Overview: Distance: 3.6kmElevation gain: 23mFormat: Looped TrailTime: 30 - 90 minutesStart / End / Parking:There is space for 11 cars at the start / end point of the trail, here. Trail difficulty: EasyThis trail is very accessible - underfoot it is either a well maintained gravel path, or old laneways. Read about trail grading in Ireland here.Trail quality: 4/5Very well maintained. With some more time and general weathering the route will feel more natural and part of its surroundings. Views: 5/5Possibly my favourite views of Sligo Bay.Buggy/Wheelchair friendly: No - but almost. There is one kissing gate. Dogs allowed: On a lead When did I walk this route: March 2025External resources: SligoWalks info page for Raghly Loop TrailSport Ireland info pageMy route from this walk on Strava View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize The Raghly Loop is a 3km walk around a tiny headland that juts out into the top of Sligo Bay.This walk is small but mighty, providing stunning views of the coastline and many of Sligos most iconic landmarks.Starting from the roadside car park, theres space for 11 cars beside the infoboard. Along the trail youll find several info boards explaining the history, wildlife, and distinctive geographical features youll pass.The only unusual wildlife I saw that evening were Barnacle Geese. On my way to the trail I passed Ballygilgan (Lissadell) Nature Reserve, which is also known as The Goose Field! According to the NPWS, about 3000 Barnacle Geese arrive in October to spend the winter in North Sligo The geese breed in Greenland in the summer and spend the winter in Ireland. They graze in Lissadell Maugherow area every winter until April, spending every night on the island of Inishmurray. As I drove past I indeed saw what looked like a few thousand geese grazing, and as I reached the end of my walk, I saw many flying out to one of the further islands. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize This trail is very accessible - underfoot it is either a well maintained gravel path, or old laneways. The way-marking for the trail is a red arrow on a black backdrop, although most of the time the trail path is so well built that its hard to get lost. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize My favourite place on this walk was the Signal Post and the ruins of the Pilot Lookout. Signal Posts were used by the coastguard to communicate with passing ships - they communicated across the waters by raising different coloured flags and placing them at different heights along the flagpole.The sea pilots worked similarly, sending up flares to message passing ships. However their job was to row out and guide ships through the more treacherous parts of Sligo Bay. The last sea pilot of Raghly was John Joe Herity, and he retired in 1987. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Reaching the bottom of the lane, you turn right, passing the ruins of the old coastguard station. Soon after that, youll arrive to the harbour. Built in the early 1800s, this harbour soon became one of the most important harbours between Derry and Galway, as well as being a thriving fishing port. These days the small fishing fleet primarily focuses on lobster and crab pots, which were stacked all around. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize As I made my way back along the final lane to the carpark, I watched the moon rise over Glencar valley. The view down it from this angle is unique, and I spent some time guessing whether I could truly see the cliffs around the Devils Chimney waterfall. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize

A trail of many names, the Four Bounds Loop is an 18km looped walk from the village of Tinahely. A little known walkers dream, Tinahely is a village built around getting into the outdoors. Overview: Distance: 18kmElevation gain: 550mFormat: Looped TrailTime: 4 - 8 HoursStart / End / Parking:Nearly all of the Tinahely walks leave from the one car park, just south of the village centre, here. Theres ample parking, as well as electric car chargers. Trail difficulty: EasyThis trail uses a mixture of lanes, forest tracks, and boardwalk. Read about trail grading in Ireland here.Trail quality: 4.5/5This is what I would call a traditional Irish trail. Its Views: 3.5/5Really wide variety of terrain and landscapesBuggy/Wheelchair friendly: NoDogs allowed: NoWhen did I walk this route: March 2024External resources: Tinahely Walks on VisitWicklow.ieThis loop on the RunGo AppDownload my GPX from the day Our route, March 2024 I first experienced the village of Tinahely in July of 2019, when Carl and I walked the Wicklow Way. It was the end of our first day on the trail, and as we settled into the town that evening we had great conversations with locals about the Wicklow Way and past characters who walked it.It wasnt long after this that I learnt that there are numerous looped walks all from this town, and I mentally marked it as somewhere that I wanted to come back to. While it may have taken four years longer than I initially expected, I was happy to be back as I drove through the village centre towards the trailhead. Tinahely has a lot of trails. When deciding which to walk, I picked Loop B from the Visit Wicklow website. This is a great website for information and GPX files. It was only as I approached the info board that things got a little questionable. As far as I can tell, Loop B is also known as the Four Bounds Loop, or the Orange Loop. As often happens across Ireland, information is updated in one location, but not updated at the same rate elsewhere. So trails can have multiple names, and different distances listed. Dont let this put you off, the trails are often still amazing. But having the flexibility in your plans to accommodate trails that have adapted or changed will pretty much guarantee a better day out. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize And for this particular day out, I was joined by Jen, long time Tough Soles supporter and just great friend.We set off up towards the village, skirting east of the centre along a local road that slowly but steadily climbed up the side of the surrounding hills. As we leave the lane and enter farmland, we join up with the Wicklow Way, and I take the same photo of the trail junction that I remember taking almost five years before. Heading left, we enter Mangan Woods. Sharing the path with the Wicklow Way, the trail is well worn in here, and we meander with it through the woodland. Being late March, the ground is soft after a wet winter, and as the trail combines with farm lanes Jen and I are left tip-toeing through soupy ground. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Still following the Wicklow Way, the route descends down towards the River Derry and the R747. We stop momentarily to have some chats with a pig at a gate before quickly crossing the busy road. The climb back up from this valley is steep but well maintained, with stepped boardwalk built through the forest. This isnt the last time on this walk were Jen and I will share the general sentiment of I thought that south Wicklow would mean easy hills! View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize March is a rather harsh time of year to walk a trail - the sky is only beginning to brighten, and none of the spring growth has begun yet. Forests look brown and dull, and terrain can just be hard going. Its a time I should really reserve for routes of higher altitude, where the cold and barrenness is part of the landscape, or head to the coast, where the wind will make you feel alive and energetic once more. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize The final strong climb of the day is up to the summit of Muskeagh Hill (397m). Finally parting ways with the Wicklow Way, the trail turns up into the forest and climbs pretty directly towards the summit. From there its a quick descent down to the R749 just outside of the town bounds. Once back onto footpath the last few kilometres disappear as you make your way through the town. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize There is clearly a lot of local passion and work put into developing and maintaining these trails. If you find yourself in the area, and are looking for some solitude, this is a nice way to pass an afternoon. Wicklow, known as the garden county, is a spectacular place. It has a lot of trails and walking options, so the standard in this county is quite high. I think that this trail has utilised the best features that the surroundings have to offer, and is somewhere to go when youre looking to escape the crowds of the more traditional Wicklow walking options. Watch the video of the Four Bounds Loop here Further exploringOther day trails in the area: Glendalough White Loop (The Spinc)The Dublin Mountains LoopSt. Kevins WayLong distance trails: The Wicklow WayThe South Leinster WayThe Dublin Mountains Way

Overview: Distance: 165kmCounty: Roscommon - Longford - Westmeath - Meath - Kildare - DublinFormat: Linear TrailTime: 5 - 8 DaysStart point: The National Famine Museum, Strokestown, Co. RoscommonStart point on google mapsEnd point: Dublin Docklands The end is both/either EPIC (The Irish Emigration Museum) and/or the World Poverty Stone, depending on your choice. Trail difficulty: EasyThe trail follows quiet roads, canal banks, with a small percentage of farmland. Way-marking: Yellow arrows / walking figure on a black background (affectionally known as Elvis on this website).Read about trail grading in Ireland here.Trail quality: 3/5This trail uses a lot of hard surfaces along the canal. This means that its also a very lovely cycle route, but sometimes tiring on the feet. However, it is also very easy to follow, with towns spaced nicely along it. Views: 2.5/5A wide variety of terrain and landscapesBuggy/Wheelchair friendly: NoDogs allowed: No Accommodation / Camping options: There is the official list of accommodation options on the National Famine Way website. While we camped along the Royal Canal when we first walked it, its become much more developed and is a widely used cycle path. I am doubtful camping would be possible along this route currently. When did we walk it: The Royal Canal Way Dublin - Cloondara: April 2017 The National Famine Way Cloondara - Strokestown: September 2019 Maps: Download free maps from Sport IrelandAccess the map digitally on HiiKERTypical Route Stages: Strokestown, Co Roscommon to Clondra, Co. Longford 20kmRichmond Harbour in Clondra, Co. Longford to Abbeyshrule, Co. Longford 32kmAbbeyshrule, Co. Longford to Mullingar, Co. Westmeath 27kmMullingar, Co. Westmeath to Longwood Harbour, Co. Meath 30kmLongwood, Co. Meath to Maynooth Harbour, Co. Kildare 28kmMaynooth, Co. Kildare to Famine Scupltures in Dublins Docklands 27kmThere is the option of filling out a passport by collecting stamps along this Way. Find the Stamping locations here. Cloondara, Co. Longford OverviewFrom 2017 to 2019, Carl and I walked the 42 National Waymarked Trails of Ireland, exploring everything from open mountain sides to wild river banks and quiet forest floors. However a list of trails is never a static thing, as the people and land that it interacts with change over time.Which is why, only a couple of months after finishing all of the trails, we were back out again on a new Way.This is the National Famine Way, a 165km historical trail from Roscommon to Dublin. Starting at Strokestown House and the National Famine Museum, it connects to the Royal Canal, which you then follow the whole way to Dublin and the famine statues at the World Poverty Stone in Dublin Docklands. Its a new trail, but an old tale.The National Famine Way traces the footsteps of the Strokestown tenants, men, women and children who were marched from Roscommon to Dublin in 1847 after they failed to pay their rent. In Dublin, they boarded a ship to Liverpool before journeying to North America on board some of the worst coffin ships of the time. Not all of them made it alive. They became known as the 'Missing 1490'. Developed around the stories of those who had to emigrate en-masse from rural Ireland, the National Famine Way focuses on the experiences of individuals from the time to help us see past the numbers to the personal. One of the key stories is that of twelve year old Daniel Tighe, who was part of the Missing 1490. His story is told along the walk by the bronze shoes youll find. There are some 30+ shoes installed along the trail, and at each one you can listen to the next part of his story reimagined by author Marita Conlon-McKenna. Bronze shoes installed beside a bridge, Co. Roscommon Having previously walked the Royal Canal from Dublin to Cloondara in 2017, Carl and I decided to walk the remaining 20km to the National Famine Museum, and learn about this trail and its development. It was mid-September in 2019, and is often the case in Ireland, we were having a back to school heatwave. We had only finished our original Tough Soles list of 42 National Waymarked Trails that July. It was strange to be back out again so soon, but also something of a relief to be doing something we knew so well. Was this list ever going to be over? Did we ever want it to end? However, we didnt need to solve such questions, as our good friend and long-time Tough Soles supporter Jen had made the trip to Roscommon with us, and as such was providing the perfect distraction from our own introspection. We wanted her to have a true Tough Soles Experience. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Starting in the tiny village of Cloondara, its a short 1km walk up to the next village, Termonbarry. This is also the last town or village you will pass through until Strokestown some 19km away, and so it also meant reliving the age old Tough Soles tradition of finding our one chance at coffee. As we sat in the classically dimly lit Irish pub with our mid-morning snacks, we got to watch Tarmonbarry Bridge (one of the narrower crossing points of the River Shannon) raise the middle section straight up like someone lifting both ends of a table moderately up, as if to move a rug in underneath.Continuing on, we were predominantly on small lanes for the rest of the day, taking as close to a straight line as back-country roads can offer. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize The National Famine Way is an interesting trail. As Ive mentioned, we came to this having walked the Royal Canal Way before. The canal was a perfect starter trail - the terrain is very flat, and its almost impossible to get lost. But it lacked a story to connect you to the places you passed, resulting in a bit of a monotonous few days.The creation of the National Famine Way gives you context and lens with which to see the landscape around you. This trail engages with a dark part of Irish history, and those quiet in-between sections of trail provide time to reflect. The emptiness of the bogs in the midlands takes on a new silence.Reflecting on the two experiences, I think that the Famine Way is the better way to experience this route through bog and waterways.It gives context to land, connects people to history, and reminds us to care for the people and world around us. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Thanks to Caroline Callery from the National Famine Museum for talking with us and sharing how this trail came to be. Thanks to Jen for the company!To learn more about this trail, visit nationalfamineway.ie Watch our video of this walk on YouTube Further exploringLong distance trails in this area: The Royal Canal WayThe Suck Valley WayThe Miners Way & Historical TrailRelated Locations:The National Famine MuseumStrokestown HouseEPIC: Irish Emigration Museum

Tucked away in hidden valley of the Iron Mountains, the Tullylacken Loop is an unassuming walk that will show you the true quiet of rural Ireland. OverviewDistance: 10 km Looped TrailTime: 2 - 3.5 hrs (depending on route and fitness)Start Point / Parking:The info board for the start of this trail is here on google maps. Theres room maybe two cars to park at the junction here without impeding access to the lanes. Trail difficulty: EasyThis trail primarily follows wide gravel logging tracks, with a short stretch on rural lanes. Explore our trail grading list here.Trail quality: 2/5This is an exceedingly quiet trail, which can add to the appeal of escaping from the world - but can also manifest in the trail being a touch forgotten. The infrastructure surrounding this trail is well worn. Views: 3/5While surrounded by tall forestry for the most part, there are several moments where the trail offers nice views of the surrounding hills. And despite the face that most of this forestry is commercial, plantation style growth, there is still wildlife to be found in the reclaimed pockets. Buggy/Wheelchair friendly: NoThe tracks that make up this trail use a lot of hard core or large gravel, which would be hard under wheels. Dogs allowed: No - according to Leitrim Tourism.External Resources: Tullylacken Trail Map by Leitrim Tourism.Ive mapped out this trail on Hiiker here. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Its a warm May evening as I park the car in the small lay-by at the info board. As I get out and begin to gather my things for the walk, I listen to the general hum of nature and the gurgle of the stream behind me. While there are many ways of interpreting the phrase the middle of nowhere (snowy, isolated peaks; miles deep in an ancient woodland) this trailhead feels like the most Irish version of the saying. The valley that the Tullylacken Loop meanders through is a a narrow river valley that somewhat divides the Iron Mountains area from the Cuilcagh Mountains. There is a bridge, there is a gravel track, theres some bog, and thats it. But thats okay - Im not here to find long forgotten summits, or searching for glacial lakes. Im here to appreciate the sunshine, and explore in a more minute way. A note on way-marking Depending on what information you read the way-markers for this trail are referred to by different colours - and are then different again once you see them in person. I think this is partially due to the age of the trail and the sun-bleaching of the signage. The way-markers that I followed for most of this trail were purple and pink arrows. I think the blue arrow that Leitrim Tourism refers to in their trail description has faded to the purple colour I saw (and to add some confusion, the purple they talk about I think might now be the pink). I think this is a route best walked with downloaded digital maps. Trail Overview: The start point of this trail is at its most southerly end, and walks in an anti-clockwise direction. On the walk out, you will stay quite east of the Yellow River, with glimpses of it down below you to the left. At the most northerly point of the trail, youll come to a four-way crossroads. The trail turns left here, heading back down the valley, closer to the banks of the yellow river. If you keep going straight here, and will soon hit a bridge that crosses the river. Its only on the return journey that you will cross over the river to the westerly bank. The trail never brings you right alongside the river. Descriptions of its original route make it sound like it once did - but in its current form, the whole route sticks to the logging tracks of the forest. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize After maybe an hour of walking on that sunny evening, I was struck again by the quiet of the place. Id not heard a soul since half way through my drive over, and I doubted I was about to see anyone any time soon. And that is the gift of this trail - the solitude. It cant offer the excitement of Kerry, or the development of the Mournes, but it can give you space. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize As I neared the end of the return journey, two large red shapes stepped out from the trees and began walking along the track ahead of me. My brain froze - these were the biggest reddy-brown creatures Id ever seen. For a split second, my thoughts shouted moose?!. But of course, it was a much more native animal in front of me. It was two red deer bucks, the largest, reddest bucks Id ever seen. They walked with no hurry in their steps, and as the second reached their unmarked turn-off, it looked back at me as if laughing at my incredulous stare. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize The Tullylacken Loop is a nice evening outing. Its not a trail I would travel to Leitrim for, but if you are here and want somewhere new to walk, its a perfectly good option. And who knows, maybe youll meet the same two bucks that I did - if you do, give them a wave from me. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Watch our youtube video of this trail here. Further exploringOther day trails in the area: Glencar Waterfall and the Devils ChimneyLough Meelagh LoopLough Key Forest ParkKnocknarea & Queen Maeves TrailBenbulben Forest WalkLong distance trails: The Leitrim WayThe Cavan WayThe Cuilcagh WayThe Miners Way & Historical TrailMountain Hikes:Cuilcagh - Cavan & Fermanaghs County High PointSeltannasaggart - Roscommons County High PointBenbulben Summit HikeFavourite Local Coffee / Food Options:The Shed Distillery, Drumshanbo (Cafe with food)Jinnys Tearooms at Acres Lake, Drumshanbo (Cafe with food)

Ellie on the summit of Cnoc na Toinne in the MacGillycuddy's Reeks, Co. Kerry There are so many great trails in Ireland - too many to choose from! Whether youre looking for open mountains, or accessible meanders, I have a recommendation for everyone this year. All of these trails are single day hikes, and some can also be split into shorter sections. Ive listed these trails roughly from easier to harder, and reference our hillwalking and trail grading ratings for each trail, which you can learn about here. 1. The Boyne Valley Camino Location: Drogheda, Co. LouthDistance: 25kmTime: 6 - 10 Hours The Boyne Valley Camino is a fantastic, accessible trail that loops around Drogheda in a figure-eight. The highlights of this trail are the ways it connects to the local history, and truly mirrors the experience of walking a camino route in Spain. Starting in the centre of town, you walk a mixture of small roads and forest paths for the day. There are stamps to collect en route, just like a traditional Spanish camino, and there are plenty of spots along the trail to stop for breaks. Start / End Point: Information board beside St Peter's Church, Drogheda (here on google maps)Trail difficulty: EasyRead the full trail write up hereWatch the full trail video on YouTubeIf 25km in one go is overwhelming, this trail can be divided into two halves thanks to its shape, leaving you with a 12km and 13km loop. This trail is for those looking for easy walking and lots of history. It is not for someone looking for wilderness or technical terrain. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize 2. Lough Meelagh Loop Location: Co. RoscommonDistance: 11kmTime: 2 - 3hrs The Lough Meelagh Loop is a section of the local long distance trail - the Miners Way & Historical Trail. Now that I live in the north-west of Ireland, I have to advocate for the beautiful walking you can find here! One of my favourite elements of this route is the fact that it takes you through so much old, deciduous forest. This area of the country is littered with lakes and pockets of plant life that other areas have lost.Start / End Point: Looped route from Knockranny Woods Car Park (google maps here)Trail Difficulty: Easy Read the full trail write up hereWatch the full trail video on YouTubeThroughout this walk youll be following small woodland trails, grassy lakeshores, and twisting Irish roads. This trail is a prime example of making the most of what the landscape has to offer, and really immerses walkers into the surroundings.Fitting well within the easy trail definition, there are styles, mucky sections, and rough ground underfoot. If you happen to find yourself in this corner of the world, this is a great way to pass an afternoon. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize 3. Knocknarea & Queen Maeves Trail Location: Co. SligoDistance: 8kmTime: 90mins - 140mins Knocknarea is one of Sligos most iconic peaks. While there have been walking routes around and across Knocknarea for years, it was in 2015 when the current trails were put in place. The route is now known as Queen Maeves Trail; named after the legend that the huge cairn and tomb on the summit of the hill is her resting place. An Irish warrior queen from over 2,000 years ago, she was the Queen of Connacht, and the myths that surround her are as wild as the west coast landscape.Start / End Point: Looped route from Sligo Rugby Car Park (google maps here)Trail Difficulty: Easy Read the full trail write up hereWatch the full trail video on YouTubeIve walked and run this route several times since moving to the North-West of Ireland, and its still one of my favourite spots to go for a couple of hours of energetic walking. On a sunny day, I love how the light plays through the trees, lighting up the vibrant mosses near the bog-bridge. Once out onto the hillside the path returns to grass and gravel, the ascent slowing as the trail makes the final few hundred meters across the plateau summit to Queen Maeves Tomb - the massive cairn that you can see from miles around. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize 4. The White Loop Glendalough (The Spinc Trail) Location: Co. WicklowDistance: 9kmTime: 90mins - 140mins The Glendalough White Route is a 9km looped trail that starts at the Upper Lake in Glendalough, taking you along the valley floor, through the Miners Village, up the top of the valley and across The Spinc boardwalk. Possibly one of Irelands most famous mountain valleys, Glendalough is an incredibly beautiful place to visit.Start / End Point: Looped route from the upper glendalough car park (google maps here)Trail Difficulty: Easy Read the full trail write up hereWatch the full trail video on YouTubeAt the upper lake the info board for all the trails, and the first markers for this trail, are outside of the small white building that is home to the info centre. From here you head around to the Miners Road, which runs along the north side of the lake. The road is closed to traffic, and the sand-coloured compacted gravel is reminiscent the mining that happened back in the 1800s. This stretch is relaxing, raised slightly above the lakeshore and lined with scots pine, it twists gently with the folds of the valley wall. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize 5. St. Kevins Way Location: Co. WicklowDistance: 26kmTime: 6 - 8hrs St. Kevins Way is an ancient path, said to follow in the footsteps of the Irish saint as he travelled through Wicklow to find a remote corner of nature for his hermitage. Reputedly born in 498AD, there is little that can be said for definite on his life, but he has inspired many tales in this area, and born a beautiful walking trail.Start / End Point: Linear trail from the village of Hollywood - Glendalough Monastic City. Trail Difficulty: Easy Read the full trail write up hereWatch the full trail video on YouTubeCovering everything from roads and boreens to forest trails, raised boardwalk, and open foothills, this route takes you on all the best kinds of surfaces Irish hiking has to offer! This is a well way-marked trail, using a twist on Irelands traditional yellow walking man way-marker by having a yellow saintly figure as the path finder. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize 6. The MacGillycuddys Reeks Location: Co. KerryTrail Difficulty: Easy - Strenuous Unlike my previous recommendations, this recommendation is for an area as opposed to a specific trail. The MacGillycuddys Reeks (simply known as the reeks) is the mountain range home to Irelands tallest peaks. But not only are they the tallest - they are also beautiful. There are so many trails around Kerry and the Reeks - check out the map below to find inspiration of trails: The two routes Im highlighting are: Cronins Yard Looped WalkDistance: 8kmTime: 120minsTrail Difficulty: Easy Start / End Point: Looped route from Cronins YardMore info: Sport Ireland Outdoors, and Sport Ireland Map.This National Looped Walk is the perfect way to experience the mountains, without climbing any! This trail takes you up through Hags Glen, the valley most people walk trough to climb Caurantoohil, Irelands highest mountain. It starts and finishes in Cronins Yard, where youll find the most wonderful family who run a cafe, car park, campsite, and glamping! If youve any questions about the mountains, they are the ones to ask. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize The Coomloughra HorseshoeDistance: 13kmTime: 8hrsDifficulty: Strenuous Start / End Point: Looped route from Hydro Road.More info: Kerry Mountain Rescue info page. For more experienced parties the complete Coomloughra Horseshoe which includes Irelands three highest peaks is an option. This takes in the spectacularly exposed knife-edge of the Beenkeeragh Ridge, but this is only for those with a head for heights and should not be attempted at all in windy conditions. Allow 6 hours for the Caher-Carrauntoohil-Caher trip and 8 hours for the full horseshoe. - Kerry Mountain RescueThe Coomloughra Horseshoe is an absolutely stunning mountain traverse, taking in many of Irelands highest peaks. It is the first route that Ive shared on Tough Soles that falls into the Strenuous grade/difficulty, and should not be attempted lightly. However, if you have the mountain experience, it is an incredible experience, with narrow ridge crossings and spectacular views. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize There are so many incredible hikes in Ireland, and Ive tried to curate a bit of a mix in this post. Some routes are ones youve probably heard about - such as the Spinc in Glendalough - which is the perfect example of somewhere that is famous for its beauty, and rightly so. Including loops like Lough Meelagh in Co. Roscommon, Im hoping to highlight some of the lesser known spots for anyone looking for the quite solitude that we sometimes need in nature. Wherever you end up in 2025, I hope you get to experience the connection and peacefulness that Ive found in the Irish hills.

Overview - Lough Meelagh Loop: Distance: 11kmFormat: LoopedRoute: This route is taking the existing long distance trail of the area (The Miners Way & Historical Trail), and creating a shorter day hike by linking to sections with a short road walk. You can view or download my route for this loop on Hiiker here.Time: 120mins - 180mins (depending on route, fitness, and how long you want to take in the views)Parking:I start this loop at Knockranny Woods. There is a medium-sized free car park (here on google maps) Trail difficulty: EasyAs Ive alluded to above - this is not a trail that is waymarked in its own right. However, it takes advantage of pre-existing trails, using a short 2km road walk to link to sections together. Despite this small part of personal navigation, I am still grading this as an easy trail. Read about trail grading in Ireland here.Trail quality: 3/5Section directly after Knockranny woods brings you along the lakeshore, which in bad weather can be wet / slightly flooded. Views: 4/5Forest walking with small view points out at the lake. A very pretty area to walk through. Buggy/Wheelchair friendly: No Dogs allowed: NoRoute passes through active farmland. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize The Lough Meelagh Loop is a trail of my own devising, which uses much of the pre-existing trails developed in this area for the local long distance trail, The Miners Way & Historical Trail. Of the 11km of this route, 2km is self-navigation. Starting from Knockranny, were walking this trail clockwise, through the woodlands. Explaining the route:Following the yellow arrows, you will pass along the lakeshore, through a second section of the woodland, and then onto the small boreen. Keep following the trail right along the lane, over River Feorish, and through the Y-junction. Shortly afterwards, you will come to a cross roads (grid reference G873109). Here, the waymarking turns left (somewhat south) - we are turning right (almost north). Walking 2km along this road, youll cross the River Feorish once more, and then arrive to the turn into the grounds of Kilronan Castle (grid reference G870127). Here, youre back on the official Miners Way, and we will follow the yellow waymarker back to the car park. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize One of my favourite elements of this route is the fact that it takes you through so much old, deciduous forest. This area of the country is littered with lakes and pockets of plant life that other areas have lost. This is, in part, due to the fact that the land here just wasnt as good for farming as other areas, and so was developed less. Now I consider this one of its biggest selling points. Walking through the Knockranny Woods section youll come across handmade way-markers and small wooden styles to guide you along. These light human touches merge with the old growth, mingling with the moss and animal tracks. Youre never far from a road, and yet you feel like youre in another world. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Leaving the woods and navigating the 2km road section, the way enters the grounds of Kilronan Castle. This large house was extended to its current dimensions at the end of the 19th Century, and is a luxury hotel with well maintained grounds - of which we explore 3km of trails along. This includes the walk out to the end of Doon Point (and the dramatically name Window on the World viewpoint of the lake). The trails stay as close as possible to the shoreline without risking trail flooding, and brings you past old boat houses and water pumps from times long gone. As you exit the grounds of the castle, you will pass one of the most dramatic gate lodges. This building is a folly, intentionally designed to look like it was from centuries past. It is exceedingly similar to the Fairy Bridge you can find in Lough Key Forest Park not too far away. Once youve wandered the crumbling walls and continued out to the road - never fear, for the wonderful trail designers have managed to submerge the trail in the ditch (which is a more more pleasing walking experience than that phrasing conjures to mind). View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize And sooner than youd think, youre back to the lakeside and the car park you originally left. This trail is a prime example of making the most of what the landscape has to offer, and really immerses walkers into the surroundings. Further exploringOther day trails in the area: Lough Key Forest ParkKnocknarea & Queen Maeves TrailKillaspugbrone Loop WalkBenbulben Forest WalkLong distance trails: The Miners Way & Historical TrailThe Leitrim WayThe Sligo WayMountain Hikes:Seltannasaggart - Roscommons County High PointBenbulben Summit HikeFavourite Local Coffee / Food Options:The closest shop to the trail is Killorans Corner Shop in BallyfarnonThe Shed Distillery, Drumshanbo (large cafe area)Lovage, at the Gate Lodge Cafe, Boyle (Cafe with food)The Bazaar, Boyle (Cafe with food)

Lough Key Forest Park sits on the southern shores of its namesake, a large lake that looks smaller than it is thanks to the dozen or so islands that are littered throughout. The Forest Park is a large recreation area, boasting accessible trails, a visitor centre, official campsite, zip-lining, boat tours, kayaking, and Sauna. While there are dozens of different ways you can walk the trails throughout the woodlands, today Im sharing a 6km loop, primarily following the parkrun route. Overview - Lough Key Forest Park: Distance: 6kmFormat: LoopedTime: 60mins - 100mins (depending on route, fitness, and how long you want to take in the views)Parking:There is a primary car park for the Forest Park here - it costs 5, and is right at the visitor centre, with easy access to all the amenities. There is also a small area here to park for free. It is en route to the main car park, probably a little over 1km away from the visitor centre. It can fit 16 cars. Trail difficulty: EasyThe park is well kept and decently waymarked, but not perfect. The route that I walked for this video is based on the Lough Key Forest Park Run, with an extra 1km because I walked in to the visitors centre for a coffee, and back out. Read about trail grading in Ireland here.Trail quality: 3/5The trails in the park are very well maintained. There is space for more way-marking / adding more routes, however I know that the park has received extra funding for 2025, so Im expecting some great additions. Views: 4/5Great views of the surrounding mountains and coastline. Lovely for such a small local trail.Buggy/Wheelchair friendly: YesThere primary trail surface is a smooth gravel trail, accessible for most buggies and off-road wheelchairs. Dogs allowed: YesLough Key is a very dog friendly park!Further Info: Learn more about Lough Key Forest Park on their official website. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Starting from the free car park, head in past the black and yellow barrier, following the yellow walking man way-marking for The Miners Way. The trail follows a gentle downhill before reaching a Y-junction, where you take the left fork. Walking this trail in mid-autumn, I wandered under a canopy of greens, yellows and oranges, the gravel trail beneath blanketed in fallen leaves, muffling my passage. Like many large forest areas still existing in Ireland, this land was passed down through chieftains, and then managed by English landlords. A stronghold of the McDermott family from as early as 1184, in the 17th century it was granted to the King family from England under the Cromwellian settlement. It was the Kings who built the large mansion called Rockingham House, developing the grounds to create a picturesque estate, the remains of which we experience today. Crossing the low footbridge over the canal, you get your first glimpse of the larger lake and general waterways that surround the park. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize The path hugs the shore of the lake for most of the middle section, with openings in the trees leading you down to old piers or just pretty view points to look out from. After a little over 2km, the high bridge to Drummans Island appears to the left. A lap of the island is about 1.5km, and has some sheltered benches and bigger piers to walk out onto. There is also a folly or two on the island. Architectural follies are structures built throughout gardens and estates that add to the lore or aesthetic that the owner wanted the landscape to invoke. In the case of the forest park, the King Family built much of the structures to look far older than they were (such as the fairy bridge). While not always obvious, these hidden pieces of ornamentation are still dotted about to find. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Returning to the mainland once more, the trail takes you along avenues of Western Red Cedars, before delivering you into the main open parkland and visitor centre. Once the lawns of the estate house, the surrounds here are expansive after the dense woodland. In 1957 the big house was destroyed by a fire, believed to have started from an electrical fault. A concrete viewing tower called The Moylurg Tower was built on the site of the house in 1973, standing tall on the hill to this day. Enjoying my afternoon out, I stop into the visitor centre for lunch. Living not too far from this park, I feel lucky to get to enjoy it through all seasons. In the summer months, particularly on the weekends, this area is swarming with people and families, picnics and parties strewn across the countless benches. At this time of year, when the grounds are empty but the sun is making a valiant effort to rally some final rays, I breathe in the beauty that draws so many people to the waterfront. As I look out across the water from the cafe, one of the major attractions is sitting right in front of me: McDermotts Castle. McDermotts Castle, or just simply The Rock, is probably the most famous element of the Forest Park. Adrift from the mainland, this castle, or a version of it, has existed there for over 800 years. Most of its surviving history is of sieges won and lost against the island, with the place being overrun by fire several times. Much of what is visible today dates from the same time as when the manor house was built, and castle island was refurbished into part summer house, part folly. On crisp days of still weather, it can look like the island is just out of reach from the mainland, the castle looming across the distance. On rougher days, it shrinks within the waves, and Im left wondering how anyone ever lived there. Finishing my sandwich (much to the annoyance of the local bird population), I walk through the middle of the large lawn, and take the trail past Zippit and back to my starting location. Lough Key Forest Park is one of those quiet, magic places that draws you in with its beauty, lets you find comfort under the trees, and in the quiet, less trodden corners, reminds you that nature isnt some thing over there, but the web that were all a part of. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Further exploringOther day trails in the area: Lough Meelagh LoopKnocknarea & Queen Maeves TrailUnion WoodKillaspugbrone Loop WalkBenbulben Forest WalkLong distance trails: The Miners Way & Historical TrailThe Leitrim WayThe Sligo WayMountain Hikes:Seltannasaggart - Roscommons County High PointBenbulben Summit HikeFavourite Local Coffee / Food Options:Lough Key Forest Park Visitor Centre (Cafe with food)Lovage, at the Gate Lodge Cafe, Boyle (Cafe with food)The Bazaar, Boyle (Cafe with food)Creightons Pub, Boyle (serves drinks only, but you can bring Troys Chipper from next door into the pub)

Hike! The herald angels sing, Back again, for more gifting,Peace on trails, and weather mild,Gear and backpack reconciled. Its that time of year, where I embrace the season and make some lists of gear gifts for the outdoor lover in your life. Last year, I listed out my personal top ten gift ideas, and this year I turned to Instagram and asked what your top gift ideas are. Gear Gifts & Kits 1. Water FiltersThere are several options: I have the the Platypus Quickdraw Filter; theres the MiniWorks EX Microfilter from MSR; and you can also get ones to fit specific bottles, like the Salomon Soft Flask filter. One of the most famous filters that Ive seen mostly people from the USA use is the Sawyer Filter. 2. Repair & Care KitsA really great recommendation! Quite often, those were buying for will know the very specific kit they need to get, and so it can be hard to buy the right thing. But the kit they have always needs to be cared for! You can get a GoreTex Patching Kit for waterproofs; for their sleeping mats, there is the instant field repair kit, and the permanent home repair kit; a neoprene repair kit for the water-sports lovers; a down wash kit for taking care of jackets or sleeping bags; gear cleaner; footwear care kits - the lists go on! 3. A New Head TorchTying in to my recent piece on how to choose a head torch - if you live somewhere that has long, dark winters, a head torch will always be used! Read about the factors to consider when buying a torch here. In general, the three things to consider are: is it at least 500 Lumens; does it have rechargeable/changeable batteries; and is it weather resistant? 4. Maps!There is nothing as nice as a good map (at least, to some people!). If youre looking to buy maps, consider getting laminated maps, as they can withstand the harsh weather. In Ireland, the two options are OSI Discovery Series Maps, or EastWest Mapping. 5. Hiking SocksThe thing that feels cliche, but will always be appreciated, is a good pair of socks! My personal favourite brands are Darn Tough, 1000 Miles, and SmartWool. They all do marino blends for their socks, a personal requirement for new socks for me. And there are so many options - you can get thick, traditional hiking socks; thin liners; or even waterproof socks from SealSkinz!Waterproof socks are a fun gift as theyre something that many people wont consider buying for themselves, but would love to try. I can attest, it's a strange sensation when you feel the water flooding your shoes, but arent actually getting wet. 6. A Gift Voucher for their local Outdoor ShopLocal outdoor shops are great! Theyre spaces for us to see things in person, talk about the pros and cons of different systems, and just get inspired for adventure. Weve worked with Great Outdoors in Dublin for nine years and really value these kinds of long term relationships. Wherever you are, check out whats close to you, and support local! A new Irish outdoors shop option is Spur Outdoors. Spur Outdoors are in the second hand gear market, buying and selling used outdoor gear to create a more sustainable cycle and extending the life of things that are made to last. I love everything thats working to make the outdoors affordable and sustainable, and so wanted to give these guys a special shout out! 7. Shokz Bone Conducting HeadphonesThis one is a personal recommendation. During the summer Carl got me a pair of Shokz for my birthday, and Ive really enjoyed them. Theyre bone-conducting headphones, meaning that theres nothing physically in your ears when your out and about, allowing you to hear whats around you. Whether walking in a forest and wanting to absorb the sounds of nature, or are running and want to know if theres a car coming up the road, Ive found these extremely useful! The OpenRun model (not the pro version), has an IP67 rating, which means Im not afraid of any weather ruining them too! I got the OpenRun mini, as it had a shorter head band. Outdoor Inspired Gifts8. Outdoor Experiences In the last 5 years, saunas have become a much more common occurrence in Ireland - and rightly so! Our cold weather works so well with the heat of a sauna, and I think they can be a fantastic way to relax.Whether its up-skilling for adventure, or looking for a guide, there are so many people in Ireland offering fantastic services. A couple that Ive had the pleasure of working with are: Hike & Climb: up-skilling and rock climbingFia Mountaineering: up-skillingKerry Climbing: up-skilling and guidingTwo Rock Outdoors: up-skilling and guidingShe Summits: trail runningStride Ireland: ups-killing and guidingRock Ready Outdoors: rock climbingAdventure Burn: up-skilling, guided hiking and rock climbingGalz Gone Wild: guided hikes in Ireland and abroadEat Sleep Trail Run: trail running camps in the south of FranceTrails & Roots: trail running camps around the worldAnd on a personal note - I won a Trails & Roots giveaway on instagram, and will be joining them on one of their international trips in January! I absolutely love this company, I couldnt believe I won. Ill let you know how it goes once it comes around9. Nature Inspired Jewellery - The Wandering GoldsmithLeika creates gorgeous handmade jewellery here in Ireland, with so much of her work inspired by nature! Something that reminds someone of a favourite outdoor spot, in clear or subtle ways, can be a really lovely gift. The Wandering Goldsmith Website - Instagram10. Nature Inspired Prints - Storehouse Arts Based in Co. Wicklow, a lot of the work of Storehouse Arts reflects the natural beauty of the Garden County. Youll find lino printed greeting cards, and county high point maps, along with the rivers and mountains of Ireland.Storehouse Arts Website - Instagram11. Nature Inspired Scents - Be Kind IncenseWhile walking St. Kevins Way I stayed in An Teachain Beag, where the owner Belle gave me some incense inspired by the trail! The first scent from Be Kind that Ive tried, they have a whole range inspired by different parts of Wicklow, and other areas of Ireland. Be Kinds Wicklow inspired collection. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Outdoor BooksBooks are my second passion, which works well when I cant go outdoors. Here are some of my favourite books from this year, and of all time: The Wildflowers of Ireland: A Field Guide by Zoe Devlin The Hike Life: My Favourite 50 Hikes in Ireland by Rozanna Purcell (book 1)The Hike Life: 50 More to Explore by Rozanna Purcell (book 2)Wanderlust: A history of walking by Rebecca SolnitA field guide to getting lost by Rebecca Solnit Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize I hope youve found some inspiration, and have a lovely festive season ahead of you. Never forget, despite all Ive just written, its not all about spending money. Wishing you all peace on trails, and weather mild. Here is the youtube video version of this article

The Aughris Coastal Walk is a lovely 4km looped trail accessible for all the family. Take in the history of the small headland, learning about promontory forts, WWII lookout posts, holy wells, and the surrounding mountains. Overview - Aughris Coastal Walk: Distance: 4kmFormat: LoopedTime: 60mins - 90mins (depending on route, fitness, and how long you want to take in the views)Parking:Space available for about 5 cars in the lay-by at the trail head.Trail difficulty: EasyThe trail is well kept and waymarked. There are no climbs or descents. There are a few kissing gates along the way.Read about trail grading in Ireland here.Trail quality: 5/5The trail is very well maintained. It is separated from the active farmland as much as possible, hugging the coastline. Views: 4/5Great views of the surrounding mountains and coastline. Lovely for such a small local trail.Buggy/Wheelchair friendly: NoThe majority of this trail is very flat and a easy, smooth gravel. However there are kissing gates and a couple of short sections along grassy cliffs.Dogs allowed: NoThe first section along contained trail may be dog friendly, but dogs are certainly not allowed on the farmland section of the trail.Further Info: Learn more about the trail on the Sligo Walks website, and on the community website The Chronicles of Aughris. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Its an early evening in June as I pull into the small parking area across from the Aughris Coastal Walk info board. The sun is lowering but still has a few hours to go before Ive to worry about it, instead providing dramatic light to spend the evening in. The info board is right beside Aughris Pier, and the trail immediately turns off onto a well defined and maintained track. As I walk out along the trail, with every turn of the coastline I face a different view, and a different prominent peak. Along this trail youll get gorgeous videos of Knocknarea, Belbulben, and the Ox Mountains. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize The trail hugs the waters edge as closely as it can, predominantly on a gravel track. After about 700m, the trail comes to a grassy rise overlooking a small beach. As you look across to the far side of the beach, you might notice a not-entirely natural looking shape to the headland. This is Aughris Promontory Fort, known locally as OTooles Castle. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Promontory forts are ancient defensive structures built along steep cliffs. Shaped like rough semi-circles, they fence off parts of headlands behind big walls, meaning anyone wanting to raid you would have to scale the cliffs, or fight their way over the walls. Mainly found in Ireland, Brittany, and on the very westerly coastlines of the UK, most forts date from the Iron Age. Over 350 promontory forts have been identified along the coastline of Ireland. Aughris Promontory Fort is distinctive as you come to it - built up walls and defendable banks clear. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Legends tells that that back in the 9th century, when Vikings were plundering the Sligo coastline, a raid was set for the monastery on the Aughris. However, as the raiders approached from the surrounding islands, the monasterys treasure was buried under the mounds of Aughris Promontory Fort. A curse was then placed on the treasure, proclaiming that in order to retrieve it, a life had to be forfeited. To this day, no one has disturbed the ground, or the curse. After the fort the trail is less defined, crossing the sloping grassy fields. On a clear day, there are great views of Benbulben from here. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize After about 1.5km, you arrive at St. Patricks Well. An early Christian site, this space was also used as a place to secretly practice Catholicism during penal times in Ireland. The wells are almost overwhelmed by the pile of stones in the middle of the space, made up of pebbles carried and cast in prayer. Leaving the well, the trail returns to gravel underfoot. The next stop on the walk is a little past the 2km mark - the WWII Lookout Post. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize This small concrete box is Look Out Post No. 67 - one of 83 built along the coastline to track the comings and goings of ships and aircraft. A picnic bench has been installed outside, and as I sat for a moment, the cows came to inspect who the latest outpost resident was. We chewed our respective cuds, and then its a short walk down to the lane, to loop back around to the start. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize For such a short trail, the work thats been put into it is fantastic. Its a lovely way to spend an hour, and the history collected on the Aughris website is a great resource. Further exploringOther trails in the area: Knocknarea & Queen Maeves TrailUnion WoodKillaspugbrone Loop WalkBenbulben Forest WalkGlencar Waterfall & The Devils ChimneyMountain Hikes:Benbulben Summit Hike Truskmore: Sligo & Leitrims County High PointFavourite Local Coffee / Food Options:Shells, Strandhill (Brunch)Rover Coffee Lab, Sligo (Coffee)Hooked, Sligo (Restaurant)

Its a cold November morning, and as I crunch my way through the frost encrusted grass, I look up at the moon still shining bright in the sky above me. Ireland has hit that time of year where daylight is scarce, and with that, head torch season is well and truly here. Today Im breaking down the six features I look at when buying a head torch, to help you decide what you need. Ive listed them roughly in my order of preference - make sure to decide what is most important for your adventures, and go from there! Photo thanks to Ambrose from Hikeandclimb.ie 1. Lumens (brightness)The key part of a head torch is its light - the brightness of which is measured in lumens. For most outdoor sports, youll want at least 200 lumens to light up nearby footpaths or wide tracks. My LED Lenser NEO6R is 240 lumens, and because of its beam style (feature number 2), I like it for easy runs from home.For most of my general adventures, Im using a Petzl IKO Core head torch, which has 500 Lumens. This is great for narrower trails and lighting up the world around me. I really love this head torch for some of the features well speak about further on, and will probably always have a head torch like this in my collection. Currently, Im doing my Mountain Leader Training, which includes practicing night navigation off trail, in all weather conditions. For this, Im looking to get a head torch in the 1000 lumens range. At this end, the torches are very bright, and usually able to light up further away landmarks / features. 2. Types of Torch BeamThere are two main categories for the type of beam your head torch will give out: flood beam or spot beam.Spot beams are usually defined as lights with beam angles of no wider than 45 degrees, whereas flood beams are typically categorised by beam angles of 90 degrees and above. The first head torch that I mentioned above is my LED Lenser NEO6R, which is a fairly low light torch. It has a flood beam, which means that it gives off a wide, dispersed, glowy light. When wearing it I can see a wide area in front of me in dim light. The Petzl IKO Core has multiple light settings, with its beam categorised as flood - mixed. Spot beams are great for seeing far ahead and piercing through bad weather. Some people also opt to carry a hand-held torch with a narrow spot beam for picking out features. 3. The BatteryWinter temperatures can drain batteries fast, so its important to remember that how long your torch will last on a single charge in summer might differ to the winter months. Both of the torches Ive mentioned so far take their own rechargeable batteries, which is very convenient, as long as you remember to plug it in once you get home again! Were not going to talk about the number of times Ive gotten out of the car, to realise the head torch only has 10% left. The Petzl IKO Core takes both its own rechargeable block, and AAA batteries, which is great for moments when you get stuck. Its important to note, that with the IKO Core (and other head torches Ive seen with this functionality), the highest lumen output on the AAA batteries is lower than on the Petzl batteries. 4. Weather ResistanceNo matter the season in Ireland, you need to consider water proofing - and in winter, its critical. The IP Rating is a universal standard rating for electronic devices, and therefore all head torches. The IP code is composed of two numbers:The first number refers to the protection against solid objects / dust particles, and is rated on a scale from 0 (no protection) to 6 (no ingress of dust).The second number rates the enclosures protection against liquids and uses a scale from 0 (no protection) to 9 (high-pressure hot water from different angles). As a general rule, look for IPX4 or higher, meaning it can withstand splashes, rain, and snow. If you expect really harsh weather, opt for an IPX7, which can handle submersion.Often times, you might come across a website or manufacturer writing IPX4, or similar. The X can mean that the writer is only focusing on the water resistance (eg. the bullet point above), or that the head torch in general was never tested for solid particle resistance. 5. Comfort and FitA good fit impacts some more than others. If youre moving a lot, or if pressure on your head is something that affects you, than considering how the head torch sits is key. This was one of the primary factors in my choice of the IKO Core. At only 79g and with a wide frame, Carl and I have jokingly called this head torch my princess head torch. The frame gently wraps around your head like a crown, with an adjustable elastic band woven through to tighten. Depending on your sport, try the torch on with all your other kit - some are better suited for helmets, and some will have extra strapping to help spread the weight of a bigger battery. All of this said, my LED Lenser NEO6R is only one band, and I still find it quite comfortable. Which is why Comfort and Fit is pretty low on my list. As long as it feels secure, Im happy to put up with some pressure. Weighting which elements are most important for you is key to getting the right piece of gear, whether its a head torch, sleeping bag, or hiking boots. Photo thanks to Ambrose from Hikeandclimb.ie 6. Red Light ModeAnd finally - red light functionality. If youre out with a group or camping, a red light mode can be handy. It preserves night vision and reduces glare. I find it the most useful when staying in a busy campsite and I need to move around at night - the last thing I want is to shine a bright white light into someone elses tent. A notable disadvantage that I recently heard from Cormac of Fia Mountaineering, is the certain colours on maps are far less visible. If youre reading contour lines, and looking to see the colour gradient change, the different shades of yellow might be indistinguishable!