Tourism Pure Walking

Guided Walking Holidays in Mayo, Ireland

 

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Walking Holidays in Ireland

There are many great reasons for taking walking holidays in Ireland. Of course, we have the beautiful landscapes, particularly here in the west. We have the nice and relaxed pace of life along our west coast. We have the great craic in our rural pubs. But, of course, most of all we have the people. You’ve heard the phrase, “strangers are but friends waiting to be met”.

Walking holidays in Ireland

Discovering Ireland's Lakes

Walking holidays in the west of Ireland are about discovering our huge Atlantic blanket bogs, our exciting cliff-top trails and our offshore islands. They are about our mountains, although low at only up to 1,000 m, majestic and with spectacular views over the coastline all around. They are about our inland lakes and our tiny little villages, full of charm. They are about our pubs and the melodic sound of Irish traditional music that fills the best of them. They are about our lovely hosts in their special B&Bs and the effort they make to make all my guests feel special.

But walking holidays in Ireland are also about learning of our rural culture, our history and our tremendous Irish legends. They are about stories of battles, chieftains, churches and castles, about the land, The Great Famine and the struggle for independence. For many from the UK and USA, they are about learning of how their forefathers lived. For our continental visitors, they are about hearing and learning more of this fabled land that is Ireland. But most of all, it’s about the expereience of getting to spend time in our lovely land and meeting our people.

You’d be welcome.

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First Hillwalking of New Year

I got out hillwalking at the weekend for the first time since the holidays. Not 100% successful, I must admit!

Walking in Connemara and Mayo

Devilsmother from the northern Maumturks

On Saturday, I met up with a mate and we decided to take on the northern end of the Maumturks. Standing watch over Leenane, the Maumturks are nice mountains with great views over Killary Harbour (Ireland’s only true fjord), Mweelrea, Ben Gorm, Devilsmother and other summits all around. They’re not very high by any means, but it just wasn’t going to happen on this occasion. The wind was too strong and I could hardly stand up against it. The fierce wind was rushing up the fjord, coming around the corner of the hills and hitting me on my right hand side. Maybe if I had brought some extra ballast in my pockets or lead in my boots. Having been knocked over one time too many, it was time to admit defeat and descend.

So descend we did. We drove on over to Glencullin Lough, beyond Doo Lough on the truly stunning road over towards Louisburgh (and back in Mayo), where we could admire the magnificent cliffs of the steep-walled corrie between Ben Bury and Lugmore. We spent the late afternoon and into the dark refreshing our night navigation skills, heading home after 6.30 pm. There’s definitely something extra lovely about hiking around after dark. As long as you have batteries for your head torch, a map and compass, that is.

Hillwalking in Mayo

Glencullin Lough

On Sunday morning, I travelled back down south to take on Devilsmother. A serious slog gets you up onto what is possibly Ireland’s best true plateau. In strong wind again, I nevertheless completed a loop hike that also took in the highest point of the plateau, Maumtrasna, at 702 m.

A good weekend of hillwalking in south Mayo and north Galway.

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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.

The itinerary is as follows :

April 10 : Fly Dublin to Warsaw with Aer Lingus and transfer to Biebrza National Park.

April 11 – 13 : Walking and wildlife spotting in Biebrza NP, home to Elk, Red Deer, Beaver, Wolf, Lynx and birds, such as Lesser Spotted Eagle, Crane, Stork, Woodpecker, Owl, Geese, etc. Biebrza (‘beaver’ in Polish) NP is based around the river basin of the same name and is a spectacular area of river marsh and wetland woodlands. Beautiful forest tracks are perfect for exploring the woodland and marsh areas.

April 13 – 14 : Walking and wildlife spotting in Bialowieza NP, home to Bison, Deer, Wolf, Lynx, various species of Woodpecker and many other fabulous birds. Bialowieza NP is based around the primeval forest of the same name – one of the very last tracts of such beautiful and serene forest in central and eastern Europe. An iconic location for lovers of nature and Europe’s biodiversity, memories of your visit to Bialoweiza will never leave you.

April 15 : Return to Ireland.

We stay in shared rooms in lovely traditional Polish ‘pensions’. Meals, transport within Poland and full guiding with our wonderful local expert are all included. The flights are not included and should be booked directly with www.aerlingus.com as soon as possible, once you have received confirmation from me that the trip is proceeding, in order to benefit from the best prices possible. Today, October 17, 2011, the return flight with no luggage in the hold, costs approx. Euro 120.

The cost of this great trip with us is Euro 500 per person sharing. If we get a group together and you then book your flights and bring just cabin luggage, the total cost should be around Euro 620. I cannot recommend this trip highly enough. Our local guide is so good, he’s written the guide book to the nature and biodiversity of Biebrza National Park.

Walking is easy, on forest tracks, with no hills of any note. This is a lovely relaxing trip into the vast nature of eastern Europe. See pictures of this trip in previous years, by visiting here.

Watch a YouTube slideshow of a past group here.

If you would like to join our small walking group for this excellent trip to Poland next April, please get in touch, via e-mail or phone, and reserve your place.

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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.

But it didn’t happen. Even as we left the car, the rain was pouring down and the sky was very low indeed. We couldn’t see much of Nephin Beg, which should have been looming above us immediately to the W.

By the time we got to the end of the disused forest track at F 936133, where it meets a stream, we were pretty deflated. Our gear was holding up with no problem, but the spirit was somewhat damaged. The unending rain can do that to you, especially when there’s no view.

We ploughed on, starting the gentle slope towards the lake above. By the stream, we came across an area of deer activity – the bracken had been crushed and trampled, leaving a space of some 6m x 4m flattened in the middle of the otherwise 60cm high undergrowth. With deer droppings all around, this was a wallowing site.

We eventually gave up and retreated, still dry after 3 1/2 hours, but disappointed that we had not achieved more. On our return to the car, we came across some conifers that had been ‘barked’ by the deer. Barking occurs where the deer remove strips of bark for food. We also saw an impressively large frog and lots and lots of rain.

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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.

France boasts many long linear hiking trails, among them the wonderful GR10, which follows the mountain chain from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. In the southern French départements of Haute Garonne, Ariège and Aude, this trail is simply beautiful.

We will experience mountain lakes, waterfalls, gigantic forests and cute little villages, while enjoying off-road trails, all set against a spectacular backdrop of high mountain peaks, such as Le Valier (see slideshow). We will stay in ‘refuges’, mountain lodges and excellent rural hostels. It will be a fabulous week of hillwalking in one of Europe’s most beautiful corners.

Get in touch if you would like to be kept up-to-date with further information on this September 2012 French séjour.

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New Year Rejuvenation Walking Weekend

Dates :

  • January 4, 2013 to January 6, 2013

Event Details :

This walking weekend, based in lovely Westport, will be filled with a series of short to medium length walks around the hills, forests and bogs of west Mayo. The weekend will be about shaking loose the cobwebs from the end of year festivities and getting out and about again.

Walks will be low level – no high hillwalks on this mid-winter weekend! We will stay in a nice, cosy B&B, with hot dinner included each evening (Fri and Sat).

Friday, January 4, 2013 :

Arrive in Westport Friday evening. Why not  take the train ? No need to bring the car to Mayo. Jump on a train from Hueston at 12.30, relax and arrive in Westport at 16.00.

We will enjoy a nice evening stroll of 2 hours under cover of dark.

Saturday, January 5, 2013 :

We will walk below Mayo’s hills. There will be two separate walks, with a hot lunch in between.

Sunday, January 6, 2013 :

An invigorating dawn walk will be followed by an early afternoon stroll through a lovely forest, before departure on the 15.45 train that gets in to Dublin at 19.25.

Get in touch if you are interested in taking part in this small group, relaxed, slow paced guided walking weekend to start off the New Year with some activity out in the crisp fresh air of winter.

Prices & Reservation : 

B&B in a twin or double room (price for one person)
Date :
€ 199
B&B in a single room (total price for one person)
Date :
€ 219

Please Note : This guided walking weekend is not suitable to people under the age of 18, or those with limited or restricted mobility. Access transport (including by train) is not included in the price.

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