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. Overview: County: WicklowDistances: There are two different trail heads at either end of the trail, resulting in four possible distances:Trooperstown to Stump of the Castle: 13kmTrooperstown to Hidden Valley Resort: 14kmLaragh to Stump of the Castle: 11km Laragh to Hidden Valley Resort: 12kmElevation Gain: 200m - 350mFormat: Linear TrailTime: 2 - 4 HoursStart / End / Parking:Northern Trail Heads: Laragh Village or Trooperstown Car ParkJust outside of Laragh Village there is the Laragh free car park, or there is some very limited on-street parking at the triangle around the Glendalough Cafe. The Trooperstown Car Park is large and free, with amble parking.Southern Trail Heads: Stump of the Castle or Rathdrum (Hidden Valley Resort)Theres a small free car park at Stump of the Castle. At the Rathdrum end, there is on-street parking around The Mill Store.Public Transport: Rathdrum train Station, with trains from Dublin/Rosslare and Commuter Dart RoutesTheres 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: EasySticking to mostly small roads and forest tracks and trails, this is a quintessential Irish trail. Its waymarked using Irelands official National Waymarked Trails yellow walking man way-marker (affectionately known to us as Elvis). Read about trail grading in Ireland here.Trail quality: 3.5/5Depending on your choice of route, the northerly section to Troopertowns Car Park can feel a little long on the road. When I walked there was some missing way-marking, which I think should be amended in the near future. Views: 4/5A mostly forest-focused trail, with some views at the Trooperstown end. Lovely native woodland paths for the southerly section. Buggy/Wheelchair friendly: Not quite buggy friendly (maybe if youre very determined). Not wheelchair friendly. When did I walk this route: August 2025Dogs allowed: No External Links: Sport Ireland TrailsThe Avonmore Way on HiiKERWicklow Uplands Council Starting off from the Northern end at Trooperstown, there is an info board tucked away in the back of the car park. From here, the trail brings you straight over to the Avonmore River that its named for, and which Ill be following southwards all day. The wide bridge (labelled Nolans Bridge on East West mapping), takes me across to the eastern bank, where the trail will stay until reaching the Samuel Hayes Bridge down in Rathdrum. The way-markers follows a wide forestry road on a pretty consistent uphill (100m elevation gain) for close to 2km. Its then another 2.4km along country lanes as the route skirts around the side of Trooperstown Hill summit. From this road section there are views towards Glenmacanass, Glendassan, and Derrybawn. Something I noted on the day, and has been seconded by others, was how quite this road section seems to be. Wicklow, being as mountainous as it is, doesnt have space for all that many roads. So in past experience Id found that all the roads that do exist are used quite a bit. The morning I walked this I met one or two locals who were pottering about, and otherwise had the road to myself. At the end of this section we come to the junction with the Laragh village off-shoot. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Starting from the free carpark in Laragh, its a shorter walk south. At the time of writing, this off-shoot is slightly trickier as the way-marking is patchy. Leaving the car park head south, away from the village centre. After a hundred metres or so, take the lefthand turn. Follow the lane for about 400m, and then head into the car park of Ballard Woods. Keep heading south, away from Ballard Woof loop and take the forest track to the right - after about 600 - 700m, the trail joins with the Trooperstown route. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Now that were all joined up - its a pretty quite walk for maybe the next 3km. Theres an extremely straight forest road, some more winding lane, and then the trail begins to approach the Clara Vale. Descending off the road, theres a lovely forest trail that brings us back along the Avonmore river once more. In the late summer sunshine, the water shone through the beach leaves, making the forest sparkle. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Unexpectedly, I found myself coming out at the back of a small church. The narrow pathway continues through the church grounds to the road, which the trail only follows for a couple minutes uphill to arrive to the main gates into the Clara Vale.The Vale of Clara is the highlight of this trail. This nature reserve and the surrounding area is beautiful, filled with a variety of native flora and a true mixture of paths and trails. This nature reserve contains the largest area of semi-natural woodland in Co. Wicklow, and is potentially one of the largest stands of native hardwood in the country. As the NPWS website so dryly states, the oak-woods are of high scenic value. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize When the opportunity to walk this trail arose last winter, I chose not to - because I knew of this area. Walking and documenting these woods in winter would have felt like such a criminal move against the beauty of this place. Theres at least 3.5km of walking in this forest, before we come to our southerly trail junction. Taking the turn for the Stump of the Castle is the shorter of the two options. Heading left and uphill, its roughly 800m to the car park. This was the original finish point for the trail, until the Samuel Hayes bridge could be built. Its still a fine finish point now, but I think misses out on some lovely trails. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Keeping right and heading towards Rathdrum, theres probably a mile left to the walk, but with lots of highlights. The first being - the suspension bridge. Samuel Hayes was an 18th century member of parliament, commissioner of Avondale House, and lover of trees. At a time when native forests were fast disappearing, he believed the future lay in reforestation and managed woodlands. He wrote Irelands first book on trees - a practical guide on planting, managing timber, and the estates around Ireland that were home to trees of note. According to Wicklow Heritage, all of the oldest trees surviving on the Avondale estate were planted by Hayes. Not to mention, he also designed a pedestrian single-span bridge for this very river! View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize After the bridge, the way-marking again becomes a bit patchy, so here are my directions until the way-marking is updated. After the bridge, turn sharp right and head back upstream. At the next Y-junction, turn hard left and slightly uphill. Keep left at the next junction, and follow the trail around until you reach a bench with a Jubilee Loop way-marker. Follow this left through the next lovely little section of raised boardwalk, along the edge of the rugby club, and to the entrance to the Hidden Valley resort. Here youll find the Rathdrum info board, and the end of the trail! My personal favourite configuration for this trail is to walk from Rathdrum to Laragh (or the reverse). Thanks to Bryan for all the work he did years ago to get the Samuel Hayes bridge into production - Im imagining it was a huge project to connect the trail directly to the village with a bespoke footbridge. It not only makes the trail far more accessible to walkers who dont drive (or dont have two cars to leave at either end), but it also brings the walkers into the local community, meaning that the community is more likely to benefit from the walking tourism. I know from my own experience, and having watched other walkers for many years now -when youre travelling on foot, youre highly unlikely to make a detour thats going to add more than a couple of hundred meters to your route. So if you want a community to benefit from walkers, you have to make a really appealing route into the village. This trail ends outside of the main village centre, but it brings you to within the visual bounds of the town (eg. footpath, built up surroundings), meaning that you already feel connected and will continue onto a shop or coffee shop. More Irish trails need this thought and consideration. As Ive highlighted before, the fact that this trail is connected to the train line (Rathdrum) is a huge boon. An alternative Wicklow Way adventure could be to take the train to Rathdrum and walk the Avonmore Way up to Laragh or Trooperstown, joining onto the Wicklow Way easily from either northern trailhead. What Im imagining is: Day 1: Rathdrum Train Station Brushers Gap Hut18km | 520m elevation gain | via Laragh VillageStrava linkDay 2: Brushers Gap Glencree River23km | 770m elevation gain Strava LinkDay 3: Glencree River Marlay Park 20km | 625m elevation gainStrava Link Watch the youtube video here. Further exploringOther day hikes in the area: Glendalough White Loop (The Spinc)The Dublin Mountains LoopSt. Kevins Way, WicklowNearby National Waymarked Trails: The Wicklow WayThe Dublin Mountains WayMountain Hikes: Kippure: Dublin County High PointCoffee/food options: 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.N11 Avondale - Restaurant in RathdrumPitstop Coffee - takeaway coffee in Rathdrum

Connemara National Park covers some 2,000 hectares of scenic mountains, expanses of bogs, heaths, grasslands and woodlands in County Galway. Some of the National Parks mountains, namely Benbaun, Bencullagh, Benbrack and Muckanaght, are part of the famous Twelve Bens or Beanna Beola range.Opened to the public in 1980, the National Park includes lands that once formed part of the Kylemore Abbey Estate, the Letterfrack Industrial School, and the private property of Richard Humanity Dick Martin, who helped to form the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Learn more about our walking trails, unique habitats and our beautiful flora and fauna. - Connemara National Park Overview: Distance: 7kmLocation: GalwayElevation gain: 500mFormat: Looped TrailTime: 1 - 3 hrsStart / End / Parking:The trail starts and ends at the Connemara National Park Visitor Centre, just outside of the village of Letterfrack. There is ample parking at the visitor centre, plus toilets, cafe, and exhibition space. Trail difficulty: EasyThis is an accessible trail in Connemara, offering great views of the surrounding mountains and coastline. Its a great way to experience the ruggedness of the surrounding mountains without needing a lot of outdoor experience. If you are not used to hiking, this is steep in sections. Read about trail grading in Ireland here.Trail quality: 4/5Very well built trails, mixture of gravel paths, stone paving, and wooden boardwalk. Views: 5/5For a small hill, you get lovely views. Buggy/Wheelchair friendly: Lower loops are somewhat accessible, summit is not. Dogs allowed: Yes When did I walk this route: March 2024External resources: Connemara National Parks Info PageDiamond Hill on HiiKERSport Ireland info page View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Its an extremely windy March morning as I arrive to the Connemara National Parks Centre. But the strong breeze means the clouds are hurried on quickly, and the sun is shining through. The visitor centre here has some lovely short walks around the immediate grounds, through forests and along ponds. There are officially four trails from here: Ellis Wood Nature Trail: 0.5kmSruffaunboy Walk: 1.5kmLower Diamond Hill Walk: 3kmUpper Diamond Hill Walk: 3.7km Today Im doing what Id call the full Diamond Hill Loop, which is combining the Lower and Upper walk into something of a figure-eight shape. Note: the national park have waymarked this trail in a specific direction. Follow the way-marking. There is one section on the climb to the summit that is exposed rock and uneven. This meant to only be the way up, and is far more difficult to descend. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize The bottom loop is lots of wide open gravel paths and some stretches of boardwalk. At the split to the higher loop, there is very clear signage. It is on the upwards climb here that there is one small section of larger rock to navigate. As I said before - this is much easier to go up than down. Because of the strong winds blowing when I was there, many people were turning around at the top of this section, and deciding to come back down. However, the trail across the summit and down the back is a much easier path, designed to be easy to walk downwards on. I ended up being the only person walking around and down the far side while I was there. I stopped and munched on some late lunch, appreciating the wide valley view between me and the Bens. I finished the walk back around on more wide gravel paths to the visitor centre. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize On immediately finishing the walk, I was somewhat underwhelmed. This is a hike Ive heard raved about by so many people. However, as time has passed, my opinion has eased on this trail. The four paths I listed at the top are the only waymarked trails in the Connemara National Park. While there might be plenty of other routes listed in hiking apps, this is the only one that is and actual trail underfoot, and is waymarked. Thousands of tourists (national and international alike) have heard the songs and read about the romanticisation of Connemara for decades. If you are someone with limited walking experience, this walk is going to give you a taste of the wildness of the surrounding mountains in an accessible way. And if youre someone with walking experience, save this for a speedy sunrise or sunset hike, appreciate the views, and then carry on to your next adventure. Find this walk on YouTube Further exploringOther trails in the area: The Western Way - GalwayPine Island Viewpoint (google maps)This isnt a trail, but a very popular viewpoint from the general area (photo above). Favourite Local Coffee / Food Options:Cottage Coffee - RoundstoneThe Misunderstoon Heron

Thailand?As someone who writes about getting outdoors nearly exclusively in Ireland, primarily through walking trails, this might feel like a strange blog post to come across. Let me give you some context.Back in October of 2024 I won an instagram competition to go on a trail running holiday with Trails & Roots in Thailand. Yes, that sentence is real - and yes, I was head over heels excited. Fast forward a couple of months, and over 24hrs of travelling between three flights, I land in the city of Chiang Mai in north Thailand. The city is surrounded by several mountain ranges, and while far more densely populated and urban than what Im now used to, being in a city full of green with constant views of lush mountains left me feeling quite at home in the hustle and bustle. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Trails & Roots was created by Heather, an Irish Adventurer who, after travelling the world for her own endurance races, decided to establish Trails & Roots to combine her passions of adventure, being immersed in new cultures and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds.This is a running camp - but not a boot camp. It straddles the fine line of lots of running, but also lots of relaxation and recovery. Were based in the city of Chiang Mai for the full week, and every day we drive out to a new incredible trail in the surrounding mountains. The Thanon Thong Chai mountain range to the west of the city is where we spend most of our time, tackling the dense contours and incredible trails. Through pure chance, this trail camp was all women - except for two very important men: Zandy, our chef for the week; and Lek, or local guide. LEK: Part of the Trails and Roots experience is that they hire local guides to show us the truly off the beaten track trials. For this outing, our local guide was Lek, a true mountain goat, easily moving through the group as needed. He was a quiet man, happy to let us get excited over things that are just everyday life to him. He answered all my curious questions, explaining about nomadic tribes, the innumerable layers of culture throughout these mountains and the people living there. He laughed as he reassured locals that yes, we tourists were truly excited to run up the dirt tracks for hours on end. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Our first run of the camp was 17km, with over 570m of elevation gain and 1,200 metres of descent. The route was called Tribal Trails to Waterfalls and Temples, and it could not have been more spectacular. We climbed narrow single track and steep ascents that required three points of contact.However, all the running was balanced by getting to stop at one of the highest coffee shops in the region. Coffee with a view barely covers it. This was our most full on day. After our run we returned to our townhouse, quickly washed up and ate lunch before learning how to fold lilies for when you wanted to bring them as an offering to a Buddhist temple. And then we did just that - visiting two temples that evening. The first, Wat Pha Lat, was tucked into the mountainside. Surrounded by trees and bamboo, the gentle rustling of leaves set the hushed tone for the place. Here we sat down with a monk and learnt what we could about buddhism and a monks life in the hour long window we had with him. Ive never met someone so peaceful. At the end he gave us each a blesslet, wishing us all health, happiness and success in whatever we were looking for. A few days later one of the other runners asked if there was a way to take off the blesslet without harming the blessing - she didnt want it to accidentally be torn off and lost while we were out running. As long as we untied the knots, or left it on until it naturally untied, then we were fine. Just dont cut it off.Months later, it hangs beside my desk to remind me the feelings I had that day. Our second temple was Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (or the golden temple). I watched monks live-streaming their prayers, and hawkers offering to take your photo in front of all the gilded spires. There were true worshipers here, but also a lot of everything else. Standing on the edges, it was a cacophony of excitement, joy, and reverence.As we all slowly descended the stairs outside of the temple, Heather mentioned how excited she was for the dinner that Zandy was preparing back at the house. Have I mentioned the food yet? Because if its not the running that will sell you on a Trails and Roots camp, its the food.From the fresh coconuts our driver would slice open at the end of every run, to the incredible works of art that Zandy would concoct for us during our hours on trail, I dont think Ive ever eaten so well in my life. Every night was three courses; every breakfast a delicate balance of just how much banana bread can you eat without feeling queasy on the trail; and every picnic was a pinch me moment, sitting on the edge of river canyons or finding shade in floating huts. Id always seen the food talked about a lot in reviews and stories of Trails & Root camps, but didnt quite understand how freeing having someone else cook every meal for you was. Thanks again to Zandy for doing such a wonderful job that week. Day 2 saw us take on The Buffalo Run: Thirsty Ridge to Cool Canyons, another 17km trail epic through gritty climbs and our most technical trails for the week. This is where I won the Top Tumbler Award for the trip - thankfully a very minor slip on some loose stone. Finishing at the gorgeous river canyons, we picnicked and swam in the baking sunshine.That evening, we had a yoga session that had my calves screaming and the instructor laughing at just how stiff all our legs were. Day 3 was a looped 17k run through the mountain fruit farms. Named Fruits of the White Pagoda, this route had us passing through some of the most stunning scenery, as well as a tiny bit of bush-whacking. It was on this run that I saw my first Oriental/Crested Honey Buzzards. Their call was so distinctly buzzard that I almost took my second tumble as my head whipped up to find them. Circling on the higher air currents, there were at least five criss-crossing the skies above us. There was something wonderful in meeting the asian cousins to my usual avian companions at home. Every day, at the end of our runs, our driver is waiting with an ice box filled with coke cans and the aforementioned coconuts. As I sat on the ground in the sun, I smiled as I realised how strange it was for something that so foreign three days before (drinking a coconut), suddenly felt like part of the natural routine.That afternoon we swung by a new temple that had just opened, Loha Prasat Sri Mueang Pong (White Temple). The baking hot flagstones almost scorched your feet outside, the white paint blinding in the midday sunshine. Being a new temple, there were fewer visitors, but I could imagine the busy streams of people that would soon flow around the building, the noise rising to twirl through the spires and wind chimes high above. This was our one official free evening of the trip. Some of us went for a delicious dinner together, and afterwards I wandered street markets by myself, enjoying the cool night air. Something I hadnt expected was the vibrant coffee culture in Thailand. A local told me that while Thailand is a big coffee producer, the speciality coffee they produce is mostly used by the internal market. The variety I experienced in Chiang Mai was gorgeous. The weight that I was regaining from the used running gels and snacks was being filled even faster by the bags of coffee I kept buying. A particular favourite cafe that was walking distance from our townhouse was Roast8ry Coffee Lab - I liked it so much, I bought the t-shirt. For Day 4, we had a well earned rest day - where we all went on a Thai cooking course! Exploring everything from large local markets, to the farm where the cooking school grew everything in-house, we all learnt more about the cornerstones to Thai cuisine, and cooked our own five course meal. That evening I still went out for a short shakeout, and to find some local bookshops. There are a few things I will always track down no matter where I go - the kinds of spaces that always feel somewhat the same. For me, bookshops are those spaces, and I will happily wander, admiring books in languages I will never understand, until tired legs or other plans call. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Day 5 was the Doi Suthep Lake Loop. 16km of more gorgeous trails and river crossings. I remember reaching the first river, and wondering if I wanted to get my feet wet. Wet feet at home is both to be expected, and something that I typically delay until the last possible moment, as it means I wont have dry (or warm) feet until I am back at the car changing. However, in balmy Thailand I quickly realised that wet feet really meant incredibly little to me - almost nice! When we finished our run that day, we stayed by the lake and ate our lunch in lake-side huts. Sitting there, munching on sushi as the water lapped below, my mind suddenly registered how insane this whole moment was - a literal pinch-me moment. Our final evening activity was a full body Thai massage. After so much travel and trails, this was one of the absolute highlights of an impossibly high trip. Just like during the yoga, I was lovingly scolded for how inflexible and stiff all my muscles were. Our final day was 10km called Monks Sacred Steps to Coffee. Starting in the university, we ran up the Monks trail, which took us the whole way back to the very first temple we visited. We then descended down to a runners cafe just outside the city, before it was time to pack our bags and head back to reality. Putting the video together months later, and this blog post even later still, it all feels like an incredible dream. Thailand is so far from my everyday, that sometimes its hard to remember that this was real, and not all that long ago.And there were so many other moments I havent mentioned - sound baths and pedicures, post dinner conversations and individual revelations. A big thank you to Heather once more for organising, to Lek for being a wonderful guide (and taking all of these wonderful running photos on the final day), and to the fantastic women whom I shared the camp with! Watch the video of the adventure here As I mentioned at the top - I won this trip as a giveaway. Heather didnt expect me to write, photograph, or film any of it, this was all shared purely because I had such a wonderful time. To learn more about Trails & Roots, check out their website: trailsandroots.com

Back for its 5th year, #HERoutdoorsWeek aims to celebrate the benefits of exercising and being in the outdoors, brings visibility to female participation in sport and physical activity. Knowing how much I gain from the outdoors, this is a week that I love being involved in, and will happily shout from the rooftops about!A Sport Ireland initiative, this week is organised by the Local Sports Partnerships and Outdoor National Governing Bodies. All across Ireland, there are so many opportunities to experience adventure! HER Outdoors Week is fromAugust 11th - 17th, 2025In this article, find upcoming events for the week ahead divided by county. Many of the events that are organised are taster sessions or up-skilling opportunities, and so are a great way to try new sports with new people. Find events near you by County: My top tips for finding events this year: many of the NGBs and LSPs are doing the booking for events through Eventbrite. If you find your Local Sports Partnership on Eventbrite see if they have a collection of events dedicated to HER Outdoors Week, or just scroll through all their upcoming events.Ive done my best to only include events that still had tickets available as off the morning of Tue 12th of August! This means that many counties have more events on than I have linked. Cavan Events: 13th: 4 Week Kayaking programmeLearn more about Cavan Local Sports Partnership here. Carlow Events: 12th: Social cycle from St. Mullins13th: SUPing & Outdoor Yoga14th: Kayaking adventure from Goresbridge15th: Outdoor PilatesLearn more about Carlow Local Sports Partnership here, and their recent newsletter here. Clare Events: 14th: Try Snorkeling14th: Outdoor Yoga & Dip15th: Try Kayaking15th: Intro to rock climbingLearn more about Clare Local Sports Partnership here. Cork Events: 12th: SUPing in Ballyhass13th: Bank fishing13th: Social Cycle14th: Hike, Yoga & Dip14th: Guided hillwalk from Fermoy14th: Come try sailing (Contact Kathryn 087-9876390 or email kathrynwcdp@gmail.com)16th: Morning cycle to Middleton Market16th: Boat fishing in Cobh16th: Inchadoney Beachfest, featuring Hockey, Lacrosse, Orienteering, Tag Rugby, and more.Learn more about Cork Local Sports Partnership here. Donegal Events: 14th: Morning dip in Bundoran14th: Glenveagh Guided E-Bike Tour14th: Taster SUPing Session in Moville14th: 4 week programme of SUPing (Kilcar)15th: Guided bike tour of Arranmore 16th: Culdaff beach yoga & dip16th: Try cycling with the Finn Wheelers17th: Try horse riding17th: Try fishingLearn more about Donegal Local Sports Partnership here, or follow then on Eventbrite here. Dublin Events:Dublin has more than one county council. If youre in Dublin consider scrolling down to see whats on in Wicklow or other surrounding counties too! Dublin City: Multiple dates of free yoga & fitness classes in the cityLearn more about Dublin City Sport & Wellbeing Partnership here and follow them on eventbrite here.Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown:13th: Teens Try SUPing15th: Yoga on the greenLearn more about Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown Sports Partnership.Fingal: 12th: Try BMX-ing12th: Cycling and bike repair workshop16th: Try Sailing16th: Sea swimmingLearn more about Fingal Sports Partnership.South Dublin: 13th: Teen Hike13th: Intro to disc golf Learn more about Active South Dublin. Galway Events: 13th: Kayaking for Women and Girls on Inis Mr13th: Orienteering at Merlin Woods14th: Kayaking in Portumna 15th: River rafting16th: Dip & Sauna silverstrand16th: Try Kayaking in LeenaunLearn more about Galway Sports Partnership or follow them on eventbrite here. Kerry Events: Multiple dates: Womens cycling programme in Tralee group rides, workshops & guest sessions Learn more about the Kerry Recreation & Sports Partnership, or follow them on eventbrite here. Kilkenny Events: Multiple dates: Intro to mountain biking for teens and adults 14th: Teen rock climbing taster session14th: Yoga & WalkLearn more about Kilkenny Sports & Recreation Partnership, and find their events page here. Laois Events: Multiple dates: Free gym classes13th: Teen SUPing13th: Teen Bushcraft Skills14th: Social Kayaking16th: Social wellness walk 16th: Try Kayaking & Canoeing Learn more about Laois Sports Partnership, and find their events page here. Leitrim Events: 12th: Try Tennis in Carrick 13th: Teen Try Kayaking13th: Adult Try Kayaking13th: Try Tennis in Drumshanbo14th: Yoga in Dromahair15th: Yoga in Lough RinnLearn more about Leitrim Sports Partnership, or follow them on Eventbrite here. Limerick Events: 13th: Kilmallock Walk16th: Try road cycling 17th: 3 Bridges Walk17th: Pilates in the ParkLearn more about Limerick Sports Partnership, and find their full events page here. Longford Events: 13th: Inclusive Archery14th: Inclusive Orienteering14th: Women and Girls Orienteering (8+ yrs)Learn more about Longford Sports Partnership, and upcoming general events. Louth Events: 13th: Teens SUPing Session15th: Circuits on the beach16th: Sunset Hike17th: Customs & Cures Heritage Walk17th: SUPing SessionLearn more about Louth Local Sports Partnership here, or follow them on Eventbrite here. Mayo Events: 13th: Beginner surfing on Achill Island14th: SUPing on Lough Lannagh14th: Try Rock Climbing on Achill Island15th: Outdoor Yoga at Turlough House16th: Outdoor Yoga, Sauna & DipLearn more about the Mayo Local Sports Partnership here, or follow them on Eventbrite here. Meath Events: 13th: Activator Pole Walking13th: Inclusive canoeing for mothers & daughters with a disability13th: Try archery13th: Try cycling15th: Teens try cycling16th: Yoga & Dip16th: Inclusive cycling 17th: Trail running17th: Sea swimmingLearn more about Meath Sports Partnership here. Monaghan Events: 13th: Woodland wellness walk at Dartry14th: Woodland wellness walk at Emy Lough15th: Woodland wellness walk at Lough MucknoLearn more about Monaghan Sports Partnership here, and find their Eventmaster Page here. Offaly Events: Multiple dates: SUPing for Teens and AdultsLearn more about Offaly Sports Partnership here. Roscommon Events: 12th: Try Archery13th: Mum & daughter rock climbing13th: Try golf14th: Try Kayaking at Lough Key14th: Try Tag Rugby15th: Teen Try Horse riding15th: Try Archery15th: Try Tag RugbyLearn more about Roscommon Sports Partnership here, or follow them on eventbrite here. Sligo Events: 14th: Carrowkeel Guided Hike14th: Womens Social MTB Skills Session16th: Intro to mountain biking17th: Guided Benbulben Hike17th: Try OrienteeringMultiple dates: Try Sailing20th: Networking event for womenLearn more about Sligo Sports Partnership, or follow them on Eventbrite here. Tipperary Events: 17th: Summit Sisters Learn more about Tipperary Sports Partnership, or follow them on Eventbrite here. Waterford Events: 14th: Try Kayaking 15th: Introduction to Mantrailing15th: Intro to scrambling skills16th: Melleray HikeLearn more about Waterford Sports Partnership, or follow them on Eventbrite here. Wicklow Events: 13th: Try sea swimming13th: Try Orienteering in Tinahely14th: Try SUPing - at 5pm or at 6pm.16th: Try Sailing in BrayLearn more about Wicklow Local Sports Partnership here, or follow them on Eventbrite here. Westmeath Events: 14th: Yoga in the Park - Moate 14th: Tai Chi in the Park - Moate14th: Boxercise in the Park - Mullingar15th: Yoga in the Park - Mullingar15th: Tai Chi in the Park - Mullingar17th: Boxercise in the Park - Mullingar17th: Nancy and Nellie Trail Walk - Fore Abbey19th: Try SUPingLearn more about Westmeath Sports Partnership here, or follow them on Eventbrite here. Wexford Events:13th: Mother & Daughter Hike14th: Teen beach day including Beach Cricket, Beach Volleyball, Surfing, and more15th: Yoga at Forth MountainLearn more about Wexford Sports Partnership, or follow them on Eventbrite here. Find Adventure Through The SportThe following National Governing Bodies (NGBs) are running events across the country: Mountaineering IrelandCycling IrelandOrienteering IrelandCanoeing Ireland#FINDYOUROUTDOORS #EmbraceYourSpace

A gorgeous hike and dip in the southern uplands of Scotland, near the town of Moffat. This dramatic waterfall is one of the UKs highest, plunging 60m down into the Moffat Water Valley. Overview: Distance: 5km Elevation gain: 320mFormat: Out and back trailTime: 1hr - 2+hrs (depending if youre swimming)Opening times: daily, all yearStart / End / Parking: Trail Head Car Park is 5 - for the National Trust for ScotlandTrail difficulty: Easy +This trail has a well built path, but it is very steep. Give yourself plenty of time and take breaks if needed. Read about my trail grading here.Trail quality: 5/5, very well maintainedViews: 5/5, gorgeous for a short out and back trailBuggy/Wheelchair friendly: NoDogs allowed: On a lead When did I walk this route: July 2025External resources: National Trust for ScotlandGPX FileFind the route on HiiKER View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Recently I went to the borderlands of England and Scotland to visit some family. It was a whirlwind trip, and on my final day I only had a couple of hours to spare as I made my way back to the west coast for an early ferry the next morning. The dramatic contours of this valley immediately jumped out at me as I looked at where Id be driving near, and so I detoured to Grey Mare's Tail Waterfall Car Park. The trailhead is open year round, and there is a 5 fee for the upkeep to the National Trust for Scotland. I parked up with the other cars and vans of varying sizes, and headed up the trail in glorious sunshine. This is a small but mighty hike - you do the majority of the climbing (200m) in the first 1km, with the remaining 1+km to the lake twisting through hummocky uplands. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Because of the lumpy terrain, you cant see the lake until you arrive right on the shore. Surrounding the loch are the peaks of Lochcraig Head, Mid Craig and the summit of White Coomb (821m). There are several little solo shores along the twisting sides of the lake, and I had a corner all to myself for my swim. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize This whole area is a nature reserve, and on the way up Id smiled and waved at the wild goats across the river from me. As I sat on a rock post swim, I noticed a large bird of prey carrying some food circle above me. My first wild Osprey! The Scottish National Trust reports that you can also find peregrine falcons, ring ouzels, rare upland plants, and Britains rarest freshwater fish, the vendace. I met solo walkers and rag-tag families, with some only making it a short way up the hill before stopping to take photos and head back down. There is a short trail on the south side of the river (same side as the car park), that brings you a short ways in towards the bottom of the waterfall, although not the whole way (it looked like it became too rugged for safe walking). View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize A wonderful short but intense walk, it was exactly what I needed before driving on to Stranraer. This trip has made it even more apparent how much I would love to spend a while hiking in Scotland. Until the next time! Further exploringOther trails in the area: Rockcliffe Coastal WalkCriffel by the Ardwall pathFavourite Local Coffee / Food Options:Zolas Bakery & Cafe, Galashiels (incredible!)The Glen Cafe at St. Marys Loch (very close to the trail)Apples for Jam, MelroseOther curiositiesFelicity Bristow Studio - Bookbinders, Melrose

The County High Point List is a project that takes you all around the island of Ireland, climbing to the highest point within each county. Some of these are epic hikes, where you climb through towering mountains - and some take you on a journey through time instead. Overview: Distance: 600m from upper car park to summitElevation gain: 60mFormat: Out and back trailTime: 15 - 90 minutesStart / End / Parking:A) There is a small car park at the foot of the hill, here.B) Slightly further down the road is the Loughcrew Megalithic Centre with ample parking.Trail difficulty: EasyThis trail is very accessible, but steep for how short it is. It begins with a series of wooden steps, and then is a well worn grassy path to the summit. Read about trail grading in Ireland here.Trail quality: 4/5Very well maintained. A sheep-shorn hillside, with way-markers every few meters. Views: 4/5For its location, it offers great views of the surroundings. Buggy/Wheelchair friendly: No - you could probably bring a buggy but it would require work.Dogs allowed: On a lead When did I walk this route: March 2025External resources: My route from this walk on StravaGPX FileLoughcrew Megalithic Centre Info Page The County High Point of Meath is a little-known yet ancient neolithic cairn at Loughcrew. Cairn-T, to be precise, or Sliabh na Caille. These small but prominent hills are a palimpsest of the past, with layers upon layers of the last 5,000 years enshrined in stones.And Im here, adding my footsteps to the many who have gone before, to gaze at rocks as the sun rises on the Spring Equinox.In Ireland, the Spring equinox generally happens around March 20th each year. It marks the point when the sun crosses the celestial equator from south to north - and the 24 hours of that day are split perfectly between day and night. From then until the autumn equinox at the end of September, the days are always longer than the nights. In so much of Irish history and folklore, the equinox and areas that mark it have had cultural and historical significance - a particularly good example being this cairn that Ive come to see. On this special morning, the sunrise illuminates carvings inside the passage tomb, similar to Newgrange in winter. For many, this event symbolises balance and renewal.Standing in the freezing sunlight of that early March morning were many people like me, there to witness an ancient piece of Irish heritage and feel connected to the changing seasons. There were others of varying pagan and spiritual beliefs looking to give thanks to the old gods and mark the returning sun - and there were OPW staff, wrapped up well to oversee us all and make sure the cairn was protected for another year. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize The name of the hill, Sliabh na Caille, means the hill of the witch, and I was told a few stories by one OPW member of the legends that surround the hill. One of them is that the witch was something of a giant, and as she came bounding across the land with her apron full of rocks, they fell out in her haste and created the hills and large stone piles. More interesting still is her throne or chair that is placed just to the side of Cairn T. If you walk three loops around the whole Cairn, returning each time to the witches chair, you can ask her for a wish or blessing. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize I wanted to be on the summit of this small hill before sunrise, which was at 06:29am. For me, this meant that I needed to sleep somewhere close-by the night before. Luckily, the Loughcrew Megalithic Centre is a whole 230m from the trailhead, and has a campsite. Like the majority of campsites in Ireland, they are closed during the winter / off-season months, but they do open specially for the Spring Equinox every year. This year it landed on a Thursday, so once I finished work on the Wednesday I drove east, arriving after nightfall. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Sarah, a lovely woman whos part of the family who run the centre, met me and showed me around the site, and gave me some general advice for the following morning. The campsite was really nicely laid out, with a really big kitchen and clean bathrooms. I was almost sad that I was only staying the one night, and wouldnt need to use any of their facilities. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Getting up at 5:30am the following morning left me with plenty of time to get dressed, munch a quick snack and walk up the hill in the pre-dawn light. There were a few other people walking too, and what I would call a medium gathering standing around the summit by the time I arrived. As the day got brighter more sleepy heads crested the hill, with possibly close to 100 people there as the sun shone down the passage tomb. Due to structural damage to the roof of the passage tomb, the outer gate remained locked. As the sunlight hit the back wall and illuminated the carvings, everyone on the hill crowded forward to get their chance to peer in. Joining the queue, I wondered if I would be able to get any good photos with everyone else being so eager to get to the front. Stopping by an OPW officer, I asked how long the sunlight would fill the chamber, oh, at least half an hour! Id say you can let everyone rush forward, and then as it dies down youll be able to get a quieter moment. Taking his advice, the initial panic did die down and I took my time looking at the other-worldly carvings shining back at me. Of course, Cairn T isnt the only site worth seeing here. Sliabh na Caille, or Mountain of the Witch/Hag, is the name of the whole group of surrounding hills, which are home to an incredibly rich archaeological complex. They are so numerous that the major sites are labelled with a letter of the alphabet - hence Carin T. Below are some photos of artwork in one of the other passage tombs on the same hill as Cairn T, as well as the Hags Seat. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Leaving the summit once the sun was well risen, I walked back down to the centre and their cafe and gift shop. I bought two books on the area and sat with a coffee and scone, listening to stories and folklore being swapped all around me. In general, I would recommend doing this county high point during the summer months when there are plenty of guided tours and people to explain the history and folklore. Find info on guided tours from: OPW & Heritage IrelandThe Loughcew Megalithic Centre In researching whether there are other talked about routes up this hill (many a local seemed to walk up from another road, but as I couldnt find any explicit permission Ive not mentioned it as an option), I did notice that you can use google street view the whole way up the trail and around the summit. You can see every dimple and grassy tuft from the comfort of your own home and decide if it is a walk for you! Further exploringOther trails in the area: Mullaghmeen, Westmeaths County High PointCorn Hill, Longfords County High PointDn a R Forest ParkDiscover Boyne Valley Heritage SitesFavourite Local Coffee / Food Options:The Happy Cup Cafe, Oldcastle Loughcrew Megalithic Centre Cafe

Day 0 at St. Jean Pied de Port At some point last year I began doing a monthly round up over on the Tough Soles Instagram account where I mention the different things published that month, as well as features or interesting outdoor related things Id come across. Reflecting on these posts, Ive realised theyre somewhat reminiscent of the Coffee with Tough Soles videos Carl and I used to make. Ive decided to expand on this format here. So here are some notes from the last couple of months, starting with: The Outsider Podcast Episode 5: Beyond the Trail with Ellie BerryBack in April I got to sit down with Matt from Outsider to chat all things outdoors on the new Outsider Podcast. In Episode 5 of the Outsider Podcast, we sit down with hiker, photographer, and passionate outdoor advocate Ellie Berry best known for walking all 42 of Irelands National Waymarked Trails. With her trademark warmth, honesty and curiosity, Ellie opens up about how the outdoors has shaped her life, and what it truly means to be an outsiderI think this is the first podcasts/interviews where I managed to somewhat explain the connections between Tough Soles, my art research masters, and some of the other little bits that come together to let me lead such an outdoor focused life. Listen (or watch) back to our conversation on Spotify or YouTube. Start point info board in Dowra The Cavan Way FKT I will happily be the first to say - I am not a fast runner. However, in April I ran the Cavan Way, setting the first womens time on the FKT website. This year Im hoping to tick off a few more Irish trails on the FKT website that dont have a registered womens time to increase the visibility of women running Irish trails. If Im honest, I was pretty tired on this day out, and in general I feel like both the mens and womens times are quite doable. So if there are any trail runners out there looking to head off the beaten path, this might be a nice little wander. Cavan Way notes: The Cavan Way route has changed in sections from the original route that was uploaded to the FKT. You can find updated maps on the Sport Ireland website (or download my GPX file here). Please respect the slight change in routing, as the previous land may no longer be open to walkers/runners. In general, all changes to routes are to improve a trail. I started at the Beara Breifne Way info board in Dowra beside the bridge, and finished at theBeara Breifne Way info board in the middle of Blacklion. The route is just shy of 24km, with540m of gain when running from South to North. An easy mix of boreens, by-roads and rolling farmland, it's a lovely route to tick off if you're in the area.However, for some, this trail might be a bit too road heavy. I didnt mind the mix, and the beauty of the Cavan Burren Park made up for it. A note for anyone running shortly after me - there is still extremely extensive storm damage from last winter in the Cavan Burren park, with the trees (almost) impassable (see final photo above).See you on the next one Day 1 - Climbing through the Pyrenees The Camino Frances 2025For the month of May (and not a small part of June) I walked the Camino Frances with my Dad. We covered 808km over 34 days, which includes 2 rest days. We started in the traditional St. Jean Pied de Port, and took a couple of alternative routes along our way to Santiago de Compostela. Back on day 17, I wrote in my journal of the trip:You dont walk the Camino for the trail - I can think of dozens of better trails around Europe. You walk it for the people, and the thousands of people who have gone before you. For the simplicity of life - walk, write, rest, repeat. You walk for the time to reflect, or the time to be with someone, or to remember someone. For the shared hardship, twined with the knowledge that it is also shared joy and shared strength. You lean on others, and they lean on you. Every whispered greeting in passing is a recognition of what is done, and what is ahead of us. Your own candle does not diminish from the lighting of others As not a very social person, the fact that I enjoyed meeting and being with so many people every day is testament to just how welcoming everyone is, and how much incredible work is done by thousands of volunteers every day. Ive so many photos to go through, and so many journal entries to process. Being home again, time is suddenly flying by! Find my gear review and Q&A video in this recent website article. Personal achievement: I didnt get sunburnt while walking and travelling for the total 39 days away! National Outdoor Recreation Conference 2025I was invited to speak on the Benefits of Outdoor Recreation Panel at the National Outdoor Recreation Conference in Limerick at the end of June. Thanks to the Dept. RCD&G and Comhairle na Tuaithe for both organising and hosting a fantastic conference. In general the sentiment from all the speakers was of optimism for the Irish outdoors, and I left the day feeling excited for whats to come for our beautiful island. Book of the Month(s): The Way of St. James by John BrierleyFinally - this guidebook by John balanced sharing detailed info, little jokes and daily reflections so well. We walked most of the stages recommended by this book, which are quite similar to the stages recommended by the different tourist/information offices. Amazing to think that one of the most prolific camino guides was written by an Irishman! Tough Soles YouTubeDuring April - June I published four videos on YouTube: The Bangor Trail VideoA week of trail running in ThailandPre-camino gear checkPost-camino gear reviewSince then Ive shared a Q&A video, and Ive at least one more camino video planned, which is everything I filmed while walking. Im hoping to get to document more of the County High Points of Ireland this year, so those videos will be upcoming. If youve any trails or videos youd like to see on Tough Soles, email me or message me on Instagram with your ideas!

This summer I had the oppertunity to walk the Camino Frances with my Dad. From the 4th of May to the 6th of June, we walked from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela, covering 808km across the north of Spain. This wasnt my first camino - ten years ago, Carl and I walked the Camino Del Norte, starting in Bayonne on the French coast and walking between the sea and the mountains all the way to Finisterre, the end of the world. In those ten years Carl and I have become avid walkers, created Tough Soles, and a rode the cascade of other events and opportunities have come from that one walk. So I was excited to head back to Spain, walk a very different walk, and come back with a whole new set of experiences. However, first things first - we needed to pack and actually walk the Camino Frances.Pre-Camino Gear Check One of my main goals for this trip was to avoid buying new gear. Like many outdoor enthusiasts, I am a certified Gear Head. I can walk around an outdoor shop for hours, gush over the new version of my favourite camping stove, and let my heart run away with every map I lay eyes on. Through this Ive collected my fair share of equipment, and while Ive sold or given away most of the things that havent worked for us, I still like to remind myself that sometimes I just need to be content with making things work, instead of making them perfect. For this trip I went on a walk down memory lane, reusing both the backpack and sleeping bag I first bought ten years ago for the Camino Del Norte. Something I did have to buy was a new pair of shoes, and I went for the Hoka Speedgoats, a trail runner Ive worn through at least 8 pairs of at this point. I also bought more camera batteries, and a new battery bank. The amount of tech / photography related items I bring on adventures is definitely more than average, and an easy place to save weight for anyone comparing my gear weight breakdown to their own piles. CLOTHES:Sweaty Betty 6inch running shorts x 2 Sweaty Betty full length leggings x 1 Synthetic t-shirt x 2 Long sleeve Rab sun hoodie x 11000 mile socks x 3 Patagonia R1 fleece x 1Patagonia down jacket x 1Patagonia storm 10 rain jacket x 1TECH: Sony A7S Mk1 camera GoPro Hero 10Battery bankShokz mini bone-conducting headphonesKodak half frame film cameraCapture Clip for cameraCharging cables for everythingplug adaptorKindleWatch: Garmin Fenix 6SEnough notebooks, pens, and postcards to sustain a small village GENERAL GEAR: Shoes: Hoka SpeedgoatsBackpack: Lowe Alpine 33-40LHead Torch: Petzl Iko CoreSleeping Bag: Snugpak Traveller (Synthetic - comfort 7*C)Nalgene water bottleGeneric sports sun glassesLight Teva sandals TOILETRIES:P20 Sunscreen (Factor 50) Anti-chaffing stickAntiseptic creamToothbrush & ToothpasteShampoo, Conditioner, SoapEar plugsEye maskMicrofibre towelTick card & tick tweezersCat hole suppliesSmall first aid kit Post Camino Gear Review Overall, the gear I left with and the gear I came home with were very much the same. I bought new socks, and everything else pretty much managed!While it was nice to have the reminiscence of using the same backpack as my first trip, I actually have better bags that I left at home (namely the Osprey Aura) that can deal with a heavier pack better than the frame of this bag could. But it served its purpose and made it another month of travelling with me (although only just, with some of the materials starting to perish). I rolled a risky dice in not buying a new pair of shoes towards the end of the trip. Somewhere not long after the 600km mark, I could feel that my trail runners were worn out and not supporting me the way that they shouldve been. Thankfully, its all worked out, but thats not a risk I recommend taking! Its interesting that the pieces of gear that I did upgrade ahead of this trip (camera batteries and battery bank), were probably not needed! My memory of walking 10 years prior featured far fewer plugs/outlets for charging. However, this time around it was usual and became expected for each bunk bed to have its own socket. I didnt need 8 camera batteries (yes, I know) but Im glad to have them for future camping adventures. Post Camino Q&AAnd now that we know how well my gear worked, it was time to talk through some of your general questions of the experience of walking for 34 days in a row. I asked for questions on YouTube and Instagram, and most of them boiled down into the 11 questions I answered in my most recent video on the trip. Below, Ive answered some of those questions in text form too. Q1: Getting to the start and end? We flew into Biarritz and took the train up to Saint-Jean. The train ride is pretty as it climbs up into the mountains. We gave ourselves a full travel day just to get to Saint-Jean, register at the camino office, and then start early the following morning to climb up into the mountains. Luckily, leaving Santiago is easy if you're Irish, as there are direct flights back to Dublin. A lot of other nationalities had to take a bus or train to Madrid and fly from there. Taking the bus out to Santiago airport, we were driving back out along the route we had walked in just a few days before. The final unexpected camino moment was sitting there, watching friends and strangers walk into the city, knowing that they were mere hours from finishing, after the weeks or months theyd spent walking. Q2: Booking Accommodation?There is a lot of stress about booking ahead along the Camino Frances. I heard many refer to it as the big bed race in the mornings. Half of this stress is just made from everyone around you also getting stressed over booking. I think you can walk the camino with or without pre-booking your accommodation, depending on your own constraints. The municipal albergues do not take bookings. These beds are given out on a first come, first served basis. These are often very basic hostels, but once you have a bed and a shower, there is very little that these spaces really need to provide for you, and there was always a great sense of community in the municipal albergues. However, there are many reasons why booking the trip might be necessary for you. For some, you cant choose to go further if theres no room at the inn. If youre someone who knows that they cannot walk more than 15km a day; needs a private room for medical devices; have travelled half way around the world for this trip; or find it incredibly stressful not knowing for sure where your day is ending, then booking ahead becomes more necessary. And the stress of the unknown should not be overlooked - Ive experienced this in the past walking in Ireland and abroad, and it can take a long time to relax into the unknown. Q3: Did you get bedbugs? Thankfully, no. Bedbugs can feel like one of those taboo phrases on the camino. Its a horrible experience to get them, and an ordeal to try and wash yourself and all your belongings hot enough to kill them off. But its rarely the fault of the accommodation - when youve anything from hundreds to thousands of people passing through a village every night, they can come in unbidden on someones sleeping bag or clothing. I can understand why hostels and hotels were incredibly touchy at someone mentioning bugs - it can cause a huge panic. Most hostels provide or have for sale a disposable sheet and pillow case. Id recommend always using them. Q4: Is the trail mainly on-road or off-road walking?I found this an interesting question, as it was something that I had begun to notice in my notes before even finished the camino myself. This is very much an off-road walking route, and its incredible the infrastructure that has been developed to allow for so many people to walk across a country. However, I dont know if I would call this a trail, specifically in comparison to what I call a trail in Ireland. It is a wide gravel track that is primarily for the use of walkers (and access lanes for the local farmers). It isnt tarmac, but it is hard underfoot. The couple of days that it was particularly trail-y were distinctly written about as the harder than the usual walking days. Q5: How much did it cost? For 2025, I think a rough budget looks something like: Breakfast and lunch: 10 - 20Pilgrim dinner: 15Bunkbed: 15I think 1500 per person for the full walk is a pretty basic ballpark that you can estimate, if youre happy to stay in the cheapest accommodation options. Q6: Are the nights noisy?As a light sleeper in the dormitories - yes. I wore earplugs and an eye-mask the whole trip, and didnt sleep through a single night. This is just part of the parcel of this kind of trip, and I try and accept it and roll with the lumpy mattresses. Q7: Which camino route would you do again? Specifically thinking about the again in this phrase, right now I would love to see how the Del Norte compares to my memories from 10 years ago. But overall, I would also love to walk the Camino Primitivo and the Camino Portugus.Q8: Best unexpected experience?The people. Im usually quite an introvert, and go hiking for the solitude and connection to the outdoors. So it was a real surprise to realise that it was the people who made this adventure special. I really loved the wide mix of people we met. Without them, it would have just been a long gravel walk. Which ties in nicely to the final question of - Q11: Was this just a long walk, or were you able to connect to some pilgrimage aspect?It was seeing people who are not walkers band together and help one another that really gave this is a feeling of communal pilgrimage, instead of just a nice wander. At one point my dad asked me why was everyone we met on the camino so nice? Was it that the camino attracts nice people, or does the camino provide a space for people to connect and bring the best out of each other?I think its probably a little of both, which works as a constantly reoccurring cycle. There is something in walking that is different to everyday life - you can experience it on a day-hike, or a thru-hike. People that were strangers become confidants. Its easier to share what is mentally weighing on you, while you literally struggle together under the weight of things youve chosen to carry. This all leads me to say thank you to everyone I met on the walk - it was an incredible experience, and I hope our paths cross again on future wanders. Buen Camino

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