Oh excellent, I wasn't sure anyone would join! You don't tend to see many Setters around here.

We're in East Sussex :)

Hi ya

We live in Basildon Essex...we have Riley almost 7month Irish ( who is the naughties dog I have ever had lol) and Cassie 7 1/2 month Labradoodle (who is a complete sweetheart)...My first Irish was a wendover that was 30 years ago....nice to meet you.

Hi, nice to meet you! Finn is pretty naughty sometimes too, although he's a real sweetheart at the same time! I think it's just puppy naughtiness, because he's 7 months too.

I thought that if we managed to get some more numbers in the group we could maybe arrange a big Setter walk or something?

Thats a good idea...would have to bring Cassie as well will buy her a red coat lol..Yes it is puppy naughtiness but he can melt your heart with one look and is mummys baby has me round his paws...lol

Hi Charlotte

I had to message you as it looks like My Riley and your Finn have the same grandad....Riley was breed by Eva and Louis is his grandad and what a amazing dog...small world

Oh wow! Louis is indeed gorgeous, and has helped to improve the breed so much. I'm honored to have him in Finn's family history :)

I wonder if the boys would realise that they are related if they met each other? Lol

Howdy - Errol and I are based in East Sussex. Brighton to be precise. I know of 5 other Irishes in this city but hardly ever bump into them on our walks. :(

Hi! I live about half an hours drive away from Brighton :) I never bump into any Irish and their owners around here :( 

I say you got yourself a date....   :)

The last 7-month old we met was already as tall as Errol who is now 2 1/2.... 'He's shortie (but perfectly formed - aaaah).

Hi i live Wickford Essex .

Hellooo! Seem to be quite a few people from Essex on the site :)

And KC - we don't have many sheep around here at the moment (relating to your other post). Have you ever been to Ashdown Forest? Or errm... a group of my friends and I met up near Brighton at a golf course? Can't remember what it was called :s but there was a nice walk. 

Hi Elaine

Daft question but are you Eva's friend who I met when we picked Riley up?

Hi we live in Kent about 20 mins from Canterbury with our 2 Irish, Hamilton  one of Louis' brothers and Micawber out of Banksett

Hmm, Brighton - Canterbury = 92 miles. Can anyone suggest a central meeting point?

we are in London but I work in Surrey (near Guildford), so easy to drive a bit south and out of the city :) 

Sevenoaks/Tonbridge/Tunbridge Wells looks about central. I'm probably being bias though seeing as Tunbridge Wells is only 20 mins away :P

Agree with Charlotte. But don't know area myself as I normally keep to local / coastal zones. Nearby Ashdown Forest is full of sheep and deer so will have to keep the Peril on a long leash unless someone "local" can advise.

Ashdown Forest usually isn't that bad for sheep. There are certain parts of it where they put sheep out but it's usually quite easy to find a part without them. My aunt who has a Flatcoat is quite good at knowing all about these things so I could always ask her? Would be a shame to have to keep dogs on leads!

Yep, just went with the boys today. No sheep to be seen!

That's good news! Am particularly worried about free roaming flocks. Not sure if AF sheep are free to wander or fenced in (although I've noticed that some of the traditional fencing also leaves much to be desired). Down here herds are rotated regularly every 6-8 weeks so I always have to keep one eye on the council's grazing calendar.

When is good for you ladies then?

I'm free pretty much whenever, except Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays :)

I'm a working so if you want to meet during the week I need advance warning to allow me to take anual leave and to cancel the dog sitter. Fridays is "KC & Errol" time but Charlotte is not free then anyway. Weekends are mostly good (i.e. can do 10./11. or 25./26.).

Weekends are good for us!

Hi All - really sorry I have been out of the loop. First we went on a trip to Ireland and then we needed to get the car sorted out (first it was the battery then  followed the cambelt). I'm now £670 lighter in my pockets but at least we're back on the road and ready to meet up if peeps are still interested. Not available next weekend as it's Mothering Sunday but anytime after that. Just let me know. 

Right guys - this seems to have fallen by the wayside a bit!

The best time for me would be any time during the week of the 9-16th April (during the school Easter holidays) as I have a friend coming down to stay with me and I need a travelling buddy to control Finn in the car :P that week I've put does include a weekend. Let me know if it's any good or not!

Was wondering about the group earlier. Glad to hear there's still interest. I'm not sure about Easter Monday as we have yet to make plans to see the family but it's a possibility. I'm off work Tuesday 10th anyway so that would be perfect and my preferred day. Alternatively I could take Wednesday 11th off, too. Else Sat 14th + Sun 15th. Lemme know.

dear all

where do you plna to met? Easter monday should be perfect for us :)

do you pine = do you plain ;)

Somewhere in Ashdown Forest. Charlotte seems to know the area well so I was hoping she would be able to give instructions. Charlotte - please remember we need a sheep free zone!!!!

Oh gosh :s all the pressure is on me! We don't have to meet on Ashdown Forest, it was just an idea so if anyone has any better ideas I'm up for that! Finn has a really sporadic recall at the moment, so if anyone knows of any more fenced in places that might be better.

Lois - you can bring whoever you like! Dog-wise... do we all have boys? Just going to make the obvious point that Finn and probably most others aren't castrated :)

are there any place along the beach ? a coastal trip would be nice as well :)

Sorry Charlotte - didn't mean to put the pressure on you just that we discussed meeting in AF previously.

Worthing/Goring/Ferring area is deifinitely off leash October - April as I go there occasionally. However it's only any good if the tide is low else you won't have a beach just a narrow strip of pebble. At weekends and if the weather is nice it can also get very busy with day trippers from 11AM onwards. 

I love Camber but it would be too far to drive for me personally for a mere dog walk (up to 2hrs along a tedious coastal road depending on traffic). However, if the general consensus is that we should meet there I'd be happy to make the trip this once as the beach is divine.

Camber isn't TOO far away from me, about an hour and a quarter. I'd be okay to do the drive though.

It's amazing how we have so much beautiful countryside but not many places we can safely walk! 

That's a good idea Lois... so, so far we have Ashdown Forest and Camber Sands lol

Howdy again - looks like we'll be the only troopers to brave the unknown. Maybe after the first walk more will join? Let's make a date first and then figure out where to meet. I'm free in April: Thu 5th + Fri 6th + Tue 10th. If this is no good for you peeps I need to know whether I'll have to take time off work hence there's some urgency.

Hi we can do 6,7,8, or 9 April currently any day over Easter