I visited Edinburgh for a weekend at the end of April to visit friends and managed to fit in some great walks in the city and surrounding region. It's long been one of my favourite cites and a big part of this is its easy access to the outdoors (helped by the hilly topography) and … Continue reading Trails of Edinburgh: Union Canal and Water of Leith Walkway
I visited the Mourne Mountains at the weekend to get some practise in for a challenge hike I'm doing next month. The Blackstairs Challenge is a 31km route over the Blackstairs range in Ireland's southeast. The Mournes are an ideal training ground, with their steep ascents and descents and endless options for longer walks. Top … Continue reading Back in the Mournes: Meelmore, Commedagh and the Brandy Pad
I've got out of the habit of blogging for a while (the bad weather and lack of outings may have played a part; temporarily adopting two guinea pigs may have been another factor) so I thought I'd check in. I still have to add a Part 2 to the 'Places I'd Love to Revisit' but … Continue reading Hikes of 2018: January to March Round-up
I've had itchy feet pretty much the whole time since I got back from my voluntary redundancy-funded travels around the world (well, the Northern Hemisphere anyway) during 2016. I'm hoping to fit in a mini trip in the next few months if circumstances allow. In the meantime, I thought I'd pull together a list of … Continue reading 10 Places I’d Love to Revisit (Part 1: Europe)
It's become something of a minor tradition (it started in 2016/17) that my first and last hikes of the year take place in the Sperrins, my nearest mountain range. The target for my opening hike of 2018 was a small man-made landmark high up in the hills, known as Father Devine's Well. My walking companion … Continue reading First Hike of 2018: Mullaghclogher via Father Devine’s Well
I always like to fit in a hike in the days after Christmas and it often ends up being in the Sperrins, my closest mountain range. This year's excursion wasn't the most ambitious but gave some magical views, thanks to an impressive and unexpected covering of snow on the higher ground. Top image: Looking back on … Continue reading Snow in the Sperrins, Christmas 2017: Mullaghsallagh
Here's the second part of my 2017 review/memory jogging exercise in what I've been up to during the year. I didn't make it outside Ireland in the latter half of 2017 but did visit all four provinces. June Tullyhogue Fort (County Tyrone) One of my favourite local places to visit with its serene atmosphere and … Continue reading 2017: A Look Back in Images (Part 2)
It's almost Christmas so it's time for another 'year in review' post, partly to remind myself what I've been up to during 2017. I had a quick look through my 2016 round-up and it was possibly a bit 'showy', featuring highlights from my voluntary redundancy-funded adventures in places like Austria, Macedonia, Jordan, Vietnam, China and … Continue reading 2017: A Look Back in Images (Part 1)
I returned to one of my favourite Irish trails for a third visit recently. My first experience of the Barrow Way was walking the section between Carlow and Bagenalstown back in 2015. I paid a second visit earlier this year to walk from Athy to Carlow. I continued my journey along the route earlier this … Continue reading The Barrow Way: Monasterevin to Athy
I thought I'd add a 'quick' post pulling together some photos from my hiking and cycling excursions over the past couple of months. First up is an image from a cycle back in September. This was taken quite close to home, along the southwest shore of Lough Neagh at Brockagh, County Tyrone. I regularly cycle … Continue reading Autumn Photo Compilation
Hike Cycle Ireland 