Cheers Ed👍 It was a great wee trip to ease me back into wild camping and filming👍 Cool to camp in a new place and walk some old and some new ground, with lots of different weather as you would expect in the hills of Donegal😊
Fantastic video, Gerry! Delighted for you to take the time off when you knew you needed it . We enjoy your videos tremendously, and love seeing Ireland through your eyes.
Good to see you back oot Gerry. Good to get a wee break eh. A fine Bivy too. Aye nothing like being on a Mountain & looking up at the stars. ✨🌟⭐ Gets the philosophical juices flowing eh. 😉
Welcome back Gerry, the love affair with the Bluestacks continues. ❤ I must say, your discipline to keep some biscuits for the following day Is admirable, I don’t think I’d have it in me to keep them until then. Looking forward to your next outing, whenever and wherever it will be. 👍
Cheers Tony👍 |Sometimes it can be difficult to find those wild plants due to the intensive grazing from sheep or deer so it is always cool to see them👍
Great to see you back Gerry. A cleanse is always needed from Creating. Takes so much dedication and sometimes it's good to take a breather. Stunning shots as always. The Blue stacks are feckin stunning. That waterfall. Really nice. Beautiful foggy morning. Loved it Gerry. 😊
Cheers Martin👍 It was good to have a break though it was also good to get back at it😊 The Bluestacks are pretty cool and you are never sure what you will get when you visit😊
Cheers Alan👍 It was great to get back out wild camping (even after only a few months away). It is great to be out in the hills full stop, though spending the night turns the experience up to 11😊
I have missed your videos. Every now and then, I'd pop in on your channel to see if I'd missed one. So happy to see you back out, it never fails to baffle me how you get so fortunate with the weather. The worst summer in recent years and you still manage pull it out of the bag 🤣 I love the shots that you get, just stunning Gerry 🙌🍀
Cheers Jason👍 I have a lot of video catching up to do for other channels😊 I had great weather on the Saturday though the Sunday was cool, windy and misty (still not too bad). The Summer has been a shocker and this wet weather throughout the year is playing havoc with wildlife as well as wild camping.
Once again never cease to be amazed by how beautiful and rugged these areas are in N Ireland. Good to see u back & bivvying again. ONE day I'll manage to get over there & see all that for myself....😮❤
Cheers Barry👍 The Bluestacks do have a place close to my heart - probably one of the wilder areas that I first ventured into with hill walking many years ago. It was cool to slip easily back into wild camping (and filming) after that wee break. The hills will be waiting for you😊
Nothing like the solitude is there Gerry? People are great but it's nice to have time with yourself and away from the day ti day. Thanks for taking us along. ATB George
George, to spend a couple of days in the hills here and not see another person is magical in its own right, never mind all the other cool things that are going on😊
Mark, thank you for your very kind comment👍 It is cool that what I do can perhaps inspire others in whatever way - to get outdoors, to wild camp, to climb a mountain or to explore something on their doorstep😊
Cheers Jonny👍 It was good to be back out wild camping again after a few months and to realise (yet again) just how cool it is to spend a night in the hills, especially when you have a clear sky and no light pollution to see the stars in all their glory⭐⭐
Cheers Tommy👍 I do love doing these vlogs of my wild camping trips and having some space has confirmed it👍 The Bluestacks are beautiful and very simply that is why I keep going back to walk and wild camp😊 I wild camped on the summit of Lavagh More a long time ago and feel like that might be due a return on my next visit to the these mountains😊
Hi Gerry. Stunning looking waterfall and deep pool at the bottom. You got a very atmospheric morning, with the swirling mist and the sun trying to get through. Nicely captured trip. All the best 👍
Cheers Andrew👍 I love a good waterfall and I haven't seen many higher on my travels. It was definitely all change with the weather the next day - much windier, cooler and with all that mist swirling around. I love the grand views, though on occasion having to focus much closer with limited visibility can be cool and the mist makes everything look different.
Cheers Richard👍 it was good to have a wee break from wild camping and filming theses videos, though still doign plenty of walking. Coming back to it has made me realise just how much I enjoy the wild camping and the filming😊
Great to see you out after your cleanse Gerry! Such a beautiful spot for a night away from it all 😊 From a T-shirt on Day 1 to then having to be all wrapped up - all in a days work! The mist and wind on Day 2 was so beautiful and enticing too. That scary MOUSE would likely have rattled me though….ahhhhh!! 🫣
Cheers Miriam👍 Time away does add to the appreciation of how special wild camping in the Irish Hills really is I think. I knew it was too good to be true to have more than one day (even though the weather forecast had promised more) and in a way the second day was a welcome contrast and reminder of what it is usually like up along those tops😊 Now who said that mouse was scary? 😊
Great to see you back Gerry, nice walk, the Rowen trees hanging over the water were nice, Rowens are nice anyway but with the berries and then reflecting in the water making them extra special. Glad you enjoyed the break too.
Cheers Patrick👍 It is sort of magical to find those isolated trees (Rowan, Oak, Holly etc) up in the hills - usually in steep gullies along rivers or at the edge of loughs - where the sheep/deer cant get at them. It would be amazing if there was more space for seedling to make it to trees in a landscape so devoid of trees🌳
@@gerrymcveigh so rare. You would see some seedlings an inch or two tall from time to time but they never get a chance to grow, constantly getting beheaded by sheep or deer.
Back on the road again Gerry. You were missed! Yes when I'm filming the moon I always think again of how small we are. I wondered if any of those loughs had fish. You saw a mouse! lol We had a giant rat on the bird feeders the other day! Aaaah! You take care oul' han!
Cheers Tom👍 It is quite mind blowing to think that there are millions of stars in a galaxy and there are millions of galaxies - even seeing a small part of that when looking up at the night sky when wild camping brings a sense of awe. Not sure of there were fish in those loughs, though many of the mountain loughs have that tell tale circular ripple on the water as fish rise to catch the many flying things. Rats are a whole different ball game to mice - and you have reminded me it is near time for me to get the feeders dusted down👍
I too am awestruck when i look up at the clear evening sky Gerry. It is massive ...beyond comprehension. You, sitting out on a mountain in the complete darkness are getting, a so much better picture. The picture our forefathers got.
Really enjoyed watching that. With a cup of coffee it's a perfect start to the day. It was lovely to speak to yourself in person at our veg shop the other day. 😁
Cheers Matthew👍 That was the first time I had been to Slemish Market Garden, though I have heard so many people talking about it and your parents👍 The carrots, cauliflower and tomatoes were a good buy and tasted delicious😊
Cheers Shane👍 Now if I could cut out all that travel from Antrim to Strabane on the way to the Bluestacks it would be pretty cool😊 They are sort of my go to place in Donegal even with the additional travel and plenty of explorign left there yet😊
Loved that Gerry 👌 That's pretty much the route that Ian and myself tried to do earlier this year but we got blown away and soaked 🌧️ Nice to see the views we were sure we were missing 🤣 Looks like you managed to catch a glimpse of a real life in the wild Gerry McVeigh there right at the end too 👏👏👏
Cheers Niall👍 I much preferred not getting blown away and soaked😊 As you know there are fantastic views when they are available (definitely not all the time!). It was cool to return to Croaghbarnes and wild camp after scoping it out earlier in the year and to be midge free.
Another class video Gerry, I can see the blue stack mountains from my house but I have never ventured there. Looks amazing. Fantastic to see you back camping again. Love it
Mark, how cool is it to see the Bluestacks from your house👍 When I see them in the distance from the Sperrins on a good visibility day I am trying to identify individual mountains. Well worth a visit for the ruggedness and the absolute solitude that you couldn't put a price on. It was great to return to wild camping an filming - 2 things that I love to do😊
I don't blame you for taking a breather Gerry. It can get tiring on youtube. But you sounded refreshed for a refreshing time in the Bluestacks. And maan was it ever very nice. Always love the water - often makes a trip as does a good kip on the tops. Yeah, nice to hear the mountain soothed the parts that needed soothing. Lovely walk down too - an hey a mouse. Awesome. Well, good going. All the best. Mark
Yeahhh good to see you back Gerry I thought you had given up 😂 Lovely place to get you back at it again looks very nice and relaxing. Great video as usual Gerry 👍
It must have been great to get out again after some time away from wild camping!! I loved seeing the spots of color and the few insects that you spotted. My favorite flower was the lavender/purple globe! What a perfect shape! Loved seeing the rocky mountain sides too- and I like hearing how you follow the river, or choose your route in another way. We're so used to following a set trail. Seems so free to wander where you want. I didn't get out much for backpacking this summer- just one night... maybe I can get out for a night or two of there's a bit of mile weather this winter. Thanks for brining us along! - Jen 👍 Love those stary nights!! 🌟🌟
Cheers Jen👍 You have an excellent system of National Parks and trails over there which are lacking here. There are also big issues over how the few National Parks we do have are managed - with a serious lack of biodiversity present. It is cool though to head into the hills with no paths to follow and make your own track, especially if it follows mountain streams and rivers😊
@ Do they have any plans to improve biodiversity? I understand that in Alaska at Denali NP they don’t have any trails either, and they don’t want any created… I’m hoping to visit sometime and go on a Ranger led hike… since there are grizzlies and wolves!! Anyway, I do like how in your mountains you choose your own path!!
There is lots of talk about providing more money to farmers to support nature in upland areas - at present it is mainly sheep farming which really does suppress biodiversity unless rigorously controlled. Also issues with deer populations in many areas as there are no natural predators (as we killed them all off and are reluctant to reintroduce them!). Hopefully the talk will translate into some sort of reality😊
@ Do sheep have free roaming over the whole area? I can understand how that would harm the biodiversity… you’ve probably heard that at Yellowstone NP when they reintroduced wolves, it helped the trees and biodiversity because the wolves caused the browsers and grazers to keep moving!! We weren’t in favor of the wolves, but they were there originally and have an important role to play, I just don’t want to meet one in person!! lol
The sheep pretty much have that free roam as the land is owned by the farmers - not much else to farm up there except sheep - unless the farmers are paid to manage the land more sustainably without all the sheep as they do need an income. Yep have read about those studies on how wolves make all sorts of changes within the ecosystem - one that developed over thousands of years before we disrupted it all a few hundred years ago!
You look so happy to be in the mountains Gerry. A definite spring in your step. Great video as always. I just love your style. So good. Brilliant hike in stunning landscape. Will definitely have to get up there soon. Thanks for taking us with you
Cheers Alyn👍 You and me both know why we go in to the mountains😊 A wee break from wild camping has reminded me of the power it has to do all sorts of wonderful things for the heart and soul😊
@@gerrymcveigh I say as much in my next video Gerry. Its a powerful tonic. Im glad it was such a good experience for you. Your face says it all. Glad the break worked
A few places I have camped which might be of interest - Benevenagh, Carrickfinn (past the airport and right to the end has wee beaches and sand dunes), around Melmore Head has loads of small beaches, Altan Lough is very cool with a long beach though it has a bit of a walk in from Errigal carpark. If you were thinking up higher - Glascarns Hill or Croaghbane in the Bluestacks from the Old Schoolhouse would take a couple of hours and would be great with settled weather. If you followed the Cronaniv Burn aa good bit into the Poisoned Glen from Dunlewey there are spots along its banks that would be great for wild camping - no climbing though you really feel you are well into the mountains. Hope this helps with thinking and planning.
I remember camping in the Bluestacks in about 2015 using a bivvi bag. It was summer. I was so hot once I’d got into the sleeping bag inside the bivvi bag, but because of the swarms of midges, I couldn’t leave the bag. I also couldn’t get enough air because I had to wear a midge net. It was very unpleasant. In the early morning I did manage to get some sleep because all the midges had gone to bed. That was the last time I camped in the Bluestacks.
Paddy, I can say that I feel your unpleasantness having been in a very similar situation trying to keep out the midges and get fresh air in. On that occasion I don't think my midges went to bed so maybe you had the better deal😊 I find it is always a bit of a balancing act with the bivy - is it going to rain and how much? Is there enough wind to keep midges away? When it does come together it can be a magical experience staring up at a sky full of stars and feeling the elements on your face whilst the rest of you is toasty warm. On most occasions I do take the bivy and the tent and can then make the choice depending on the conditions. I do love the Bluestacks for walking and wild camping.
@@gerrymcveigh I took up road cycling not too long after that! It allows me to see beautiful places without the faffing of camping. Which is not to say I don't like camping, but after a bad experience - again in the Bluestacks - I never went back to camping. The tent was impossible to pitch in high winds and actually blew out of my hands and across the moorland. I phoned in for an airlift after that.
Cycling is a cool pursuit being able to cover so much ground and take in so many sights. Experience can definitely shape what you do or don't do and the weather here plays such a big part in our experience out on the hills.
@@gerrymcveigh Yes! You remind me of another ill-fated Donegal camping trip when my tent filled with water and I had to phone for a lift out of there. Cycling also requires good weather for enjoyment, but if it’s raining, I just go on my indoor bike.
No shame in taking a break for a few months, you cover some crazy KM & that takes its toll. Good to see you “Back to work” 🫡 Faigheann cos ar siúl rud nach bhfaigheann cos ina cónaí.
A break just felt right, mainly from UA-cam and all the effort that goes in to filming and editing. It has given me a renewed love for getting out wild camping and recording the experience to share with others😊
@@gerrymcveigh You’re not just creating content for others to see (which is very appreciated) You’re creating a fantastic catalog of memories to relive yourself. I hope you keep the videos backed up somewhere, you never know what the future will bring online.
Excellent my friend. Thanks for taking us on the adventure 😊👍
Thank you for coming along👍
Great to see you back again. Lovely video.
Cheers Ed👍 It was a great wee trip to ease me back into wild camping and filming👍 Cool to camp in a new place and walk some old and some new ground, with lots of different weather as you would expect in the hills of Donegal😊
Fantastic video, Gerry! Delighted for you to take the time off when you knew you needed it . We enjoy your videos tremendously, and love seeing Ireland through your eyes.
Cheers Rachel👍 It was good to be away and it was even better to be back😊
Good to see you back oot Gerry. Good to get a wee break eh. A fine Bivy too. Aye nothing like being on a Mountain & looking up at the stars. ✨🌟⭐ Gets the philosophical juices flowing eh. 😉
Cheers Kev👍 Looking up at a sky full of stars really does make you think about the universe and your place in it - nothing quite like it👍
Welcome back Gerry, the love affair with the Bluestacks continues. ❤
I must say, your discipline to keep some biscuits for the following day Is admirable, I don’t think I’d have it in me to keep them until then.
Looking forward to your next outing, whenever and wherever it will be. 👍
Eddie, when you bring enough biscuits discipline is not a problem😊 I would be happy to do all my wild camping in the Bluestacks😊
Nice pictures of the wild plants!
Cheers Tony👍 |Sometimes it can be difficult to find those wild plants due to the intensive grazing from sheep or deer so it is always cool to see them👍
Great to see you back Gerry. A cleanse is always needed from Creating. Takes so much dedication and sometimes it's good to take a breather. Stunning shots as always. The Blue stacks are feckin stunning. That waterfall. Really nice. Beautiful foggy morning. Loved it Gerry. 😊
Cheers Martin👍 It was good to have a break though it was also good to get back at it😊 The Bluestacks are pretty cool and you are never sure what you will get when you visit😊
Class Gerry. Good to see you back at it. You don't need to speak to see the joy in your face 👍
Cheers Alan👍 It was great to get back out wild camping (even after only a few months away). It is great to be out in the hills full stop, though spending the night turns the experience up to 11😊
Good to have you back again Gerry
Cheers Paul👍 No better place to go wild camping after a break of a few months😊
I have missed your videos. Every now and then, I'd pop in on your channel to see if I'd missed one. So happy to see you back out, it never fails to baffle me how you get so fortunate with the weather. The worst summer in recent years and you still manage pull it out of the bag 🤣
I love the shots that you get, just stunning Gerry 🙌🍀
Cheers Jason👍 I have a lot of video catching up to do for other channels😊 I had great weather on the Saturday though the Sunday was cool, windy and misty (still not too bad). The Summer has been a shocker and this wet weather throughout the year is playing havoc with wildlife as well as wild camping.
Once again never cease to be amazed by how beautiful and rugged these areas are in N Ireland. Good to see u back & bivvying again. ONE day I'll manage to get over there & see all that for myself....😮❤
Cheers Barry👍 The Bluestacks do have a place close to my heart - probably one of the wilder areas that I first ventured into with hill walking many years ago. It was cool to slip easily back into wild camping (and filming) after that wee break. The hills will be waiting for you😊
Nothing like the solitude is there Gerry? People are great but it's nice to have time with yourself and away from the day ti day. Thanks for taking us along.
ATB George
George, to spend a couple of days in the hills here and not see another person is magical in its own right, never mind all the other cool things that are going on😊
Beautiful view at the top. 😎
The Bluestack Mountains are pretty cool and it is always such a wonder to spend a night up somewhere like that😊
Gerry your Videos are an inspiration! thank you... Mark
Mark, thank you for your very kind comment👍 It is cool that what I do can perhaps inspire others in whatever way - to get outdoors, to wild camp, to climb a mountain or to explore something on their doorstep😊
Nice hike and stunning scenery from the top 👍 😊Nice camp 🏕️
Cheers👍 It was a cool hike with great weather (even in the wind and mist) and always good to spend a night out camping on a mountain😊
So happy to see you back Gerry! Fantastic video as always
Cheers Jonny👍 It was good to be back out wild camping again after a few months and to realise (yet again) just how cool it is to spend a night in the hills, especially when you have a clear sky and no light pollution to see the stars in all their glory⭐⭐
I missed your videos. Great vlog as always. The bluestacks are beautiful.
Cheers Tommy👍 I do love doing these vlogs of my wild camping trips and having some space has confirmed it👍 The Bluestacks are beautiful and very simply that is why I keep going back to walk and wild camp😊 I wild camped on the summit of Lavagh More a long time ago and feel like that might be due a return on my next visit to the these mountains😊
Hi Gerry.
Stunning looking waterfall and deep pool at the bottom. You got a very atmospheric morning, with the swirling mist and the sun trying to get through. Nicely captured trip. All the best 👍
Cheers Andrew👍 I love a good waterfall and I haven't seen many higher on my travels. It was definitely all change with the weather the next day - much windier, cooler and with all that mist swirling around. I love the grand views, though on occasion having to focus much closer with limited visibility can be cool and the mist makes everything look different.
Good to see you back Gerry 👍
Cheers Richard👍 it was good to have a wee break from wild camping and filming theses videos, though still doign plenty of walking. Coming back to it has made me realise just how much I enjoy the wild camping and the filming😊
@@gerrymcveigh Good man Gerry, you are always happy looking in your videos 🙂
Great to see you out after your cleanse Gerry! Such a beautiful spot for a night away from it all 😊 From a T-shirt on Day 1 to then having to be all wrapped up - all in a days work! The mist and wind on Day 2 was so beautiful and enticing too. That scary MOUSE would likely have rattled me though….ahhhhh!! 🫣
Cheers Miriam👍 Time away does add to the appreciation of how special wild camping in the Irish Hills really is I think. I knew it was too good to be true to have more than one day (even though the weather forecast had promised more) and in a way the second day was a welcome contrast and reminder of what it is usually like up along those tops😊 Now who said that mouse was scary? 😊
@@gerrymcveighI know it was!! 🙃
Great to see you back Gerry, nice walk, the Rowen trees hanging over the water were nice, Rowens are nice anyway but with the berries and then reflecting in the water making them extra special. Glad you enjoyed the break too.
Cheers Patrick👍 It is sort of magical to find those isolated trees (Rowan, Oak, Holly etc) up in the hills - usually in steep gullies along rivers or at the edge of loughs - where the sheep/deer cant get at them. It would be amazing if there was more space for seedling to make it to trees in a landscape so devoid of trees🌳
@@gerrymcveigh so rare. You would see some seedlings an inch or two tall from time to time but they never get a chance to grow, constantly getting beheaded by sheep or deer.
Back on the road again Gerry.
You were missed!
Yes when I'm filming the moon I always think again of how small we are.
I wondered if any of those loughs had fish.
You saw a mouse! lol We had a giant rat on the bird feeders the other day! Aaaah!
You take care oul' han!
Cheers Tom👍 It is quite mind blowing to think that there are millions of stars in a galaxy and there are millions of galaxies - even seeing a small part of that when looking up at the night sky when wild camping brings a sense of awe. Not sure of there were fish in those loughs, though many of the mountain loughs have that tell tale circular ripple on the water as fish rise to catch the many flying things. Rats are a whole different ball game to mice - and you have reminded me it is near time for me to get the feeders dusted down👍
I too am awestruck when i look up at the clear evening sky Gerry. It is massive ...beyond comprehension. You, sitting out on a mountain in the complete darkness are getting, a so much better picture. The picture our forefathers got.
Really enjoyed watching that. With a cup of coffee it's a perfect start to the day. It was lovely to speak to yourself in person at our veg shop the other day. 😁
Cheers Matthew👍 That was the first time I had been to Slemish Market Garden, though I have heard so many people talking about it and your parents👍 The carrots, cauliflower and tomatoes were a good buy and tasted delicious😊
Excellent video, and good to see you back in the hills, Gerry.
Cheers John👍 It was good to have a wee break from making theses videos of wild camps though it was also good to get back to it😊
Good to see you back!
It is good to be back😊
Love watching your Donegal videos as coming from Strabane it's my go to place. They give me a new perspective of places I've already been.
Cheers Shane👍 Now if I could cut out all that travel from Antrim to Strabane on the way to the Bluestacks it would be pretty cool😊 They are sort of my go to place in Donegal even with the additional travel and plenty of explorign left there yet😊
Great to see you back Gerry, as always the videos are just a pleasure to sit back and enjoy. Mind you, that waterfall has me interested.
Cheers Peter👍 The waterfall was pretty cool with that big drop. It was great to be out wild camping again and doign some filming😊
Very nice video. Cheers from Norway 🙂👍
Appreciate you taking time to check it out👍 Cheers from Ireland😊
Loved that Gerry 👌 That's pretty much the route that Ian and myself tried to do earlier this year but we got blown away and soaked 🌧️ Nice to see the views we were sure we were missing 🤣 Looks like you managed to catch a glimpse of a real life in the wild Gerry McVeigh there right at the end too 👏👏👏
Cheers Niall👍 I much preferred not getting blown away and soaked😊 As you know there are fantastic views when they are available (definitely not all the time!). It was cool to return to Croaghbarnes and wild camp after scoping it out earlier in the year and to be midge free.
Another class video Gerry, I can see the blue stack mountains from my house but I have never ventured there. Looks amazing. Fantastic to see you back camping again. Love it
Mark, how cool is it to see the Bluestacks from your house👍 When I see them in the distance from the Sperrins on a good visibility day I am trying to identify individual mountains. Well worth a visit for the ruggedness and the absolute solitude that you couldn't put a price on. It was great to return to wild camping an filming - 2 things that I love to do😊
I don't blame you for taking a breather Gerry. It can get tiring on youtube. But you sounded refreshed for a refreshing time in the Bluestacks. And maan was it ever very nice. Always love the water - often makes a trip as does a good kip on the tops. Yeah, nice to hear the mountain soothed the parts that needed soothing. Lovely walk down too - an hey a mouse. Awesome. Well, good going. All the best. Mark
Cheers Mark👍 It is definitely a bit of work creating and keeping up with what everyone else is doing, though the break did the job😊
@@gerrymcveigh It sure is gerry. We gotta slow down and feed that other part of our being for sure.
Another trip to Donegal. Need to head up there myself again. Some good watch time for you. 👍🏻
Cheers Ben👍 Not sure you have much ground left to cover in Donegal😊 though always a cool place to return to👍
@@gerrymcveigh need to do the northern part sometimes.
Yeahhh good to see you back Gerry I thought you had given up 😂
Lovely place to get you back at it again looks very nice and relaxing. Great video as usual Gerry 👍
Cheers Adrian👍 Never give up😊 The Bluestacks have to be one of my favourite places for hillwalking and wild camping😊
It must have been great to get out again after some time away from wild camping!! I loved seeing the spots of color and the few insects that you spotted. My favorite flower was the lavender/purple globe! What a perfect shape! Loved seeing the rocky mountain sides too- and I like hearing how you follow the river, or choose your route in another way. We're so used to following a set trail. Seems so free to wander where you want. I didn't get out much for backpacking this summer- just one night... maybe I can get out for a night or two of there's a bit of mile weather this winter. Thanks for brining us along! - Jen 👍 Love those stary nights!! 🌟🌟
Cheers Jen👍 You have an excellent system of National Parks and trails over there which are lacking here. There are also big issues over how the few National Parks we do have are managed - with a serious lack of biodiversity present. It is cool though to head into the hills with no paths to follow and make your own track, especially if it follows mountain streams and rivers😊
@ Do they have any plans to improve biodiversity? I understand that in Alaska at Denali NP they don’t have any trails either, and they don’t want any created… I’m hoping to visit sometime and go on a Ranger led hike… since there are grizzlies and wolves!! Anyway, I do like how in your mountains you choose your own path!!
There is lots of talk about providing more money to farmers to support nature in upland areas - at present it is mainly sheep farming which really does suppress biodiversity unless rigorously controlled. Also issues with deer populations in many areas as there are no natural predators (as we killed them all off and are reluctant to reintroduce them!). Hopefully the talk will translate into some sort of reality😊
@ Do sheep have free roaming over the whole area? I can understand how that would harm the biodiversity… you’ve probably heard that at Yellowstone NP when they reintroduced wolves, it helped the trees and biodiversity because the wolves caused the browsers and grazers to keep moving!! We weren’t in favor of the wolves, but they were there originally and have an important role to play, I just don’t want to meet one in person!! lol
The sheep pretty much have that free roam as the land is owned by the farmers - not much else to farm up there except sheep - unless the farmers are paid to manage the land more sustainably without all the sheep as they do need an income. Yep have read about those studies on how wolves make all sorts of changes within the ecosystem - one that developed over thousands of years before we disrupted it all a few hundred years ago!
You look so happy to be in the mountains Gerry. A definite spring in your step. Great video as always. I just love your style. So good. Brilliant hike in stunning landscape. Will definitely have to get up there soon. Thanks for taking us with you
Cheers Alyn👍 You and me both know why we go in to the mountains😊 A wee break from wild camping has reminded me of the power it has to do all sorts of wonderful things for the heart and soul😊
@@gerrymcveigh I say as much in my next video Gerry. Its a powerful tonic. Im glad it was such a good experience for you. Your face says it all. Glad the break worked
Good to see you posting again !! Just wondering where you would recommend around Derry Donegal for camping with my 11 year old son ??
A few places I have camped which might be of interest - Benevenagh, Carrickfinn (past the airport and right to the end has wee beaches and sand dunes), around Melmore Head has loads of small beaches, Altan Lough is very cool with a long beach though it has a bit of a walk in from Errigal carpark. If you were thinking up higher - Glascarns Hill or Croaghbane in the Bluestacks from the Old Schoolhouse would take a couple of hours and would be great with settled weather. If you followed the Cronaniv Burn aa good bit into the Poisoned Glen from Dunlewey there are spots along its banks that would be great for wild camping - no climbing though you really feel you are well into the mountains. Hope this helps with thinking and planning.
I remember camping in the Bluestacks in about 2015 using a bivvi bag. It was summer. I was so hot once I’d got into the sleeping bag inside the bivvi bag, but because of the swarms of midges, I couldn’t leave the bag. I also couldn’t get enough air because I had to wear a midge net. It was very unpleasant. In the early morning I did manage to get some sleep because all the midges had gone to bed. That was the last time I camped in the Bluestacks.
Paddy, I can say that I feel your unpleasantness having been in a very similar situation trying to keep out the midges and get fresh air in. On that occasion I don't think my midges went to bed so maybe you had the better deal😊 I find it is always a bit of a balancing act with the bivy - is it going to rain and how much? Is there enough wind to keep midges away? When it does come together it can be a magical experience staring up at a sky full of stars and feeling the elements on your face whilst the rest of you is toasty warm. On most occasions I do take the bivy and the tent and can then make the choice depending on the conditions. I do love the Bluestacks for walking and wild camping.
@@gerrymcveigh I took up road cycling not too long after that! It allows me to see beautiful places without the faffing of camping. Which is not to say I don't like camping, but after a bad experience - again in the Bluestacks - I never went back to camping. The tent was impossible to pitch in high winds and actually blew out of my hands and across the moorland. I phoned in for an airlift after that.
Cycling is a cool pursuit being able to cover so much ground and take in so many sights. Experience can definitely shape what you do or don't do and the weather here plays such a big part in our experience out on the hills.
@@gerrymcveigh Yes! You remind me of another ill-fated Donegal camping trip when my tent filled with water and I had to phone for a lift out of there. Cycling also requires good weather for enjoyment, but if it’s raining, I just go on my indoor bike.
Recently discovered your channel, stunning footage! Do you mind me asking what camera gear you are using?
Cool to have you along👍 I have a Gopro 9 for all the talking and a Panasonic Lumix for all the wider landscape and closer flora/fauna shots.
❤
No shame in taking a break for a few months, you cover some crazy KM & that takes its toll.
Good to see you “Back to work” 🫡
Faigheann cos ar siúl rud nach bhfaigheann cos ina cónaí.
A break just felt right, mainly from UA-cam and all the effort that goes in to filming and editing. It has given me a renewed love for getting out wild camping and recording the experience to share with others😊
@@gerrymcveigh You’re not just creating content for others to see (which is very appreciated) You’re creating a fantastic catalog of memories to relive yourself.
I hope you keep the videos backed up somewhere, you never know what the future will bring online.