The Pursuit of International Scale
Back in June of this year, while speaking at a tourism conference, I outlined my dream of a great 100 km long “Nephin Beg Mountains Loop” – a single continuous, entirely off-road track for cycling and walking that would circumnavigate our beautiful and wild west Mayo mountain range. Complimenting this loop would be the already in situ Bangor Trail, for serious walkers only, which would cut the loop in half for choice of route. See my previous post, with map, here.
Brackloon Wood, Westport
Brackloon Wood, 7 km south of Westport, is a semi-natural remnant of Ireland’s once substantial mixed Atlantic Oak woodlands.
Brackloon Wood in winter
The circular walk is about 4 km and will take you a little over an hour, or more if you have small children with you. Take a stroll through the wood at any time of the year, for a healthy and invigorating brush with our ancient landscape.
Poland Walking & Wildlife 2012 Trip
I’m delighted to announce the details of my annual trip to the truly beautiful National Parks of Biebrza and Bialowieza, in eastern Poland. We will travel on April 10, 2012 and return to Dublin on April 15.
No Slieve Carr This Time
We parked the car at F 95 10 on The Western Way and headed north along the forest track, with Lough Kilnabrinnia as our first target, on the SE flank of Slieve Carr. Our plan was to ascend the mountain from a direction we had not previously taken. From Kilnabrinnia, we intended to move northwards along the E side, up as far as Lough Drumderg and the small, unnamed lake to the NW beyond.
Speaking at Cavan Conference
I’m delighted to have been invited to speak at Cavan-Monaghan Leader Company’s tourism conference next Thursday, being held in Cavan Town.
Entitled “Creative Marketing & Innovative Tourism Development”, the conference will be chaired by well-known jounalist, Catherine Mack. I’m one of five rural tourism providers who will talk about our own experience of developing and marketing a rural tourism business. It should be fun.
French Pyrenees, September 2012
In September of next year, I will lead my first group on a week’s hiking in the French Pyrenees, south of Toulouse.
This is country I know well, having once lived in the deep south of France for five years. Indeed, I first ventured into the Pyrenees back in 1991, exploring the rural villages that dot the valleys between the high peaks and hiking up to high corrie lakes. It’s wonderful country, with that great French mix of quaint, old traditional stone built houses, sheep and goat herds and breathtaking mountain scenery. I go back every year.
Heritage Week 2011
National Heritage Week 2011
It’s Heritage Week 2011 this week. See if you can get along to any of these events being held here in Mayo.
1. Tour of Archaeological Sites of North Mayo.
