything, I noted down the things that I thought I could have done without, and weighed those items, and it came to over 5kg...which, is a saving that would have made the whole experience, less challenging and more enjoyable. But, sometimes a lesson is more memorable, when you have to hike twenty four miles to learn it.

It did actually get pretty cold the first evening, and I had to use all my layers to stay warm, and we got into our tent earlier than we may have done if it had been more mild. So, it did feel like a Winter hike, even though I have been partly willing it to be Spring.

But, all in all, I learned a lot from this hike, and am super proud especially of my partner, who managed to do that eighteen miler on the second day, over the hills, and hiking into the night, even though we felt we had nothing left to give, several times. Much love and respect for her ❤

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