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
I revisted my 'locals', the Sperrin Mountains, recently to walk a circuit I'd first troddden several years ago. Altbritain Forest is a southerly offshoot of the huge Banagher Forest and runs most of the way up Mullaghaneany, the third highest peak in the range at 627m. Top image: Looking down over Altbritain and Banagher Forests … Continue reading Sperrins: Circuit of Altbritain Forest
I revisited northwest County Donegal for a few days last week and fitted in a hike I'd missed out on during my previous trip to the area, back in June. Cnoc Fola (also known as Bloody Foreland, even though the Irish name translates as 'hill of blood') is a spud-shaped hill which dominates the landscape … Continue reading Back in Donegal: Cnoc Fola
I've been wanting to hike more waymarked trails and got a chance recently on part of the Antrim Hills Way. This mostly off-road route runs for 35kms / 22 miles between the coastal village of Glenarm and the iconic, standalone Slemish, famous for its association with Saint Patrick. Top image: A zoomed in view of … Continue reading On the Antrim Hills Way
On the way home from my recent trip to County Donegal, I veered off at Strabane to tackle a little known hill that had been on my radar for years. Although relatively modest in height at 296m, shapely Knockavoe dominates the town to the east and promised wide-ranging views over Tyrone and Donegal. Top image: … Continue reading Sperrin Foothills: Knockavoe
Hike Cycle Ireland 