Baltimore Beacon is an unusual outpost jutting out into the Atlantic from the rugged cliffs of west Cork. Come explore this unique landmark with me OverviewDistance: Starting from Baltimore village: approx 3.5km total out and backStarting from the very small car park at the end of the road: 600m total out and backTime: 10 - 60 minutes depending on how long you want to explore! Parking: Large car park in the villageTiny closer car park (room for approx. 4 cars)Trail difficulty: Easy (-ish)Walking out from the village is all small lanes, until the last 300m. From there, there is a worn path that can be steep and slippy underfoot. There is no way-marking. Read how we rate trails here.Trail quality: 3/5No official trail really underfoot, but the ground was stable when I visitedViews: 5/5A really lovely spot to sit and look out at the surrounding islands and cliffs. Buggy/Wheelchair friendly: No Dogs allowed: NoWhen was I here: March 2026External links: Our long-form video on YouTubeSport Ireland Outdoors Recently I was down in Cork visiting The Wandering Goldsmith to work on our Sl Signet. Having driven to the other end of the country, it felt only right to go and see some places that have been on my to do list for a long time. The first stop was to see the Baltimore Beacon. The Baltimore Beacon is a large, white-painted stone pillar that sits on a prominent viewpoint above the water between the mainland and Sherkin Island. Standing at 15m high, its a tapered pillar with a red ball on top, and unlike anything Ive seen along the Irish coastline (although apparently it is one of at least 20 such structures out there).Visiting in mid-March on a stormy weekend, I was alone as I pulled into the tiny car park at the top of the lane out from the village. I let the rain shower pass, and then stepped out into glorious sunshine with a biting wind. Walking out from this tiny car park, its only 300m or so to this huge pillar. Beacons like this have to be somewhat unique, so that when sailers spotted them they would know where they are. Apparently, one of the names its known by is Lots Wife - after the biblical woman who turned into a pillar of salt. While wandering around this viewpoint several other people came and went, despite the strength of the wind and earliness in the season. I stayed and watched one or two small boats resolutely push through the choppy water, the gulls diving along the cliffs, and the sea foam blowing up around me so it fell like snow. At this early point in the year, this was a peaceful place to stop by to drink in both the views and my coffee. I can imagine that during peak summer times it could be overly busy. Something of a snap and go viewpoint, I feel conflicted in whether I recommend visiting. Our outdoor spaces suffer enough from high footfall in photogenic places, which this certainly is. In these high-use areas, being aware of our impact is key - strive to leave nothing behind and take care of the environment. Is a simple walk to a pretty place, and if that interests you then I hope youve a wonderful time. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Further exploringCheck out all of the trails organised by county here.Other trails in the area: Knockomagh Hill (Lough Hyne Viewpoint)The Sheeps Head WayPeakeen Loop, Sheeps HeadGougane Barra Forest ParkThe Beara WayFavourite Local Coffee / Food Options:Brew, SkibbereenONeill Coffee, SkibbereenDrip Coffee, RosscarberyWazzy Woo, Clonakilty

The Sl Signet, by Tough Soles & The Wandering Goldsmith Inspired by Irelands National Waymarked Trails, the Sl Signet Ring is created for those who have fallen in love with the rugged beauty of the Irish landscape. Designed in collaboration with Tough Soles, who have completed every single one of the national waymarked trails, the ring features the trail marker that has accompanied them along their 4,000km journey. Each ring is handcrafted in Sterling Silver in my small workshop in Ireland. Created for hiking enthusiasts and travellers alike, its is a lasting symbol of miles walked, memories made and connection to Irelands beauty. To pour back into the outdoor community, 10% of the profits from each sale are being donated to Mountain Rescue Ireland. Order Here My dreams came true last year, when talking to Leika (The Wandering Goldsmith) and realising that she would be just as excited as me to make something together, inspired by Irelands incredible trails.The Sl Signet is inspired by "Elvis" - long term readers may remember this nickname for the little man who way-marks all of our National Way-marked Trails. This was a collaborative design process, discussing different jewellery formats, what would suit a broad demographic, and me learning a lot about metal densities, quenching affects, and everything else Leika was able to explain to me. I am so happy that we settled on a signet ring. Made of solid sterling silver, this ring feels durable and capable of accompanying me on many adventures into the future. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize To celebrate our creation in person, we went and walked the Peakeen Ridge Loop on the Sheeps Head Peninsula, a stunning 15km loop with many gorgeous hand-made waymarkers too.

In 2023, Ellie set off to climb every mountain on the island of Ireland - specifically, the Vandeleur-Lynam List. The definition of a mountain is a tricky one. The Vandeleur-Lynams is a list of 275 summits over 600m, featuring all of Ireland's most iconic peaks - and many that are remote and little known.Through the months of June and July, Ellie worked her way around the island ticking off all the major mountain ranges. She just so happened to pick the wettest summer on record. However, this project wasnt a box ticking exercise. It was a celebration of the wild variety of landscapes that Ireland has to offer, and an excuse to spend a summer in the places she loves the most. It is here! I am so delighted to share with you that the short film about my adventure climbing mountains all around Ireland is complete. With the help of Matt and Conall from Outsider.ie, this film captures the joy of adventure, and the realities of a summer outside in Irish conditions. 3 Upcoming Screenings: 1. April 18th: Wander Wild Festival, Co. Kerry * Great Southern Killarney, Co. Kerry* Saturday at 4pm* Tickets 15* Live recording of the Outsider Podcast Book Wander Wild Here 2. April 30th: North-west Screening * Eclipse Cinema, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim* Thursday from 6:30 - 7:30pm* Tickets 8* Followed by Q&A conversation Book North-west screening here 3. May 7th: Dublin Screening * UCD Cinema, Dublin 4* Thursday from 7:00pm - 8:00pm* Tickets 8* Followed by Q&A conversation Book Dublin Screening Here Events CalendarAs part of rolling out these screenings, Ive set up the Tough Soles Events Calendar, which you can flick through below, or find linked above in the navigation bar. Future screenings, group hikes, etc., will all be listed on the events page.

The Caves of Kesh are a short walk to an incredible viewpoint. These interconnecting, ancient chambers foster a sense of otherworldliness, of folklore and faeries. And maybe there is something there. OverviewDistance: 3km total out and back (with a lot of wandering around by me)Time: 15 - 60 minutes depending on how long you want to explore! Parking: small car park with space for approx. 10 cars.Trail difficulty: Easy (-ish)There is a waymarked path, but it is very steep. The upper slopes are very exposed, and the caves themselves can be very muddy. Read how we rate trails here.Trail quality: 3/5The paths between the caves are exposed, good footwear is required. Views: 5/5For a relatively short climb, the views are gorgeous. I especially enjoyed visiting at sunset. Buggy/Wheelchair friendly: No Dogs allowed: NoExternal links: Sligo WalksTrail on HiiKEROur long-form video on YouTube View of the caves from the car park The Caves of Kesh (also known as the Keash Caves or the Caves of Keshcorran) are a series of limestone caves in the south-west of Sligo. Located on the west side of Keshcorran Hill (part of the Bricklieve Mountains), they consist of sixteen chambers that interconnect - if youre daring enough to follow the narrow passages.Carl and I had visited when we moved to the north-west in 2021, and Id been meaning to come back with a camera ever since. Who knew somewhere so close would take me almost five years to revisit. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Its early March as I pull into the car park in the evening sunshine. One of the first full days of sunshine weve had all year, and I am beaming from a day already spent outdoors. I am wearing all my winter weight base layers as the wind could still cut you in two, but right now all Im really aware of is the sting of my cheeks and the glare off the windshield as I repack my bag before starting off on the short walk. Leaving the small car park, you go through a kissing gate and across a field to the base of the hill. Like many hills in the area (Knocknarea and Knocknashee being two) Keshcorran is very steep-sided, with a more plateau-like top. However, we wont be seeing the summit today. Hug the hedge for 100 meters or so, and then the climb begins. Its both over before you know it - and feels like youre not making any progress. But it levels out after a few switchbacks, and gently rolls towards the entrance to the largest of the caves. The path to the primary cave is the one that is the most developed and distinctive. If you want to visit other openings, it becomes a narrow sheep-path, and all are muddy. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize And would really recommend that you do prepare to visit a few of them.Muddy boots already donned, I skipped the primary cave as it was somewhat busy and meandered between the others. Several do interconnect, and as I stood silently in one, a slight pre-teen suddenly appeared on a ledge a couple of meters above my head. Both of us startled to see the other, I asked where she came from. One of the narrow entrances back that way, she answers, pointing back over her shoulder towards the main caves. I have a strong guess as to which one she meant, as I had stopped into one earlier that felt like it continued on. However, after two months of intense rain, these limestone walls are quite literally dripping wet.The plink-plink-plink of this indoor rain creates a relaxing backdrop to the sun streaming in. All the ferns and mosses are a bright, vibrant green, reminding me of the Atlantic rainforest phrase Ive been hearing more and more of these past few years. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Of course, with such distinct and ancient caves, there is plenty of folklore surrounding them.The first story I read when researching was of Cormac Mac Airt, a legendary high-king of Ireland. According to the story, a female wolf kidnapped him shortly after his birth, and reared him in one of the Kesh Caves (the Irish retelling of the roman myth?).The second tale is that of the Cailleachs of Ceis (Cailleach meaning witch in Irish), where Fionn MacCumhail and the Fianna are captured and imprisoned in one of the caves by three hags of the Tuatha De Danann, only to be rescued by one of his enemies who battles fiercely to free them.However, the story that I was told by more than one fellow visitor that evening was of a young woman tasked with caring for the bull of a local chieftain. So much did she want to impress, that when the bull went charging off, she grabbed its tail to try and stop it. It dragged her through fields and ditches, and as the sun set, into the caves themselves. The caves went so deep that hours and hours passed, and still the bull ran through the darkness. Eventually, she saw light ahead, and the exhausted bull burst out into the daylight. However, on looking around she realised that they were no longer at her homeplace but had instead come out through the Caves at Tulsk in Roscommon. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize This is not the first time Ive heard a story of caves from one place connecting to somewhere far off (Tulsk is a solid 40km+ away). When living in Tipperary as a pre-teen, I remember the ruined castle up the road from us that we would explore with the neighbouring kids. There were one or two cramped cave entrances below it, and each of us would be dared to walk slightly further - the eldest kids claiming that this would take us the whole way to Cahir Castle, some 10km away. Moving on from my youthful antics - the caves of Kesh are a lovely place to visit for a sunset walk. There will probably be other people also visiting while you are there - I think many people add it to their to do list when visiting the north-west as its a place you can visit quickly while on the way to or from other adventures. I spent quite a bit of time here, and so got to enjoy the lulls between different groups. Further exploringCheck out all of the trails organised by county here.Other trails in the area: Knocknarea & Queen Maeves TrailKillaspugbrone Loop WalkAughris Head Coastal WalkKnocknashee WalkUnion WoodLough Key Forest ParkFavourite Local Coffee / Food Options:Tempo Cafe, BallysadareNook Cafe & Restaurant, Collooney (great vegan options)Lovage Gatelodge Cafe, BoyleRover Coffee Lab, Sligo (Coffee)

As may be apparent - I love a list. I find them incredibly useful for expanding my horizons. Without the County High Points List, I would never have gone to Seltannasaggart SE top and experienced one of the most beautiful Roscommon sunsets Ive seen. Without the National Waymarked Trails list (NWTs), I wouldn't have spent almost a month walking around Donegal, which will forever be one of my favourite places. Unless you are comfortable with quite literally throwing a dart at a map, it can be quite hard to discover new places that are off the beaten path. So here I am, a new year ahead of me, and another list scribbled down to inspire more adventures. However, its a list with a twist, as the theme of for this year is finishing the lists Ive started The County High Points of Ireland: While I may have climbed all but two of these peaks, I have 12 of the 26 still to film, and mostly the ones in Northern Ireland. This year, I want to finish documenting the County High Points on Tough Soles. Its a list I started in 2021, so its about time! The summits remaining are: 1. Donegal - Mount Errigal 2. Derry / Tyrone - Sawel3. Antrim - Trostan 4. Down - Donard5. Armagh - Slieve Gullion6. Monaghan - Slieve Beag 7. Mayo - Mweelrea8. Galway - Benbaun9. Wicklow - Lugnaquilla 10. Carlow - Mount Leinster11. Kerry - Carrauntoohill 12. Cork - Knockboy The Ulster Way The Ulster Way is a 1000km thru-hike that creates a giant loop around Northern Ireland. In reality, this circle is made up of quality trail sections and link sections. The links are unwaymarked, with Walk NI recommend taking public transport where available. So when Carl and I set our sights on walking in the North, we decided to try and walk all the quality sections of the Ulster Way. Our first section was The Cuilcagh Way - a really fantastic 40km trail that set a high bar for the rest of the trails. This year I want do document two more quality sections. Possibilities include The Mourne Way (approx. 42km), The North Down Coastal Path (approx. 25km), Antrim Hills Way (approx. 35km) or the Causeway Coast Way (52km). The Pilgrim Paths St. Kevins Way, 2024 Ireland has an ancient history of pilgrimage - be it pagan or christian, we have walked or travelled to get to significant places of worship for thousands of years. This list is something that I came across in maybe 2018 and has stuck with me ever since. It was unusual to find a list of Irish long distance trails that were not part of the NWTs. Since deciding that I wanted to more actively work towards completing this list, Ive done a bit more research into what defines a pilgrim path vs a Celtic camino, which let me down many a rabbit hole - so lets just say it will be its own upcoming article. For now Ive listed below which Ive walked, and what is still outstanding: Pilgrim Paths / Celtic Caminos To Do: The Bray Coastal CaminoSt. Finbarrs Pilgrim PathSt. Declans WayLough Derg, DonegalCosn na Naomh, Kerry Pilgrim Paths / Celtic Caminos Walked:The Kerry CaminoThe Croagh Patrick Heritage TrailThe Boyne Valley CaminoSt. Kevins Way A New European TrailLast year I walked the Camino Frances from the French border in the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela on the west coast of Spain. It was an incredible trip - thanks to the people, the culture, and the coffee. Adventuring abroad typically highlights two things for me; the distance to help me notice the incredible things I have on my doorstep at home; and how different infrastructure, planning and recreational culture in different countries impacts your experience. Also, doing sustained trips like that is now often cheaper abroad. There are many trails on my list, and I would love to get the opportunity to tick off another one this year. Some possibilities include (from most achievable to least): The Camino Ingls The Camino PrimitivoAn Alta Via route in the Dolomites The GR20 Corsica Another Big AdventureIn 2023, the Vandeleur-Lynams was the big adventure. Last year in 2025, it was the Camino Frances. A big adventure is more of a vague feeling - there isnt one key factor like intensity or speed, its a mix of difficulty, time, experience, training, etc. This year Ive another big adventure planned, and whether it comes together will be a mix of all these things. Hopefully plan A will come together - or at least plan B or C. Whichever version comes to fruition, I look forward to sharing it with you again. Further ReadingIntroducing: County Highpoints of IrelandThe Ulster Way Overview

The Belmont Way is a route that features far more trail than youd expect from something of this short distance. Taking you from Bray Head to the foot of the Great Sugarloaf, this is a great outing no matter the weather. OverviewDistance: 5kmTime: 1 - 2.5 hrs; depending on fitness, coffee breaks, and how often you stop to take in the views. Parking:Easterly trail head: Parking available at Belmont for 3 for the day (or free if you buy something in the caf). Westerly trail head: Kilmacanoge car park where youll find the info-board for the end of the trail. Trail difficulty: EasyRoutes graded as easy are typically signposted trails but will still require some basic navigation skills and walking experience. Mainly on easily identifiable paths, with good underfoot conditions. Can include some open countryside with some rough ground and moderate ascents. The Belmont Way is fully waymarked with a yellow arrow and walking man (often fondly known as Elvis), and the majority of the trail is on well maintained trails and lanes. Crossing the shoulder of the Little Sugarloaf, the ground is a lot more broken and rocky underfoot.Read how we rate trails here.Trail quality: 5/5The trail takes in lots of different terrain, from farm fields to gravel paths, rocky hillsides and small boreens. Views: 5/5 (imagined)Ive done most of this trail before, just as other events or hikes. Because of that, I know the views I shouldve been seeing, even if the wind and rain prevented me from seeing them on the day. Buggy/Wheelchair friendly: PartialThere are many accessible trails around the Belmont Demesne, which would be suitable for buggies. Not suitable past the grounds of the estate. Dogs allowed: Somewhat surprisingly - yes, despite crossing through active farmland in Belmont. Dogs must always be on a lead and under control. Toilets: For such a short trail it is very well facilitated: Belmont Demense toilets are beside the cafBertos Pizzera & Cafe is beside the Kilmacanoge car parkPublic Transport: Eastern trailhead: At the time of writing, buses L1, L2, X1 and X2 will all take you to the R761. From here, walk down the Templecarrig Rd, which is a very short walk to the entrance to Belmont Demesne.Eastern trailhead: If youre walking this as part of the Wicklow Uplands Way, or want to take the Dart to Bray, youll be walking the Bray Head Loop first. This will bring you out onto the Ballynamuddagh Rd, from which you will also join onto the Templecarrig Rd and on to the Belmont Demesne. Western trailhead: From Kilmacanoge, you can take the following buses: 45A / 45B / 131 / 133 / 181 / UM11 / Wexford Bus 740 / Wexford Bus 740A / Wexford Bus 740X.External links: Wicklow Uplands CouncilSport IrelandBelmont Demesne general walking trails info, and a direct link to their map.HiiKER (hiking app) Sitting in the van, I watched the raindrops race each other down the outside of the windows - while the condensation began to build on the inside, working towards its own grand prix later that evening. Its early February, and I havent been on a dry hike yet this year. But if I ever want to reach even the bottom half of my To-Hike list, then wet winter hikes are mandatory. Because the Belmont Way is only 5km, its short distance turned into the short straw for bad weather. Once the active raining ceased I clambered out, locked the door behind me, and started walking. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Since 2019 or so, the Wicklow Uplands Council has been working on the development of the Wicklow Uplands Way, a series of linking trails that would take you from Bray down the eastern side of the Wicklow Mountains, linking in with public transport and the towns and villages along the way (more information on this development in a future write-up). The Belmont Way is part of this plan, and sets a good tone for the calibre of trail well hopefully see in the future. Starting from the easterly (Bray / Belmont) end of the trail, the first info-board is just inside the gates of Belmont Demesne. The first kilometre takes you from the gates to the Kitchen 28 Caf at the main buildings. The walk is along some easy forest trails and well defined paths. I took shelter (and used the bathrooms, which were very clean and tidy) in the caf while a particularly heavy shower hit. I got to meet the resident pup, who was much more fond of me once I procured a treat from the staff. Leaving the buildings, the trail heads off through some more farm fields, turning from a gentle incline to a steep climb up onto the shoulder of the Little Sugarloaf. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize The ground underfoot when on the Little Sugarloaf is very rocky and broken underfoot, but the path is still obvious. I had somewhat underestimated the intensity of this climb given how short this overall trail is. On a clear day, there would be some great views - particularly as you descend down the other side and look towards the Great Sugarloaf and Wicklow Mountains behind it. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize As the images might prove, this was truly a day for the ducks. Despite my sodden state, I was in high spirits as I walked the small back lanes that wind down to the valley floor and Kilmacanoge village. Its only at this point that I realised how substantial the village is - with the N11 roaring straight through it, Id never really comprehended that there was more than the petrol station, car park and bus shelters. But with the view of the mountains so throughly obscured, I had a lot more time to take in the school, church, and other important places that mark a place of community. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize The rain shower that Id sought shelter from in the caf 4km ago had never really ended. Feet squelching, I tried to hang my wet gear around the van as well as possible, without getting everything else wet. Not for the first time, I reflected on the need to set up a proper clothes line system inside somewhere. 5km feels very short for a trail, and yet this Way passes through several distinct stages, making the whole walk feel more adventurous than youd think possible. If you are walking the Wicklow Uplands Way, from here youd continue onto The Sugarloaf Way. But that will have to wait for a drier day. Further exploringOther day hikes in the area: Glendalough White Loop (The Spinc)The Dublin Mountains LoopSt. Kevins Way, WicklowThe Avonmore WayThe Miners Way, WicklowNearby National Waymarked Trails: The Wicklow WayThe Dublin Mountains WayMountain Hikes: Kippure: Dublin County High PointCoffee/food options: The Belmont Demesne: Kitchen 28 Cafe is on the grounds of the Belmont Demesne, Berto's Pizzeria and Cafe: A really nice pizza place right at the end of the trail! (location on google maps)

Union Wood is a small forest that sits between the villages of Collooney, Ballysadare, and Ballygawley, with a mixture of old native woodland, and more recent active forestry. This place is teeming with wildlife - as well as walkers, cyclists, horse riders, and families. Let me take you on a tour OverviewDistance: theres a variety of trails, on this walk I specifically walked the Union Rock route of 5.5 kmTime: 1 - 3 hrs, depending on route, fitness, and how often you stop to take in the views. However, I quite liked how the info board at the main car park answered this question: Union wood is a place you can easily spend a half day in, so we wont tell you how long each trail takes. That will be up to you, your level of fitness, or how soon you want to go home. Parking:Car Park A: main car park (very limited phone coverage here)Car Park B: new second car parkCar Park C: Ballysadare entranceTrail difficulty: EasyAll the routes along this trail are way-marked. There is a mixture of gravel trail and raised wooden boardwalk. Read how we rate trails here.Trail quality: 3/5A lot of the trails here are old forestry tracks that have been converted walking trails. They are lovely to walk, but sometimes hard underfoot. Views: 4/5Within some of the spruce forest the views are limited, but for the most part the oak forestry is great and the views from the summit of the surrounding area are gorgeous. Buggy/Wheelchair friendly: PartialBuggies would be able to make their way through most of the lower trails, but there is no specific multi-access trail. Dogs allowed: Yes, this is a very popular area for dog walking.External links: Links to specific trail GPXs or info will be linked below with the relevant trails. Overall info includes:Sligo WalksCoillte overviewYeats Trail - Location 12 Routes:1. Union Rock Trail: 5.5km with red way-marking. This route takes you in a spiralling loop around Union Rock, with a spur off to the summit. Following the trail from the main carpark, youll head anti-clockwise around the hill, passing by some of the old oak forest. Once youve made it most of the way around the hill, you will come to a wide Y-junction. If you want to take the boardwalk to the summit, you will have to turn uphill. If you want to stick to the wide gravel tracks, continue downhill. The summit views are gorgeous, taking in Knocknarea and the Ox and Dartry Mountains. I will note - the boardwalk to the summit is often quite slippy as the west coast of Ireland is often quite wet. Boardwalks are as much to preserve the surrounding habitat as they are to make trails more accessible (in fact, more often than not it is conservation that is more important). So as you make your way to and from the summit, tread with care.External links:Explore this loop on Hiiker View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize 2. Oakwood Trail: The Oakwood Trail follows green way-marking around the lower hills of Union Wood. This looped route is 5km long and takes you through the areas designated as a Nature Reserve (thanks to its SAC status) and managed by the NPWS. This native woodland is the largest stand of oakwood that youll find in Sligo (and possibly the who north-west). The primary oak here is sessile oak, Irelands national tree. These trees are havens for biodiversity, and in these sections of the woods youll find pine martens, red squirrels, bats and jays, just to name a few. Its obvious as you pass from the nature reserve to other parts of the woods ,as the reserve is protected with tall deer-fencing to prevent overgrazing. Explore this loop on HiiKERNPWS Nature Reserve Info View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize 3. Ballygawley Lough Trail: This is one of the newer trails in union woods, marked with purple arrows around the lower trails. Depending on where you park, you may have to cross the main road. The whole trail is just over 4km long, and is designed with those of limited mobility in mind (not a fully fledged multi-access trail). This trail is the only one that connects to the large viewing points on the eastern shore of Ballygawley Lough where there are picnic tables. 4. Lough Loman / Mountain Access Trail: This is a 12km out-and-back route to Lough Loman, a lake hidden away up in the hills. Following the white way-marking on the infoboard maps, the route follows the Sligo Way west from the main car park, crossing the main road.Even before this became its own route, walking up to the lake was one of my favourite things to do here. All year round, Ive climbed this steep and twisting trail into the bigger hills beside Union Wood. Youll hear the screams of birds of prey echo in the hillside valleys, and once the climb is over the views south stretch out for miles out towards the flat midlands. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize 5. The Sligo Way (80km thru-hike)The Sligo Way is the local long distance / thru-hiking route. Leaving the main car park, its approx. 23km to Dromahair and 57km to Lough Talt. If youre looking for a linear day hike from here, Id recommend walking towards Dromahair (the same direction as the Lough Loman Trail above). After the lake, youll continue onto Slish Wood and the famous Lake Isle of Innisfree in Lough Gill.Our write-up of the Sligo WayThe Sligo Way on HiiKER History: This area was previously owned by the McDonagh family until it became part of the Cooper estate in the 17th century during the Cromwellian settlement. Like many estate lands of the time, much of it was planted for construction materials. Non-native species like Beech and Sycamore were planted along with the native Oak mentioned above. Now the land is managed by both Coillte and the NPWS (National Parks and Wildlife Service). In my video below, I muse over how areas like this might in future be focused exclusively on recreation and native restoration. Spaces like this have been managed for both conservation and timber production for decades, and this can sometimes feel in antithesis to each other. In the video I dont come to any clear answers - as there isnt one. But it is something I plan on spending quite a bit of time thinking about nonetheless. Videos of Union WoodDepending on your preferred pace, I now have a walking (2026) and running video (2022) from Union Wood. Further exploringOther trails in the area: Knocknarea & Queen Maeves TrailGlencar Waterfall & The Devils ChimneyKillaspugbrone Loop WalkBenbulben Forest WalkAughris Head Coastal WalkKnocknashee WalkMountain Hikes:Benbulben Summit Hike Truskmore: Sligo & Leitrims County High PointFavourite Local Coffee / Food Options:Tempo Cafe, BallysadareNook Cafe & Restaurant, Collooney (great vegan options)Shells, Strandhill (Brunch)Rover Coffee Lab, Sligo (Coffee)Hooked, Sligo (Restaurant)

Overview: Distance: 2km round tripElevation gain: 100mFormat: Out and backTime: 30 - 90 minsStart / End / Parking:There is minimal parking at the base of the hill, room for only 1 or 2 cars. Trail difficulty: EasyThere is a well built gravel trail from the base to the summit featuring a lot of steps. Across the summit to the cairn, there is a well worn grassy path that is lumpy due to the rocky nature of the land. While the terrain is all approachable, the initial climb up onto the summit plateau is very steep. Read about trail grading in Ireland here.Trail quality: 5/5This is well built and well maintained. Views: 5/5For a tiny, local trail, this is a really lovely walk. You have views out over the Ox Mountains, Knocknarea, and the Dartry Mountains of Benbulben and others. I particularly like this kind of a walk at sunrise or sunset.Buggy/Wheelchair friendly: NoDogs allowed: No - this route crosses farmland with livestock. When did I walk this route: February 2026External resources: SligoWalks.ieHeres this hill on HiiKER Knocknashee is a small hill in the middle of Sligo and the eastern edge of the Ox Mountains. This local walk highlights the great places you can find in your own back yard. Well over a year ago, I was searching for something on google maps and I came across the pin for the start of this walk. I quite litterly saved it to my to visit list, and ever since then this green little flag has been waving at me from just up the road. I felt like I was saving this walk for something - what exactly, I couldnt tell you. But last week, as the rain beat down and I listened to more reports of the wettest January on record, I decided that I was going to walk this trail the next dry afternoon I got. That day turned out to be Wednesday the 4th of February. After a day of meetings and messages in Sligo, I hit the back roads and wound my way towards the Ox Mountains. The land all around this area is pocked and bumpy, looking like a pebble-dashed wall. In reality, this is the marks from glaciation tens of thousand years ago across a limestone landscape, with the bumps reminding me of imperfect drumlins (learn more about sligo geography here).Knocknashee herself is very much like Knocknarea in shape, albeit the much smaller sister of the two. The name comes from the Irish Cnoc na S, the Hill of the Fairies - although which fairies no one seems to know. However, like many places that are attributed to the little men, it does have a connection to our ancient ancestors. The hill is home to one of Irelands largest Bronze Age hill forts, with the two large stone cairns on the summit potentially being the remains of two passage tombs. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize My time walking this short trail was a moment of solitude and a respite from the rain (if not wind, apologies for the audio quality in the video below). As I walked across the summit, I could tell that there were layers and layers of history below my feet - even from ground level, several of the grown-over stone circles were visible. Reaching the larger of the two cairns, I sat on the overturned trig point cast aside beside the stones. I avoid climbing on cairns that are clearly historical, and so I only stepped gingerly on a couple of the lower blocks of this one to peak over the lip towards the tomb entrance. Looking at the cleanliness of the roof stone, I wondered if the trig point had sat up there until sometime recently (from previous excursions, Id expect so). Nonetheless, I left the stones and the dead to themselves, and instead hunkered down out of the wind to admire the view of the Ox mountains once more, before heading back the way I had come. Screenshot from Apple Maps Satellite of Knocknashee plateau Once home that evening I looked at the satellite imagery of the hill, and was amazed at the very visible history you could see - I stopped counting just how many ancient circles I could see once I passed 20. If youre into your history then this hill might be worth the detour. Its a lovely walk where the local outdoor recreation scheme team have clearly developed the best trail this hill has to offer. Its not a walk youre going to find on any top ten lists or must-see visits, as its very simple and humble in its overall scope. But if youre passing and want a quiet moment, this is a nice spot to go. Further exploringOther trails in the area: Knocknarea & Queen Maeves TrailAughris Coastal WalkKillaspugbrone Loop WalkBenbulben Forest WalkGlencar Waterfall & The Devils ChimneyUnion Wood, SligoMountain Hikes:Benbulben Summit Hike Truskmore: Sligo & Leitrims County High PointFavourite Local Coffee / Food Options:Tempo Cafe, BallysadareNook Cafe & Restaurant, Collooney (great vegan options)Shells, Strandhill (Brunch)Rover Coffee Lab, Sligo (Coffee)Hooked, Sligo (Restaurant)

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

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