2008-03-03 18:01:52
Semi-Informed
Kenny,Irish OS does have contour lines even if they are very faint indeed. They're also printed on tissue paper, which is the reason for the lively discussion below on lamination. I've not been to West Cork yet but like you I'm planning a visit in the very near future. So far I've read Richard Mersey's "Hills of Cork and Kerry"and Seán'Ó Súilleabháin's Walker's Guide to the South West. The first is a Tom Weir style very personal view but seems brutally honest. The circuit round Tooth Mountain and Lackabane seems fantastic but his cheerful description of a greasy descent to a field of swamps and walls is a bit too realistic. Ó Súilleabháin's book I've used around Dingle and found it very useful. It too has eccentricities, keeps reminding you that a map and compass are useful if there's mist and has a stunningly unappealing cover photo of a beautiful place obscured by cloud. Again brutally honest, I suppose.
2008-03-03 15:28:59
advice for a visiting Scotsman
Hello hillwalkers of Ireland! I am a Scottish hillwalker hoping to fit in a quick trip up a hill during a brief trip to Ireland for a wedding in Glengarriff. Can someone recommend a peak with fine views in the Glengarriff/Beara area? Also as far as I can see from the OSI website, Irish maps dont have contour lines, is that right or am I very much mistaken? Thats a wee bit disconcerting to someone brought up to read a map and pick a route using them. Perhaps someone could suggest a hillwalking guidebook that would cover this area? Thanks.2008-03-01 20:55:05
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| Going places (Expand pics) |
Still more on lamination
Adding to the theme of laminated maps, there's a similar approach that I have used myself for a number of years. Without having to go to the not inconsiderable expense of acquiring a full set of OSI TrailMaster software, there are several programmes, easily available on the Internet, that are designed to use imported scanned maps in conjunction with a GPS. (Some of these programmes, at least in a limited version, are free to use, but it can be well worth paying for unrestricted use.) Once a scanned map is imported into the programme, it can be calibrated to indicate the Irish Grid and easily scaled from the common OSI 1:50,000 to the more walker-friendly 1:25,000. This can be printed off on an A4 sheet and plastified with any of the small laminators one can get in the stores. The disadvantage with this process, however, is the stiffness of the end-product, which cannot (easily) be folded. The advantage is that it will show most of the ground one can cover in a normal day's walk, and it will definitely not turn into a sopping rag when the rain comes down. It's practically indestructible. A don't think there's any copyright issue here, since the map is scanned and used for purely private purposes.2008-03-01 18:20:37
laminating maps
Last word on those maps. OSI, on the phone, said they had no stock of the laminated maps and would probably not restock due to lack of demand. The following day OSI by email said they could supply laminated maps on request for €28.60 + €6.20 P&P By then I had phoned 'The Great Outdoors' and bought me map for €21 delivered by post to Co Clare. Perhaps OSI could consider issuing maps in the cheaper 'weatherproof' format for the mad hillwalkers who will go out in the rain!2008-03-01 15:22:54
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| I didn't have a camera with me, so you'll have to make do with this pic from the web! (Expand pics) |
Interesting discoveries in the hills
Whilst walking the path in the plain between Moolieve and Wee Binnian, something quite interesting caught my eye. Sitting on a boulder was a tiny "Common" Lizard. It's grey-ish brown dorsal surface provided perfect camouflage against the peat and heather. To my surprise, it was quite placid and didn't run off when I approached it to get a better look. On closer inspection I noticed it had a dark stripe running down the entire length of the spine and had yellow spots on it's side. After a while it scurried off the rock and disappeared into the heather. This was the first time I've ever spotted a lizard in the Mournes, hopefully I'll come across some more in the future! In my opinion they certainly do not deserve the title, "Common"! Has anyone else on MV encountered the beastie's before?2008-03-01 08:07:09
Re: laminating maps
mwalimu,Back in the good old days when I required full sheet maps to be laminated and before the "Aqua range" of maps I used to take my paper maps to the Teachers Resource Centre in Clondalkin or Clonliff to laminate them myself.
Most of the teacher resource centres had large laminating machines at the time. You could also take them along to Reids of Nassua street where you could have them laminated for a price of course. I still have a lot of these coil spring maps gathering dust in a box under the bed in the spare room.
I have moved on since then as with most of my hill walking friends to the OSI'S TrailMaster software and now print off A4 size usually 1:25000 scale maps as many times as I like all for 50 euro for all the mountain ranges on the east coast including the Galtees. I laminate these maps on my own A4 laminator. I find most days hiking will fit on an A4 size page, they can be saved and used over and over again, no creasing required.
If you have access to a computer and printer I suggest maybe look at the software version.
2008-02-29 18:51:04
OS 74
The Galtees and Knockmealdowns fit nicely back to back in an A3 laminate if you don't mind cutting up a new map.2008-02-27 21:57:29
laminating maps
Here's the problem. The OSI sells sheet maps, such as sheet 74 for the Galtees. But they are out of stock of the laminated ones and say it will be while, if at all, before they produce any more. The demand is too small to justify producing more laminated maps, they say. They suggest buying a regular paper map and laminating it yourself.The problem is that to do the job properly you need to get it 'soft' laminated and recreased. Any of the business which I have contacted so far can only offer a heavy guage lamination which makes the map too rigid for folding and outdoor use.
Does anyone know of a company where map laminating and recreasing is done?
2008-02-11 23:09:16
weedavie on Safety
My first thought was it’s over-emphasised. Of sports I’ve played, I’ve been hurt worse at football, skiing and squash. Mind you I’ve also seen a worse injury at bridge, normally a non-contact sport. An ill-considered comment about a failed six no-trumps bid led to a flat out brawl in a desert oil-workers’ shed but I’m wandering. Experienced comments from member weedavie on safety in the Resources section. Here
2008-02-10 20:22:38
Millstone below Slievenaglogh?
Has anyone ever noticed the massive circular stone below Slievenaglogh? It would be over 6 foot in diameter and it is pierced in the centre, suggesting it's a millstone. It's well buried in the peat, and I'm no archaeologist, but I guess it's been there at least a century. If it is indeed a millstone, how on Earth could the men all those years ago transport such a thing the whole way down the hills and to a mill possibly miles away? It's a humbling thought.
