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Thank you for mentioning (and reminding me) Derry which is a beautiful county, within which much of the Sperrins sit - the county line for Derry/Tyrone passing over the summit of Sawel Mountain.

Cheers Jennifer👍 Definitely good for the head and the heart spending a night out not too far from home. The birdsong is a joy to listen to and the call of the Cuckoo so loud and clear was very cool😊

@@gerrymcveigh (Sorry about the typo- lol- just noticed and fixed bicycle with bivy.) Hope you’re having a great summer!

Thank you👍 That was a lovely trip with a just about perfect wild camp on the beach up in the mountains.

Thank you👍 I had great weather and it was pretty special to have a cloud inversion below my summit wild camp in the morning. Could sit and watch clouds and mist rolling around all day😊

I honestly don't know. If you are happy to wild camp there are so many options along the west of the island. My wild camp wasn't too far from the lighthouse which has a road to it. Would just have to have enough water with you for drinking/cooking. It is a beautiful place to visit and well worth the trip for a day or overnight👍

@@gerrymcveigh thanks for the answer :)

Cheers Mark👍 Birdsong has to be one of the best soundtracks for bringing peace and calm to the mind (along with water). I felt like I should have bought a ticket for all the performers in the forest😊

@@gerrymcveigh Hey, yeah I agree with that gerry - such perfection in it all. A cosmic performance unrivalled. Peace old mate.

Thank you👍 it was a cool little adventure that didn't take too much effort though had great rewards😊

I do a lot of cringing at my pronunciation too😊

Cheers Kev👍 I kept looking around too to find that Cuckoo😊 Without the midges at a different time of year would have been good alright.

Cheers Miriam👍 It was something a little bit different to create some of that precious breathing space from the day to day routine. The air was so still in the trees that the sound of the Cuckoo was something else, had only ever heard from a good distance before. Lots of places close to home that would be good to spend a night just have to do a wee bit more research😊

Cheers Paddy👍 A lovely trip not far from home and just using up a Saturday evening and night though it all had the feel of something bigger and grander😊

Cheers Richard👍 Those reservoirs are a hidden gem and a place I haven't visited in a good few years. It was cool to go back (twice in one week). There was a couple of guys fly fishing late evening and early morning and I can imagine it must be so chilling to spend time there fishing. Lots to take in including the birdsong😊

I prefer a bivy over a tent if the weather conditions permit as it gives a closer connection to what is around. Some of my most memorable trips have been lying in a bivy staring up at a sky full of stars and seeing shooting stars streak across the sky whilst feeling a breeze on my exposed face. If the forecast is for significant rain or if it is very cold I would use a tent.

Cheers Paul👍 We seem to be getting small glimpses of Summer with nothing prolonged and settled - the pattern since last Summer methinks! Always cool to use those small windows though to get out walking and/or wild camping😊

It was brilliant to hear the Cuckoo calling so clearly and obviously not far away. All the other birdsong was fantastic and I do believe has such a calming effect for the head and heart👍

Jason, I don't think I realised how bad they were until I saw how many bites I had on my face and them flying around on the video. The price to pay when there is no wind at this time of year - we can't win either way😊 The Cuckoo sound was pretty awesome. I think more these shorter adventures would be cool to explore and spend the night in new areas not far from home - just have to do some planning😊

Totally agree👍 Pretty much the only significant forest in upland areas here in my experience. There is a lovely broadleaf forest on the other side of Soarns Hill though it is on a private estate and is used for shooting. There were a few isolated Rowan trees on the hillside though they were struggling with the sheep grazing which is ever present on the hills throughout Ireland.

Thank you👍

Cheers Ashley👍 It was a great wee micro adventure and shows that trips and camps can be done close to home with not too much time and effort. The Cuckoo was crystal clear and lovely to hear👍 The midges🦟 not so much and my face was covered in bites when I got home, though didn't feel any irritation so all good👍

The Cuckoo call was like the best Dolby Surround Sound that you could imagine in amongst the trees with no other noise😊 I have heard them in both Donegal and Mayo though this may be the first time I have heard one up here in N. Ireland. Never seen one either - though if we keep looking......😊

Cheers Joe👍 It is lovely up around the Quolie Reservoirs. I had been there the previous week to tackle Soarns Hill and it reminded me how cool it was so it was great to go back soon after with the plan to spend the night.

Thank you👍 It was a cool wee trip that didn't involve hours of driving and miles and miles of hiking - something to do more often I think to explore some of the places closer to home👍

Cheers Alan👍 There is a much better forest nearby with a real mix of trees though it is in the Cleggan Estate and private land. I haven't bought a rucksack in probably 10 years so I have got my monies worth (as I always do) and the 2 I use have seen plenty of trips and abuse😊

@@gerrymcveigh Hi Gerry. You may just put up with your nose having to be a wee bit further from the ceiling when you are sleeping. That lump under the mattress might be about to get smaller 🤣🤣

Cheers James👍 Something a bit different for me with not too much effort and no hills climbed though it was a brilliant wee trip😊

@@gerrymcveigh brilliant mate

Cheers Tom👍 Always love to hear that distinctive call of the Cuckoo and all the other birdsong was a beautiful soundtrack on this wee trip. It was a bit nippy in the evening though I was all toasty in my sleeping bag🔥

Good man indeed Gerry!!!!

It was all grand in among the pine trees, probably more worried about a slug trail over my face than a rat😊 The midges had a good go at me and I was covered in bites when i got home - a small price to pay though to spend some time outdoors😊

Cheers👍 It was really cool to have the experience of an adventure pretty much on my doorstep and to be able to camp out overnight😊

Cheers👍 It was a lovely relaxed walk with not too much effort and it did still have that feel of being away from it all. Birdsong is a real nature therapy😊

Cheers Sean👍 It was pretty cool to hear the Cuckoo and all the other birdsong in the forest and along the hike. It all has a very calming and soothing effect.

Cheers Niall👍 I had been up through the forest a week before on a longer hike and really felt the urge to return and spend the night. With these longer evenings it was so easy to leave at 6pm and spend a couple of hours walking to the camp spot and then up early in the morning to be back home shortly after 9am. Really good for the soul😊 When I returned home my face was covered in midge bits though didn't feel them at the time - maybe was bitten during the night🦟 The call of the Cuckoo was very cool as was the racket of calls from crows that evening.

I was just at the edge of the forest so it was all cool😊 I love the bivy as it is so quick and simple to set up and doesn't have those layers between you and the outside that a tent does. I did have quite a few midge bits when I came back though😊

I do have it in my head when going through some of the tall grasses though I don't think I have ever had an issue - definitely wouldn't wear shorts when hiking in the hills here though.

@@gerrymcveigh Thanks, just another thing to worry about! amazing the harm a little tick can do though, safe travels buddy👍

Cheers👍 The Derryveaghs are stunning hills and well worth a visit (or two). I haven't bought a tent in 10 years or so so not sure if I would be up to speed on what would be best - loads of stuff on youtube to help you get the right one I am sure😊

Kim, you can bump into people in the most unlikely of places😊 Thank you for watching👍

That was a long time ago😊 Probably not that often we get any decent snow up around the Belfast Hills so worth taking❄

Cheers👍 Thanks for the idea - probably one of the few things I haven't tried to keep my toes warm😊

Apologies. *Gerry*

I have been called much worse😊

Sorry to bust yer chops Gerry. Slightly unrelated comment…. Have you ever walked The Gobbins Cliff Path in Islandmagee? Not mountains but a stunning 2.5 3 hour guided walk. Be right up your street.

I have - before Covid and it was a fantastic experience👍 They had plans to extend the walk further though not sure if they have done any work on it.

Cheers Sean👍 That area is pretty spectacular and cool to spend a night in - whether in your 20 euro tent or my £50 bivy😊 Have had plenty of those sleepless and windy nights (even after checking the weather forecast) and they are the ones that tend to stick in the memory😊

Cheers👍 That was a lovely trip with pretty much perfect weather conditions☀ and the wild goats trying to steal my breakfast was pretty cool🐐😊

btw, spotted what looks like another plane in a forest not too far from here: www.google.com/maps/place/Altaveedan+Wind+Farm/@55.0696872,-6.2548317,252m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x4861cdab88c216ef:0xe01246fffd034f24!8m2!3d55.0732507!4d-6.2812234!16s%2Fg%2F11pttl8x5t?entry=ttu

Cheers👍 I haven't done much wild camping in the Antrim Hills - apart from here and Fair Head, though I have made note of a few potential options. There doesn't look to be many options for camping around the reservoir due to the rough ground. The Inver River has potential I think above where it drops down into Glenariff with plenty of spots along its banks. I have thought about the summits of Colin Top and Carncormick and heading up and looking for a spot above Cranny Falls. Have just done a camp in Cleggan Forest above the Quolie Reservoirs which was cool. Not sure about lighting a fire though - as you say would leave a trace and might upset landowners.

Cheers Kev👍 It was a great wee trip to get away from it all for a couple of days and those hills are really quiet so were just perfect😊

Cheers Peter👍 Stunning around there and definitely knocking on the door of Donegal in terms of beauty. The North Mayo sea cliffs would maybe even be slightly ahead😊

Cheers Tom👍 It was a welcome weather window and I had been waiting a long time😊 A lovely wee trip down to Mayo and I do love it down there (midges and all🦟)😊

Yes Gerry this must have been a very frustrating wait for you! It's so good to get a wee break. You take care!

It sounds like you have good experience of some of these magical places in the far west of Ireland that can get into your system and not let go - dragging you back time and again😊 I love that vastness of mountain and bog in the Nephin Begs and that I mostly have it all to myself when I am there. I literally couldn't believe that there were other people at the lough where I had intended to camp as it is so rare to see other people in around there, all worked out well though😊 i don't think there is an easy way to reach that long top of Slieve Carr no matter the direction though it is well worth the effort for the extensive views. Sounds like your leg might have cramped up - something I have had the painful experience of in the past - caused by dehydration and loss of minerals (I have taken to adding berocca type tablets to my water). Keep on exploring and experiencing that splendid isolation👍