Connemara Walks

We are off to Connemara later in the summer. We have been a couple of times before, but that was when the children were younger. This time I hope to get out on some decent walks. I have got Paddy's book, but are there any other books people would recommend?

I quite fancy doing the Maumturks Traverse as a 2 day backpack with the children. Any information on decent places to camp would be welcome.
Also fancy doing the 12 Bens. However, there seem to be lots of different versions. There was a post one here http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/forum/forummessages.asp?v=1&urn=4&utn=11892&umn= some time ago where Paddy gave a lot of useful information. I think that it would be too hard for the children as a single trip. If we did it as a two day trip are we likely to be able to find water, as I don't fancy having to carry 2 days supply for several people.

Well... if you have my book, then there's not much more I can add... and if you've read the other thread about the Twelve Bens, then that should leave you in no doubt about what's inolved. On clear days, you can do almost anything. When the mist is down and it's lashing with rain, it's pretty miserable and you have to be very careful with navigation. The Harveys map is the best map. No other maps come close, but you need to be able to navigate, because a good map on its own is no use.

Wild camping is usually OK on the gaps between the mountains, except in the case of the gap with the chapel on it in the Maum Turks, which is accessible by 4X4, so you could be told to clear off. No-one will bother you on the more remote gaps. Just bear in mind that pegs don't go into hard quartzite, no matter how much you clobber them! As for water, last time I looked there was too much of it! I can't imagine ever running short of water in Connemara!

Thanks Paddy. I have just been looking at the Classic Walks Glencoaghan Horseshoe. It looks as though it's all quartzite, with no grassy patches to camp on, so maybe a 2 day trip wasn't such a good idea.

I see Joss Lynam estimates the walk as 7hrs with Benbaun, but no doubt that's running it. It looks as though it would be a reasonable day walk if we omitted that summit. They have done the traverse of the Carneddau from Ogwen to Capel, so I think it would be within their capabilities.

My navigation is fine, but sometimes I may decide to make life more interesting by descending into the wrong valley We have got the Harveys map and it certainly looks much more use than the OSI maps.

There are some grassy patches, but they might not be where you want to camp. The lower areas are sometimes too boggy, and as you climb uphill, the vegetation begins to break up. Sometimes you just end up with little rugs and carpets of vegetation. If you had two tents, and wanted to camp fairly high, you might find yourselves pitching a long way apart!

The Carneddau is pretty smooth compared to most parts of Connemara. However, anything is possible if you have the weather on your side and are prepared to give it as long as it takes. Basically, if you plan a two-day traverse, take three days of food, just in case.

I have spent a bit of time Wild camping in the area and always ended up having to come down a fair bit to find a pitch that would hold pegs, might be worth taking a bivy if the forecast allows your hardy enough, but it can rain like cats and dogs even if the forecast is good.

Thanks Stephen.I don't have enough gear for four of us to bivvy, but if we just do a day walk I take the bothy bag. I don't plan on going up unless there is a chance of decent views, my days of wandering around in driving rain just so I can visit some new summit are over.

However, my son has just returned from his Outward Bound week at Ullswater, where he went on a mini "expedition" and camped near the summit of Helvellyn. So at the moment he is quite keen on overnight camps. He did complain about the enormous weight of his rucksack Depending on whether 3 or 4 of us go, we could manage with one tent and a bivi bag, rather than 2 tents. I agree with Paddy about taking an extra days food just in case. As my son is now used to carrying enormous rucksacks, he can carry it.

I do recall now a trip about 15 years ago where we where Able to camp quiet high by a lake, for the life of me I can't remember, drop me a Pm and I will see if I can find the route card.

Was it Loch Mam Ochoige by any chance, halfway through the Turks? There's just about enough flat vegetation to take a tent or two, and of course plenty of water. I've been tempted to camp there myself, but for the fact I've always passed it in the middle of the day. (Geek - there's a photo on page 109)

Quiet possibly Paddy,

I just figured out all my old route cards are in storage back in Ireland.

 Are the Mams in the 'clint and grike' part?

 If so I used to use 'snow stakes' shoved lengthways, as far away and down into grikes as I could get, it worked for me. I don't remember have any guyline problems using that way.