Overview: Distance: 9km round trip from Carlingford village.Elevation gain: 600mFormat: Out and backTime: 2.5 - 4 hoursStart / End / Parking:I parked on the seafront in Carlingford village, beside this village car park. I know that in the summer months and on bank holiday weekends, parking can be busy. Trail difficulty: ModerateThe first half of this route follows way-marked paths, and the second half is wilder boggy mountainside. Routes graded as Moderate include more informal paths, rougher, boggy and more uneven terrain with the possibility of rocky, moderately steep ground.Read about trail grading in Ireland here.Trail quality: 4/5The lower half of the route I talk about utilises parts of the Tain Way and National Looped Walks in the area, which are all well maintained. The second half of this route is not a trail and contains rougher, boggy and more uneven terrain. Ive done this route in the summer and found it nice underfoot - having most recently done it in December, I can attest that it can be very wet underfoot in the winter months. Views: 5/5I personally love the Cooley Mountains. I think despite their smaller size, they provide gorgeous views and trails, and have a wild feel to them. Buggy/Wheelchair friendly: NoDogs allowed: No - this route features commonage and possible livestock. When did I walk this route: December 2025Toilets: There are public toilets in Carlingford, located behind the public car park and playground.External resources: Learn more about this summit on MountainViewsHeres a similar route on HiiKER View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Slieve Foye is a small but mighty hill. Standing at 587m, its the highest point in the Cooley Mountains. This route is something I like to call a no filler hike - you start in the village of Carlingford and from here to the summit you are constantly climbing the whole way to the summit. No meandering section to relax on, just up the hill you go! Parking on the sea front near the tourist information office, we swing by the public toilets beside the playground before following the signs for both the Tain Way and National Looped Walks up through the town. For this outing I'm once again joined by long-term Tough Soles Supporter Jen (I must come up with a catchier title, but Ive used this one several times and so it has somewhat stuck). While Id told her this wasnt one of the big ones (by which I mentally meant Lugnaquilla, Slieve Donard, or Mweelrea), I somewhat forgot to mention what Ive already told you - that the route climbs from the get go. Thankfully, shes both a forgiving friend, and well used to my eccentricities. From the village we followed the Commons Loop, which heads straight up along old farming paths towards the col between Slieve Foye and Barnavave, the smaller hill to the south west. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize After approx. 1km the commons loop leaves the small old farm lanes, crossing onto open hillside, and comes to a trail T-junction. From here, we switched to the Tain Way to take us the rest of the way up to the saddle between the two summits. From here there are great views out over the village and the fjord, with the Mourne Mountains sitting proud across the water. I think part of why I love these hills is how rugged they feel despite being at relatively low altitudes. Making it up into the col (or saddle), we get to the high point of the Tain Way. Looking out to our right towards the summit of Slieve Foye there is a warn path across the hillside. There are some posts / markers across the hillside, but patchy and inconsistent. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize As you get closer to the summit the path becomes fainter, with different strands crossing and sheep trails offering tempting paths that veer off around the hillside. In December the ground can be quite wet underfoot (as we experienced), but overall this hill has enough rock that its not going to disintegrate into a boggy soup under you. The last kilometre to the summit is open mountainside with small cliffs. There are several stony outcrops that act as nice windbreaks if youre thinking of stopping for a snack or water break. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize For a December afternoon, we were incredibly lucky with our day out. Reaching the summit the wind hit us full force once more, and so we spent a couple of minutes up there admiring the trig point and the extended golden hour that this time of year offers. From here its possible to do a loop out across the western summit and descend down to the forest on the northern side, following the Tain Way back to Carlingford - Ive done it before during the summer, and its lovely. Its walked less, so only for those comfortable with route planning and mountain ground. Our day was an out-and-back adventure, so from here we re-traced our steps down the hillside. On the return journey we stuck to the Tain Way the whole way into the village again. I think this added a small bit to the distance, but its a more switch-backing descent on small lanes, which I knew our knees would appreciate. It also meant that we would definitely make it back to the van in daylight. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize In Carlingford we got a bag of chips each, and as we made it back to the van I saw the sun disappearing off the summits of the far-off Mournes. Every time I visit this corner of Ireland I leave happy, and with another promise to come back to explore more. I would love to have a couple of days to document the National Looped Walks around the Cooleys - maybe this summer? Only time will tell. Further exploringOther trails in the area: The Tain WayThe Boyne Valley CaminoRavensdale Forest (Coillte website link) which I got to explore as part of the Boyne Valley Trails FestivalHistorical sites to visit: Newgrange - World Heritage SiteBattle of the Boyne at Oldbridge HouseCoffee/food options: Finished my last hike with delicious chips at the Roma TakeawayRuby Ellens tea room for a classic afternoon tea feeling

Welcome back to another edition of Tough Soles Fieldnotes, where all the adventures of the last few months are wrapped up in some bailer twine to carry off across the fields. OctoberOctober saw the third and final hike organised by Outsider.ie and The Columbia Hike Society. I worked with Outsider on all three of these hikes, and it was a project I really enjoyed. Our hikes took in Bray Head, Howth Head, and the Sugarloaf - all looped routes that are accessible by public transport. October also saw me attend the Womens Bouldering Meet in Glendalough, Co. Wicklow. This is the second year in a row that Ive gone - its a really fun weekend with all of the best female rock climbing instructors there to provide lots of knowledge and psyche! The Saturday evening is reserved for a talk from one of Irelands incredible climbers, and this year it was Lucy Mitchell, who I watched win comp after comp when I was getting into climbing over ten years ago. It was a really honest talk about the highs and lows of the pressure of high performance, and the life of a climbing coach. Learn more about the 2025 event on the Mountaineering Ireland website. Work brought me a lot to Mayo in October, part of which was leading the beginner hike for Hike West Fest 2025. The National Looped Walk we took on was the Keenagh Loop, a difficult trail through the wild bogs near Nephin. However, I enjoyed it so much, it made it onto my 2026 Day Hikes List! I explored some more of Achill (ticking off Minaun summit), and stopped the car whenever I saw something that looked like a nice walk. Across the three months I published nine videos on YouTube; two in October, four in November, and three in December. Its been really nice feeling some consistency in the video schedule again! The one video that doesnt have an upcoming website article, and was quite a big announcement for us this year, is that we bought a van! Its a converted VW T5, which we bought in September and had on the road by the end of that month. Since then, weve been putting it through its paces, driving all over the country for work and adventures. Video links: What is a Lowland Leader? MountainTraining 101The Miners Way Wicklow Day Hikes We bought a van! Tough SolesGougane Barra Forest Park Cork Day Hikes2025 Christmas Gift Guide Tough SolesMy filming set-up for thru-hiking Tough SolesSliabh Bawn Roscommon Day HikesThe Best Guidebooks for Ireland Tough Soles on BooksSlieve Foye Louths County High Point NovemberAcross the four weeks of November, Carl and I spent 12 days in very west Cork, literally learning the ropes to expand our rock climbing skills. It was an incredible, if intense few weeks - the newly acquired van making it all possible. Between the training and work, I slept 12/30 nights in November in the van. Unlike a lot of the recent training and up-skilling Ive done, there was no qualification or big goal behind doing this training, it was just for us. I was surprised to notice that this took a lot of pressure off, and I think helped me focus even more on learning what was in front of me. If youre thinking of up-skilling in 2026 - you can find loads of courses on the Mountaineering Ireland Training page, as well as on the websites of outdoor instructors or Outdoor Education and Training Centres. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize In between these days on rock, I was working in Kerry. I love being down in this corner of the world, and I had a list of trails and sites I wanted to film in-between jobs. However, between the incredibly heavy rain leading to flooded trails, and many places being closed for the off season, I didnt get to explore or film a single place on my list. Its because of this that I ended up trying to outrun the rain and found myself in Gougane Barra, getting to experience the amazing trails in the Forest Park there! What was an unexpected rain retreat turned into one of my favourite solo adventures of 2025. Donegal Bay Trust& Outdoor Recreation ForumsBeing someone who uses the outdoors so much, Im very invested in understanding how we impact it, and protecting it for the immediate and distant future. Part of that in November was attending some of the inaugural Donegal Bay Trust advisory committee meetings, as well as the Cavan Outdoor Recreation Forum. The Outdoor Recreation Forums are the latest stage of the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy - where anyone can attend to learn about (and contribute to) how the county goes about implementing their County Outdoor Recreation Plan (which were all drafted in the last couple of years). If you want to find out about your county, I recommend contacting your local sports partnership, Rural Recreational Officer, or local authority Biodiversity Officer. DecemberThis year I avoided much of the hurrying and partying that this month can be, and leaned into slowing down. However, it was nonetheless a good month for Tough Soles. I published three videos and three articles, and made the first ever Tough Soles Calendars, which were way more of a success than I couldve imagined! Thank you to everyone who ordered one, and apologies to anyone who missed them. I will be a lot more prepared for the 2027 batch! In early December my friend Jen and I ticked off a new county high point - Slieve Foye in Louth. Its an absolutely gorgeous hike, I really love the Cooley Mountains. Theyre not overly tall, have great trails and stunning views. The video is already out, and the website write-up is almost complete (it will probably be the next thing published after this). Winter SolsticeOn the 21st of December the longest night of the year passed, and daylight is officially on the return. This process is both slower and faster than youd think - the Spring Equinox will be 20th of March in 2026, which is when day and night are of equal length. From here until Autumn, the days are long and the sun truly feels like its back once more. The return of the sun has been important to us for thousands of years. Ireland has the most megalithic art of Northern Europe and many of our passage tombs align to the solstices or equinoxes, so that every year the sunrise illuminates their long passages. Newgrange is the modern name for An Brug, which was once a home of the Tuatha De Danann, mythical gods from the other world in Celtic folklore.Now a Unesco World Heritage Site, Newgrange is over 5,000 years old. Above the main entrance to the passage tomb theres the roof box - a hole that allowed the sun to light the inside every year on the solstice. This happens for a couple of days (not just the solstice), and the sunlight shines through for about 17 minutes. Lynam Lecture 2025The Lynam Lecture or Lynam Award was inaugurated in 2011 in the memory of Joss Lynam, (1924 - 2011), one of Ireland's best-known mountaineers, in recognition of his enormous achievements in hillwalking, climbing and mountaineering in Ireland and overseas over some 60 years.During his lifetime, Joss initiated numerous developments in these different areas of our sport in Ireland and he was an inspiration to a number of generations of Irish mountaineers. Recipients of this award are recognised for their outstanding achievements and contribution to mountaineering. As part of the evening, they deliver a talk on their exploits, and its always an incredibly inspiring event. Last year (2024) I filmed Dermot Somers lecture, which was an awe inspiring (and quite hilarious) evening. Filming indoor events is not my forte, but thankfully it came out serviceable.The 2025 award went to Sen Villanueva ODriscoll, a world-renowned climber and alpinist, celebrated for his daring ascents and bold explorations of some of the worlds most remote and challenging mountain ranges. Best known for his groundbreaking climbs in Patagonia, Sens most notable achievement came in 2021 with his solo ascent of the Fitz Roy Traverse, a monumental 5 km-rugged ridgeline in Southern Patagonian.Listening to Sean was a true delight, and I hope to have the video edited and published for Mountaineering Ireland in the coming weeks (once published I will link here). RunningIn the lead up to Christmas, I saw posts going around on social media about running the advent calendar, which is a challenge where you simply do what it says on the tin. On the first of December you run 1km, on the second you run 2km, all the way up to the 24th of December, when you run 24km (having run 23km the day before, and 22km the day before that). Running is something that I both really enjoy, and utilise as a way to keep fit in between the long distance hikes or mountain days. I decided to try the challenge as a bit of fun and see how far Id get. In the end, I ran the whole thing, and had a surprisingly fun time doing it. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize If youve made it this far - thank you for being part of Tough Soles in 2025. It means so much to me to get to share my adventures and thoughts on the Irish outdoors. Wishing you all a very happy 2026, full of adventures and time outside. Further reading: Fieldnotes #2: July - September 2025Fieldnotes #1: April - June 2025My Favourite Irish Guidebooks & Practical Guides Tough Soles on BooksThe County High Points Overview

For the last several years, Ive made a list of 6 of my favourite day hikes around Ireland. This list will have something for everyone, taking in easy family-friendly walks, to some of the hardest trails you can find in ireland. Here are my top picks for 2026! To understand how I grade trails in Ireland, read our trail grading system here. If youre thinking of camping in Ireland, make sure to read the Unwritten Rules of Wildcamping in Ireland guide. The island of Ireland follows the Leave No Trace Principles as our outdoor recreation code. Please respect all our outdoor spaces to protect our incredible surroundings for years to come! 1. Gougane Barra Forest Park Location: CorkDistance: 500m - 5kmTime: 30 minutes - 5hrs Gougane Barra Forest Park is tucked away into a lush valley at the edge of the Sheehy Mountains. Sitting close to the Cork & Kerry border, this woodland is full of beautiful trails that follow the streams and curves of the forest to showcase the best of the area. I wasnt even planning on heading to Gougane Barra, but bas weather elsewhere left me at a loose end in Cork, and I remembered how much I had wanted to revisit this place after passing through on the Sl Gaeltacht Mhuscra. Here youll find Access For All trails suitable for buggies and wheelchairs, as well as small twisting forest paths that will remind you of the magic of Tolkien. This is my family-friendly, a trail for everyone recommendation for 2026. Trails range from 500m - 5km. There is a 5 entry fee (automatic barrier where you tap on entry), as well as well maintained toilets at the main car park. In the bottom of the valley there is almost no phone coverage. Read more about the trail here | Watch the YouTube video here 2. Raghly Loop Location: North SligoDistance: 4kmTime: 45 - 90 minutes The second trail on this list is another accessible path (easy gravel trail or very quiet little lanes). At just under 4km long this loop is a lovely walk, with stunning views of the Sligo coastline. For me, this is a perfect sunrise or sunset walk - I went at sunset, and the colours playing off of the Dartry Mountains (as well as Knocknarea and Queen Meaves tomb) were just beautiful. Another great family friendly wander - there is a kissing gate so not quite wheelchair friendly. Read more about the trail here | Watch the YouTube video here 3. The Avonmore Way Location: Co. WicklowDistance: 12kmTime: 3 - 6hrs The Avonmore Way is one of the newer additions to the Wicklow Trails Network, linking the villages of Laragh and Rathdrum through the beautiful Clara Vale Nature Reserve. This 12km linear trail is stunning when coming into spring bloom, right through to the colourful autumn changes. Id recommend this trail to anyone who loves a woodland walk. With small amounts of road walking scattered throughout the overall route, this is one of the quieter trails you will find in Wicklow. My favourite variation of this trail to walk is to start in Rathdrum (out past the Hidden Valley Resort), cross the Samuel Hayes suspension bridge and then taking the Laragh village end-point at the northern end of the trail. Read more about the trail here | Watch the YouTube video here 4. The Miners Way Location: Co. WicklowDistance: 20kmTime: 4 - 8hrs The Miners Way Trail takes in the three historic mining valleys of Wicklow; Glenmalure, Glendalough, and Glendasan. Climbing between these three iconic valleys, this route takes in some of the best trails that central Wicklow has to offer. A roughly 20km long linear route, with about 750m of climbing, this is quite a punchy feeling trail. The route is well way-marked, and takes in a lot of small forest trails, as well as larger gravel access paths. Another Wicklow trail that has been overshadowed by the Wicklow Way, the Miners Way is a really great day out. Read more about the trail here | Watch the YouTube video here 5. The Keenagh Loop Location: Wild Nephin, MayoDistance: 11kmTime: 2.5 - 5 hrs The Keenagh Loop is the only trail on my recommendation list that, as of mid-January 2026, I have yet to film and/or photograph. I walked this loop several times in 2025 as part of (or prep for) walking festivals, and fell in love with it. This is an 11km looped trail that really shows you the wildness of Mayo. So while there is way-marking (its part of the National Looped Walks Scheme), the ground underfoot is just bog. Be prepared for many little stream crossings (the exact number depending on how much rain theres been), and beautiful views of Slieve Carr and other desolate peaks. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize 6. The Bangor Trail Location: Wild Nephin, MayoDistance: 26 - 39kmTime: 5 - 12hrs This trail is the last remains of an ancient cattle-driving path, although do not let the words path or trail fool you - there is nothing easy in this harsh landscape. I love Mayo - it is somewhere that feels truly wild. And the Bangor Trail is, in my opinion, the wildest trail in Ireland. Depending on where youd like to start/finish, this route is between 26 - 39km long. I recommend the shorter version, starting at the Letterkeen Trail Head in Wild Nephin National Park, and finishing in the town of Bangor Erris. Along this route there are bothies and camping shelters for anyone who wants to split it into a weekend adventure. During the summer there are shuttle buses to the Letterkeen trail head - but there are also more midges in the summer, which is why I often do some of my bigger hikes here in the Spring or late Autumn. Read more about the trail here | Watch the YouTube video here But wait, theres more? Here is my list from 2025, which I think features some stunning trails too. And if youre looking for hikes in a specific county - you can see every trail Ive documented organised per county here.

For the last several years, Ive made a list of 6 of my favourite day hikes around Ireland. This list will have something for everyone, taking in easy family-friendly walks, to some of the hardest trails you can find in ireland. Here are my top picks for 2026! To understand how I grade trails in Ireland, read our trail grading system here. If youre thinking of camping in Ireland, make sure to read the Unwritten Rules of Wildcamping in Ireland guide. The island of Ireland follows the Leave No Trace Principles as our outdoor recreation code. Please respect all our outdoor spaces to protect our incredible surroundings for years to come! 1. Gougane Barra Forest Park Location: CorkDistance: 500m - 5kmTime: 30 minutes - 5hrs Gougane Barra Forest Park is tucked away into a lush valley at the edge of the Sheehy Mountains. Sitting close to the Cork & Kerry border, this woodland is full of beautiful trails that follow the streams and curves of the forest to showcase the best of the area. I wasnt even planning on heading to Gougane Barra, but bas weather elsewhere left me at a loose end in Cork, and I remembered how much I had wanted to revisit this place after passing through on the Sl Gaeltacht Mhuscra. Here youll find Access For All trails suitable for buggies and wheelchairs, as well as small twisting forest paths that will remind you of the magic of Tolkien. This is my family-friendly, a trail for everyone recommendation for 2026. Trails range from 500m - 5km. There is a 5 entry fee (automatic barrier where you tap on entry), as well as well maintained toilets at the main car park. In the bottom of the valley there is almost no phone coverage. Read more about the trail here | Watch the YouTube video here 2. Raghly Loop Location: North SligoDistance: 4kmTime: 45 - 90 minutes The second trail on this list is another accessible path (easy gravel trail or very quiet little lanes). At just under 4km long this loop is a lovely walk, with stunning views of the Sligo coastline. For me, this is a perfect sunrise or sunset walk - I went at sunset, and the colours playing off of the Dartry Mountains (as well as Knocknarea and Queen Meaves tomb) were just beautiful. Another great family friendly wander - there is a kissing gate so not quite wheelchair friendly. Read more about the trail here | Watch the YouTube video here 3. The Avonmore Way Location: Co. WicklowDistance: 12kmTime: 3 - 6hrs The Avonmore Way is one of the newer additions to the Wicklow Trails Network, linking the villages of Laragh and Rathdrum through the beautiful Clara Vale Nature Reserve. This 12km linear trail is stunning when coming into spring bloom, right through to the colourful autumn changes. Id recommend this trail to anyone who loves a woodland walk. With small amounts of road walking scattered throughout the overall route, this is one of the quieter trails you will find in Wicklow. My favourite variation of this trail to walk is to start in Rathdrum (out past the Hidden Valley Resort), cross the Samuel Hayes suspension bridge and then taking the Laragh village end-point at the northern end of the trail. Read more about the trail here | Watch the YouTube video here 4. The Miners Way Location: Co. WicklowDistance: 20kmTime: 4 - 8hrs The Miners Way Trail takes in the three historic mining valleys of Wicklow; Glenmalure, Glendalough, and Glendasan. Climbing between these three iconic valleys, this route takes in some of the best trails that central Wicklow has to offer. A roughly 20km long linear route, with about 750m of climbing, this is quite a punchy feeling trail. The route is well way-marked, and takes in a lot of small forest trails, as well as larger gravel access paths. Another Wicklow trail that has been overshadowed by the Wicklow Way, the Miners Way is a really great day out. Read more about the trail here | Watch the YouTube video here 5. The Keenagh Loop Location: Wild Nephin, MayoDistance: 11kmTime: 2.5 - 5 hrs The Keenagh Loop is the only trail on my recommendation list that, as of mid-January 2026, I have yet to film and/or photograph. I walked this loop several times in 2025 as part of (or prep for) walking festivals, and fell in love with it. This is an 11km looped trail that really shows you the wildness of Mayo. So while there is way-marking (its part of the National Looped Walks Scheme), the ground underfoot is just bog. Be prepared for many little stream crossings (the exact number depending on how much rain theres been), and beautiful views of Slieve Carr and other desolate peaks. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize 6. The Bangor Trail Location: Wild Nephin, MayoDistance: 26 - 39kmTime: 5 - 12hrs This trail is the last remains of an ancient cattle-driving path, although do not let the words path or trail fool you - there is nothing easy in this harsh landscape. I love Mayo - it is somewhere that feels truly wild. And the Bangor Trail is, in my opinion, the wildest trail in Ireland. Depending on where youd like to start/finish, this route is between 26 - 39km long. I recommend the shorter version, starting at the Letterkeen Trail Head in Wild Nephin National Park, and finishing in the town of Bangor Erris. Along this route there are bothies and camping shelters for anyone who wants to split it into a weekend adventure. During the summer there are shuttle buses to the Letterkeen trail head - but there are also more midges in the summer, which is why I often do some of my bigger hikes here in the Spring or late Autumn. Read more about the trail here | Watch the YouTube video here But wait, theres more? Here is my list from 2025, which I think features some stunning trails too. And if youre looking for hikes in a specific county - you can see every trail Ive documented organised per county here.

The Miners Way Trail takes in the three historic mining valleys of Wicklow; Glenmalure, Glendalough, and Glendasan. Climbing between these three iconic valleys, this route takes in some of the best trails that central Wicklow has to offer. Overview: County: WicklowDistance: 20kmElevation Gain: 750mFormat: Linear TrailTime: 5 - 8 HoursStart / End / Parking:Glenmalure trailhead: The trail begins close to the bottom of the valley in the Baravore Car Park. This is a large car park (space for more than 20 cars as long as everyone parks sensibly). Theres an info board for the Miners Way (and other smaller loops) beside the river. Glendasan trailhead: The trail finishes at one of the smaller car parks half way up the Wicklow Gap, beside the Hero Lead & Zinc Mine ruins. Theres space for maybe 8 cars (further up the gap there is a larger car park, if you have several cars). Public Transport: Theres a pre-bookable bus organised by WicklowWay.comThe Local Link connects Laragh / Trooperstown and Rathdrum (ad-hoc scheduling, planning required)The Glendalough Bus / St. Kevins Bus links Dublin city centre and Laragh village.Trail difficulty: Easy - ModerateThe trails are all well defined. The elevation gain across the route is what pushes this trail into the moderate category. Read about trail grading in Ireland here.Trail quality: 5/5Theres maybe 2km of road walking from the Baravore Car Park to Ballinafunshogue Waterfall where the trail begins to climb up out of the valley - and thats it for road. The trails across the three valleys are all well defined and vary underfoot. Views: 5/5This route takes in some of the nicest trails between these three valleys.Buggy/Wheelchair friendly: NoWhen did I walk this route: October 2025Dogs allowed: YesExternal Links: Wicklow County Tourism Info PageHeritage Wicklow Info PageMiners Way on HiiKER The Baravore Car Park is large and easy start point for this trail. If you want to explore some of the immediate mining history, theres a 2km looped trail that takes in the old mining infrastructure beside the river, before beginning the Miners Way proper.The first 2km of this trail are the only road walking you will experience on the whole route - and this road is small enough that its not a hardship. You will probably meet a car or two as others make their way into the area for their own adventures. Reaching Ballinafunshoge Waterfall, the trail turns off the road and you begin the first of three major climbs. This forest contains the oldest documented lead mine in Wicklow, and was the most productive in Glenmalure. The path you follow up this steep slope is the old donkey trail that connected the mines in the two valleys, and in the lower sections of the forest you can still see the old dry stone walls built into the switch-backs. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Part of this climb takes in a section labelled Tunnel of Love on the EastWest maps, which having completed it, I assumed was named as such because at this point the constant climbing would spike anyones heart rate. This is the longest of the climbs, and as you climb higher and higher up the side of Mullacor, you join paths with the Wicklow Way. Reaching the col to the west of Mullacor (Lugduff Gap), the Miners Way keeps left while the Wicklow Way descends down to the right through the forest. If youre walking the Wicklow Way, I always recommend taking the left here and coming down through the Glendalough Valley either by the Spinc or the Miners Way - the views are far better from these trails of the stunning glaciated valley. Its also here that you enter the Wicklow National Park, marked by a small purple marker on a post. If you do any amount of hillwalking in Wicklow these signs will become a familiar site. The actual shape of the National Park is unconventional (although most of our parks are odd shapes), and has no built boundaries in the hills. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Walking this trail in October I was treated to many deer sightings as it was official rut season. Large groups of does roamed together with their chosen stag, while the young bucks bayed and hollered in the echoing valleys. Because Glendalough is such a high-volume area, the deer see it as an easy place to possibly nibble some extra snacks and have almost no fear of walkers or tourists. It makes it an easy spotting area, but I was a little weary of the larger antlered fellows wandering the walking trails. Coming around the far side of Lugduff, the first mining remains you come are Van Diemens Land Mine, named by the miners after a colony in Tasmania - because the top of this valley felt so far away from populated life. Overall, the mining in Glendalough never really took off, but its impact is widely visible from the ruined buildings to the slag heaps up on the valley walls.As you round Lugduff you descend towards the top of the valley to cross the Gleneola River by the footbridge, before following the waterfalls down through the zigzags to the miners village. From here its a wide light gravel path along the banks of the upper lake surrounded by scots pine trees, the reddish-brown of their bark often glowing in the midday sun that fills the valley. As you make it to the end of the upper lake, youll pass a small building to your left (once an education centre). The trail heads up the track that climbs to your left. If you are short on snacks, or would like a proper bathroom, you can head straight on here for just a couple hundred meters to the upper car park. There youll find food vans and a large toilet block. Retrace your steps to the turn off, and youre on the way to the final of the three valleys. It always surprises me how quickly the business of Glendalough drops off as soon as you turn onto an alternative path. Climbing up this wide path the noise of the tourists will fall away behind you, and its once again back to the birds and skittish deer. This climb isnt as intense, and as you progress youll pass a couple of paths peeling off to the left - all generally leading towards the summit of Camaderry. The descent down into Glendasan is steep as it cuts through the forest, coming out onto the gravel access road along the Glendassan River. Here youre walking the same trail as St. Kevins Way, all the way up the valley to the Hero Mines.Between the three valleys, the mines in Glendasan ran for the longest, not closing until 1957. This was after the fatality of local miner Jim Mernagh earlier that year, and injury of hid co-worker Robert Carter, who become a devoted preserver of the areas mining heritage. According to Wicklow Heritage, he was also one of the integral people behind this trails development. There are many stories about the work and lives that went on in these valleys, like the 100 lights that crossed the ford of Avonbeg River. If youre interested in history, this trail is oozing with it. And Im delighted to say that the trail doesnt suffer for it - Ive walked many routes that are built around the history of an area, without really considering if the walking itself is pleasant. The roughly 20km of this trail are all great, taking you from quiet forests and punchy climbs, to busy lakesides and back to peaceful paths. So even if youre someone not fully enamoured with mining or history, youll enjoy the trail regardless. Connect with nature, mingle with the many streams, and enjoy some chips in the upper car park. Info board at the Glendasan trail head (my endpoint for the trail) That morning Id left my van in the car park at the very top of the Wicklow Gap before getting a lift to Glenmalure with a friend (thanks Helen!). I knew the trail ended at one of the smaller car parks on the road up to the gap, but was exactly 100% sure which one.On reaching the end of the trail, I realised that I was much further down the valley than I expected. Having dinner plans with friends, I decided the faster way was to ditch St. Kevins Way (which can sometimes be a bit wet further up the trail), and simply to jog (read: shuffle faster with my backpack and winter layers) up the road. About half way, a local farmer pulled over and drove me the rest of the way. He was driving around the hills looking for some lost sheep. Ive forgotten his name, but we had a great chat and he dropped me right to the van door. So this thanks goes out to all lovely land owners in general! I hope the sheep were found. Further exploringOther day hikes in the area: Glendalough White Loop (The Spinc)The Dublin Mountains LoopSt. Kevins Way, WicklowThe Avonmore WayNearby National Waymarked Trails: The Wicklow WayThe Dublin Mountains WayMountain Hikes: Kippure: Dublin County High PointCoffee/food options: The Glenmalure Lodge: one of the cornerstones of hillwalking in the area, the Glenmalure Lodge is a pub with food served all day (breakfast too!), as well as having accommodation options. The family who run it are lovely, I cannot recommend stopping by enough. Glendalough Green Cafe, Laragh: a Wicklow institution, Ive been going here since before I could walk! This is the perfect cafe for a cosy mocha on a winters day, or a coffee and sweet treat to take out into the sunshine of a summers day.Glendalough Upper Car Park Food Trucks: are they a little expensive - maybe. But when youre just off the trail, some toasty chips or a hot drink always taste incredible.

The Bangor Trail was nothing more than a murmur that I gently caught - and followed all the way to the north-west of Mayo, where the wild mountains and bogland can swallow a soul whole. This trail is the last remains of an ancient cattle-driving path, although do not let the words path or trail fool you, there is nothing easy in this harsh landscape. Overview: Distance: 28kmElevation gain: 900mFormat: Linear TrailTime: 1 - 2 daysLocation: Co. Mayo, Wild Nephin National ParkStart / End / Parking:For my walk of this trail, I started at the Letterkeen Trailhead within the National Park. You can start further south in the town of Newport, and follow the Western Way way-marking up to this point. Southern Trailhead: Letterkeen Trailhead - google mapsOne of my favourite trail heads in Ireland, theres a variety of trails you can walk from here. It is very remote and has very limited phone coverage. There is ample parking, and when I walked it (March 2025) there were even well maintained port-a-loos!Northern Trailhead: Bangor Erris village - google mapsThe terminus of this trail in the village of Bangor Erris is a little vague. There is somewhere marked on google maps, but this is more of a useful guide if youre starting from the village, as you can see the path up the mountain from there. I finished the walk at the Community Playground, where there were some picnic benches and parking. Public Transport: During the summer months, the National Park runs a shuttle bus between Westport and Bangor-Erris with multiple stops along the way (see park timetable imagery below). Bangor Erris is serviced by Bus Eireann Route 446, which runs from Ballina to Black Sod on Belmullet. There is a second bus route (542) run by McGrath Coaches through Bangor Erris.All Local Links for the area can be found in this timetable PDF.Trail difficulty: Moderate - DifficultThis is a trail, but in the wildest sense. There is way-marking, but there is no built path underfoot. This is part of the lure of this route, and something I loved about it. But do not underestimate how poor the terrain is.Read about trail grading in Ireland here.Trail quality: 5/5While the underfoot conditions are extremely difficult for a trail, the overall infrastructure in the forms of huts and bothies is unprecedented for Ireland.Views: 5/5This is part of the dark sky reserve of Mayo, and so if you get a clear night of camping / bothy-ing, the sky is incredible. Buggy/Wheelchair friendly: NoDogs allowed: Yes - like all National Parks in Ireland, dogs are welcome as long as they are on a lead.When did I walk this route: March 2025External resources: Bangor Trail Guide From NPWSFind this route on HiiKERGeneral info on Wild Nephin National Park Source - nationalparks.ie/wild-nephin/ Letterkeen Bothy / Trailhead My car rolled over the bumpy lane, and Pauline and I looked out at the world rolling slowly past. Carl and I virtually met Pauline over seven years ago, when all three of us were living out of backpacks - she walking the coastline of Ireland while we walked all the National Waymarked Trails. Pauline and I had similarly less-than-amazing experiences of this corner of Mayo (midgies featuring heavily in both stories), and decided that our first trail together might as well be our redemption walk of Mayo. Tucking the car into a corner of the car park, we get out and look around the Letterkeen Trailhead. Is that a toilet? Pauline exclaims, and sure enough, walking behind some wooden screening was a very clean, somewhat fancy port-a-loo. Things have improved greatly in Mayo since our time here. Its late march, and a drizzle starts pretty immediately as we leave the car park and head out over the river and around the forest. Most people might balk at the idea of walking a trail that is famous for being wet and boggy in Irish March weather, but there was some strategy to this choice. March can be quite an enjoyable time in the hills, as long as you have an abundance of layers with you. And top of the list - no midgies. The rain comes and goes as we walk, our rain gear going through the usual on-and-off rain dance steps. The first approx. 4km follow the same path a the Letterkeen Loop, and the trail underfoot is very good. Reaching the Lough Avoher Shelter, we stop for a munch out of the drizzle and sign our names in the logbook. The fact that this is the second camping shelter that weve encountered of the day already makes me giddy inside - if youre not Irish, you wont know how rare this kind of infrastructure is, and therefore how happy it makes me. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Finishing our lunch, we leave the shelter and start the first gradual hill of the day. The trail is still fairly good underfoot for this climb with lots of stone. As we crest the top we take a moment for me to take some photos. Little did we know, this was going to be the last of the easy walking for many, many hours. Coming around the west side of Nephin Beg, the trail exists as a paradox. As you look out at the vast landscape ahead of you, you can see the trail stretching for miles ahead as a distinct line through the bog. However, as you move forward, the ground underneath your feet refuses to be actually made of anything substantial. There are several small stream crossings throughout this trail, which along with testing the solidity of the blanket bog around you, make walking poles quite a useful piece of kit for this specific trail. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize The route that the Bangor Trail follows used to be the main route from Bangor to Newport, dating back to the 16th Century. This is possibly one of the only roads you will find that is in worse repair than it was 200 years ago. One of the more haunting old stories I heard of this trail was of a young woman walking this droving trail on her way back north, having just sold her cattle in Westport. The area was remote even then, and when she was attacked by bandits, there was no one to save her. Days later, her family worried that shes been gone so long, walked out along the path and found her body. They took her home, and as they prepared her for burial, they untied her mass of red curls and out of her hair fell the money from the cattle sale. This was her families lifeline, and they were now saved for another year. The stories say she still walks the trail, looking for the men - or maybe her cows, no one is sure. But it is only at dawn or dusk her presence is felt, and while some people don't believe in ghost stories but let me tell you this - if they saw all I "seen" and heard all I heard they'd mighty soon change their minds. - Duchas folklore collection. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Our goal for the evening was Tarsaghaun Cottage, an old herders cottage that is now a lovely little Bothy right on the trail. Theres also space to camp outside the small stone building, along with picnic benches and a large suspension bridge to cross the river. Our slow going, and short spring days meant that we arrived to the building in twilight. We each erected our tents inside one of the two rooms (mostly to add an extra bubble of insulation around ourselves, and protect or belongings from being too scratched by the stone floors). As I mentioned above, this route takes in much of the Wild Nephin National Park. When the sun sets on the National Park, it becomes the Mayo Dark Sky Park, one of only a handful of places in ireland accredited with Dark Sky status. That night we were incredibly lucky and had clear skies (and a small moon) to take in the millions of glistening specks above us. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize The suspension bridge is a stunning piece of trail infrastructure - its visible from a distance given how flat the surrounding blanket bog is. From the bothy, there are two escape or shorter route options; if you follow the north bank of the Tharsaghaunmore River SW for approx. 1km, you will come to a track and then a tarmac road (most likely farm access so only use as a necessary escape route); from the bothy there is a second trail heading through Crooghaun forest, which turns into forestry roads, and connects out to the N59. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize We continued along the Bangor Trail itself, which winds along the slopes of a couple of spot heights before coming around the west side of Crooklettercuss. From here you can see the village of Bangor Erris ahead, and the end of the trail. The trail comes out at the back of Kiltane GAA Club. We walked further into the village, and found one or two signs for the trail, but no info board to mark its end. We wandered into Sizzlers Restaurant, a small cafe with hot food that was well seasoned by our post- trail hunger. This is one of my favourite trails. Its a hard one to recommend, as it is difficult walking and requires plenty of experience. And even if you have the experience - not everyone is looking for such an intimate experience with Irish bogland. Thanks to Wild Nephin National Park for having such great trail infrastructure, and to the Mountain Meithal teams who have built such wonderful shelters in this area. Thanks to Pauline for the great company. Further exploringThis area is truly quite remote, so some of my recommendations below are for Mayo in general:Other trails in the area: The Western Way: MayoThe Western Way: GalwayCroagh Patrick Heritage TrailKeenagh Loop (Mayo National Looped Walk)Favourite Local Coffee / Food Options:This Must be the Place, Cafe in Westport Other media on the Bangor Trail: Stephen Reids video of the trail includes some great research on the history of the area and this trail.

Gougane Barra Forest Park is tucked away into a lush valley at the edge of the Sheehy Mountains. Sitting close to the Cork & Kerry border, this woodland is full of beautiful trails that follow the streams and curves of the forest to showcase the best of the area. Overview: County: CorkDistances: There are many different trails in the forest park, ranging from 500m - 5km. Some of the primary trails are:Sl na Laoi (white trail): 1.3kmSl an Choim Rua (blue trail): 400mSl Ghaorthaidh / Multi-access & Nature Trail: 500mSl Doire Na Coise: 2kmSl Sleitbhe (red trail): 3kmElevation Gain: 0m - 100mFormat: A mixture of looped and linear trails, which means that you can walk for as long or as short as you like.Time: 30mins - 4 HoursStart / End / Parking: To drive into the park theres a 5 entry fee (card payment). Lower Primary Car Park: A large car park with well maintained toilets. Parking for 20 cars. There is no phone reception in the lower parts of the valley.Google Maps link.Upper Car Park: A smaller car park based at the top of the valley, where the access roads loops back down. Room for maybe 8 cars. Google Maps link.Public Transport: There is unfortunately no public transport to Gougane Barra. For closest bus links, you can look at the Cork Local Link Routes.Trail difficulty: Multi-Access / EasyThe trails here feature a variety of surfaces, including access road, gravel paths, stone slabs, and wooden bog-bridge. The multi-access trail begins from the lower car park. Read about trail grading in Ireland here.Trail quality: 5/5The trails were all very well maintained when I visited, providing a good mix of surfaces and challenges. Views: 5/5For a narrow forest valley, the views of misty mountains through the trees were beautiful. The thick moss and mixture of spruce with more native planting adds great colour. Buggy/Wheelchair friendly: Yes! The multi-access trail is acessible for all, and many of the other trails near the main car park are also accessible.When did I walk this route: November 2025Dogs allowed: YesExternal Links: Coillte Recreation (and their overview map is here) Trail 1: Sl na Laoi (white trail)As I pulled into the main car park, two other women were finishing up their own walk. I wasnt sure whether to start here or at the upper car park, so I asked them if there was a trail they recommended here. Immediately they pointed to the Sl na Laoi, saying it was a beautiful walk. So I parked up properly, packed the bag, and started winding my way through the woods. The Sl na Laoi followed the juvenile stream that up here in the mountains is small and swift, but as it flows east it becomes the large river Lee that flows through Cork City. It was a great recommendation, with lots of small foot bridges zig-zagging from one bank to another, and stone steps cut into the steeper sides. There was just a hint of other-worldliness to the stonework, like something youd expect to illustrate a Tolkien novel. The rain for the preceding week had been pretty constant, and the clouds sat low on the hills around me. All the watercourses were fast flowing and the moss was vibrant - dew dangling from spider webs and late-lasting heather. The trail is less than 2km in total, and brings you to the upper car park. You can either turn around and walk it back down, or connect onto one of the other trails that start in the upper car park. 2. Sl an Choim Rua (blue trail)This is an extremely short loop up from the upper car park to give you a slightly wider view of the valley. However, Id still highly recommend taking it in if youre there, as the path is lovely and there is a small stream crossing to hop over. From here Id planned to connect onto the red trail, however being slightly above the tree line was too tempting for the fates, and the drizzle began to become a more substantial downpour. So I abandoned the higher trails, and walked back down the main access road to the lower car park and the shelter of the denser woods. 3. Sl Ghaorthaidh / Multi-access & Nature Trail (orange arrows)Once back in the safety of the trees, and the rain was manageable again, I decided to also incorporate the Multi-access Nature Trail. While Ive included multi-access in my trail grading guide, there are very few that Ive actually walked or documented for Tough Soles. I really enjoyed this route - it included lots of interactive signage on the species of trees, explanations on forestry practices, and highlighting boulders left by glaciers thousands of years ago. Arriving back to the van once more, I decided to call it a day. The rain was picking up once more, and didnt lessen again for the rest of the evening. Coming to Gougane Barra hadnt even been on my list for this trip - I had been working in Kerry, and after shooting each day I would go to the next trail on my list, only to find them either closed for the season or flooded. However, Im so glad that I ended up in this valley once more. It felt like the right place at the right time. One of my favourites of 2025. Further exploringOther day adventures: Check out St. Finbarr's Oratory in Gougannebarra Lake The Stepping Stones, BallingearyNearby National Waymarked Trails: Sl Gaeltacht MhuscraThe Sheeps Head WaySt. Finbarrs WayMountain Hikes: Knockboy - Corks County High PointCoffee/food options: Gougane Barra Hotel: Carl and I stayed here when walking the Sl Gaeltacht Mhuscra and really loved it - the dinner was incredible.

For the first time, Ive made calendars for the new year Featuring landscapes from all across Ireland, and showcasing some of my favourite trails Making annual calendars has been something that Ive meant to make for years - but never sat down and created all the necessary templates, written down the moon cycle, major Irish holidays, etc. But last November, while having a little working-date with my sister in a cosy cafe in Dublin, I finally cracked open an InDesign file and started typing. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize This calendar features images from trails across Ireland, providing inspiration for your next adventure. Weeks are laid out Monday - Sunday, with major Irish public holidays included. At the end of the calendar there is a year overview page, as well as a notes page. Calendar is printed on a 170gsm lustre finish paper. Hole punched in top to allow for hanging. Tough Soles 2026 Outdoor Calendar (JANUARY ORDER) 14.00 Purchase I ordered a modest number before Christmas and posted a tentative Instagram story to see if there was interest - and prompt sold out of what I had just ordered. Right now Im taking orders until new years, and then that will be it until next winter (where I will create the calendars with a bit more notice for myself and everyone else!). Thanks to The Printworks in Boyle for printing these calendars for me - it was really nice to get to use a printers local to myself and eliminate as much shipping / personal and environmental costs as possible.

My passion is the mountains, but my second love is books. Before I had the means, knowledge, or even the want to explore the hills, I was escaping into the worlds found between two pages. Books have been with me all my life, and have taken me form lofty peaks on a dragons back, the whole way through a winding research masters exploring how long distance walking affects our understanding of connection and sense of place. I think some of this love has seeped into Tough Soles in small ways - there are always books mentioned in my Gift Guides, and on my monthly round ups on instagram I have a book of the month. But I have so much more to share on books on the outdoors - be it the inspiration found in novels of personal outdoor experiences; the enabling power of guides and books on the practical skills of outdoor exploration; or the educational layers in books on how something as seemingly innocuous as walking has informed our cultures and modern infrastructure. So this is episode one of that series, and were starting easy with some guidebooks for Ireland and practical books that Ive used a lot in recent years. Irish Guides & Practical Books These books have helped me learn more about the natural world around me, and how to explore it better Guidebooks1. Wanderlust: British And Irish Isles by GestaltenIf you are looking for something truly beautiful, this is the book for you. This is a beautifully curated book of trails across Ireland and the UK, and features several of the classic Irish long distance hikes. It fits perfectly into the coffee table book genre, being large format and printed only in hardback (a paperback couldnt support the weight of it all). Alex Roddie is the writer hired by Gestalten for this project, and from my experience hes a great authority and researcher on trails. Find this book in Irish bookshops: Kennys | Easons | DubrayGestaltens own online store2. Irish Peaks by Mountaineering IrelandIf Wanderlust was a book of beauty, then this is the brains. A 256-page hardcover guidebook featuring 71 hillwalking routes across the island of Ireland, this book is the most comprehensive guide you will find for the Irish hills. Based on the MountainViews list of Irelands Highest Hundred Mountains, the routes recommended are ones that have been tried and tested by walking clubs all over Ireland. This book is currently in its second edition, and I know that it is almost sold out, so if its something youve been interested in, Id recommend getting it sooner rather than later. Find this book in Irish bookshops: Charlie Byne | Great OutdoorsFrom the Irish Peaks website3. The Hike Life: My Favourite 50 Hikes in Ireland by Rozanna Purcell & 4. The Hike Life: 50 More to Explore by Rozanna PurcellThese two books might be the most interesting guidebooks Ive seen post-covid. If youre not Irish, you wont necessarily know this - but covid was the catalyst for a really big shift in the Irish populations engagement with the outdoors. Going hiking shifted from something of a niche activity, to something that everyone was trying. And with that came a slew of guidebooks and online lists.As I read more and more of these 1000 hidden gems books, it sometimes felt like the creators were including as much information as possible, in hope that quantity would be the main selling point. However, in The Hike Life books, the list of trails is very well curated, and the balance of imagery to info is very readable. As someone who is known for knowing every trail around the country, it was cool for me to find quite a few that Id never heard of, that still looked like quality walking. Find book one in Irish bookshops:Kennys | Easons | DubrayFind book two in Irish bookshops:Kennys | Easons | Dubray5. Ireland's county high points by Kieron GribbonWhat really makes this book stand out is that its the only one! The County High Points of Ireland is a really popular hiking list to take on, which means that if youre looking for something in print, this book is what youll find. I like that its small, light and easy to carry. The paper is somewhat glossy, meaning its less susceptible to the elements than just standard paper. It often focused on the quickest route, which for many people might be what they want (as well as these are often access roads, which means that access issues are less likely to occur). I think theres room for another book that expands a bit on the history and potential other routes. Find this book in Irish bookshops:Kennys | Gill Books Information books1. The Wildflowers of Ireland: A Field Guide by Zoe DevlinThis has to be one of my favourite little guidebooks. As someone who knows some plants, but was otherwise completely lost, this has been a game changer. Its really easy to use - all the pages are organised by flower colour, and then petal shape. Its great for any level of outdoor connection: whether youre like me, and need to broaden your flora knowledge as you train to become an outdoor leader; or this might be perfect for your granny who just wants to know more about what she sees wild in the field beside her house. Ive given this book as a gift to many people, and will continue to. Find this book in Irish bookshops:Kennys | Easons | Dubray2. Rock Climbing by Libby PeterCarl and I recently did some outdoor climbing training, and bought this book off the back of a recommendation from a climbing friend. It is really comprehensive with easy to read language, and as weve learnt new skills weve been adding tabs to the relevant pages. This book covers everything from gym climbing, techniques, abseiling, trad climbing, and all of the rope work associated with it all. Find this book in Irish bookshops:Easons | Dubray3. Loughcrew: The Cairns by Jean McMannBack in March I went to Loughcrew for the Equinox, as the tomb there lines up with the sunrise each year. Down in the Megalithic Centre they have a host of books on the area and ancient Ireland, and that is where I picked up this little book. I love the feeling it gives of an old academic journal - the page margins and diagrams are all aligned as such. Something that I appreciate is that its short. While I wanted to learn more about the history of the area, I know myself well enough that Im not going to finish something long and technical. This was the perfect length for me. I bought this book at the Loughcrew Megalithic Centre4. The Mountain Leader by Mike RaineIf youre getting into the Mountain Leader world, this is a really easy book to read - youre not going to have a headache after half an hour of technical language. It covers many of the topics in a relaxed manor, helping you build up knowledge and ideas for a future of guiding. Find this book in Irish bookshops:River Deep Mountain High (IE) | Mike Raine (UK)5. The Complete Walker IV by Colin Fletcher & Chip RawlinsThis book is on the list less as a specific recommendation, and more as a genre recommendation. Originally published in 1968 (with my edition printed in 2002), this book is an in-depth guide to backpacking. Throughout this tomb youll learn about kinds of tents, stoves, backpack frames, weight distribution - the list goes on. The reason I include it is that much of the basic information is still relevant to the outdoor world today. While much of the equipment has moved on to more waterproof, lighter, or durable technologies, the basics are the same, and its really interesting to learn about what came before. It gives me a deeper appreciation for the equipment I have today, and why equipment now looks the way it does. Find this book out in the wilds of a second hand bookshop or gear swap

Sliabh Bawn is a quiet set of hills outside of the town of Strokestown. The perfect place for an evening wander or dog walk. Overview: County: RoscommonDistances: Trim Trail (green): 3kmYellow Loop Walk: 6.5kmMonastery Trail (blue): 2.7km Orange Loop Walk: 4kmHeritage Trail (white): 4.3km Equestrian Trail (pink): 8kmElevation Gain: 50m - 200mFormat: Linear and Looped TrailsTime: 1 - 3 HoursStart / End / Parking: Primary car park has room for about 10 cars, and is the closest to the playground (google maps link). Secondary parking: A lot of people park along the road in. Where the road widens, there is space for parking along the right-hand shoulder of the road (google maps link). Theres parking for about 10 cars. Public Transport: There is no public transport to any of the entrances to Slieve Bawn. There is a local link bus from Strokestown to Scramogue - after which it's a 2km walk to the northerly trail head. Trail difficulty: EasyThese routes use to mostly gravel access roads and small gravel trails. Read about trail grading in Ireland here.Trail quality: 2/5This is a nicely developed recreation area around the wind farm. There are a lot of access roads. Views: 3/5A mostly forest-focused trail, with some views at the Trooperstown end. Lovely native woodland paths for the southerly section. Buggy/Wheelchair friendly: Not all loops, but certain gravel paths are accessible for buggies. Unsure if wheelchair accessible. When did I walk this route: December 2025Dogs allowed: YesExternal Links: Coillte info page on Sliabh Bawn This set of two small hills has become something of a local walk for me. Between these two summits, six different trails have been looped, offering a mix of distances and elevation. Following the White Heritage Trail from the primary car park, the trail starts with the only steep section, bringing you up to the Holy Cross on the summit of the smaller hill. Erected during the winter of 1950-51, the cross pre-dates all of the forestry and access roads. Donkeys and horses were used to get all of the building materials up to the summit. Like many such crosses across the country, most of the work and funding all came from local people to the area. This is one of three religious sites on the loop - the second being the mass rock, and the third being an old church ruin. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize In the 1950s, the Government Department of Lands began to buy parcels of land across the two summits for forestry development. While a lot of the forestry in the last few decades has been conifer plantation, there are some small sections of native planting, and each time I visit I come across another new layer of flora or fauna that I wasnt expecting to meet. From meeting a large Common Irish Frog on the path, to learning that ladybirds hibernate on gorse bushes, I appreciate these unexpected moments of nature connection. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize One of the main reasons that Ive been on more walks here recently, is because of Laika, the bundle of chaos that we call our dog. She loves a long walk, and she and I can easily walk 8 - 10km here and meet almost no one. Crossing over to the second and higher summit, you can find a trig point hidden away on the summit. At only 262m, its probably one of the smaller hills that you will find a trig point on. However it feels a lot taller than it is, due to just how flat the surrounding boglands are. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Back on the 24th January 2025, Storm Eowyn hit Ireland, causing unprecedented damage across the island. Its estimated that 24,000 hectares of forestry was damaged in Ireland - over four times that typical annual felling of Coillte (or national forestry company). That means that not only did all of the forestry teams suddenly have to try and process four times as much timber, but because of how it fell in the storm, so much of the wood was cross-loaded on other trees, making it an even slower job to process. The devastation felt raw last spring - but with some time between now and that initial shock, Im choosing to see it as an opportunity for goals like 30 for 2030 or the doubling of recreation sites to 500 to reach even further. Useful links: Coillte: Forests For Nature BookletCoillte: Strategic Vision for OurFuture Forest EstateCoillte: Land Use Strategic Implementation Plan 2026 2035 View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Sliabh Bawn is an interesting place for me to write about - because its a simple place. In the outdoors, I think there are a few different categories of necessary outdoor spaces. There are the show-stoppers that you travel for - offering unique experiences and showcasing the beauty of that area. And there are the places for the local community - the places close by and easily accessed, that give you time and space outside. For me, Sliabh Bawn falls into the latter category. In the setting sun on a windy day, the views and colours from here can be spectacular, but it is not somewhere that has been developed for its incredible beauty. It's there to give people living in the surrounding area a place to call theirs. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize 2022 Video 2025 Video Notes:December 2025: Storm damage from earlier this year (fallen trees) is still being cleared along the eastern slopes of Sliabh Bawn, impacting the White Trail. This looks to be cleared in the coming months, but at time of publication, it is recommended to detour along the pink (equine) trail for the eastern section. Further exploringOther day trails in the area: Lough Key Forest ParkLough Meelagh LoopCorn Hill - Longfords County High PointSeltannasaggart - Roscommons County High PointLong distance trails: The National Famine WayThe Miners Way & Historical TrailThe Suck Valley WayThe Lung Lough Gara WayFavourite Local Coffee / Food Options:The closest shop to the trail is in Strokestown (SuperValu)Franks Bar is close to the trailheadAndersons Thatch Pub for traditional music, and a place to park up if youre in a camper