The Sheefry's hike

On Saturday 4th June we headed for the sunny Sheefry’s starting at Doolough in the Delphi valley. What a day😎

Our last venture was a complete washout but today was a total opposite

Bright sunshine throughout the hike, though the strong 60 kph winds added a coolish feel at times

With the stunning backdrop of Mweelrea on the opposite side of the valley the steep climb up Barrcashclame was soon forgotten on the broad plateau and exciting arete connecting it to the trig pillar at 772m

A fab day with a most enthusiastic group participating. Well done 👏


Snowdonia hiking weekend

This past weekend we headed to Snowdonia in North Wales. It was a mixed bag of weather but who cares when you are surrounded with such amazing company. As some one remarked "we met as strangers but left as friends"

On Saturday we summited Mount Snowdon 1085m the highest peak in Wales and on Sunday part of the group headed for the Glyders while the others explored the surrounds of Betws y Coed with it beautiful mature forests rivers and waterfalls.

A very memorable weekend was had by all.

Benbulben

No better place to be on a May bank holiday Monday than on Benbulben which largely we had to ourselves.

The low cloud persisted for much of the day

Strangely enough the views on the northern side were great while the cloud inversion on the southern slopes blanked out much of the landscape

It felt pleasantly warm and with calm conditions it was a most enjoyable day Mayo featured strong with a very active group representing East Mayo ramblers joining in the fun joined by hikers from various parts of the country not forgetting to mention Jasmin from Bavaria

Benbulben guided hike

What a cracker of a day

A real international flavour in today group with representatives from Belguim, China, Poland, Lithuania, USA, and 5 counties of Ireland

The biggest difficulty wasn’t getting them up the mountain instead it was trying to get to leave it. It was pure bliss 💕

Slieve League

Had a most enjoyable hike on Slieve League today. These sea cliffs which are among the highest in Europe were at their best. It was chilly with odd patches of snow on north facing slopes. On the whole you could not have asked for better conditions and a super group who travelled from various part of the county. We had loads of fun.

Truskmore above the clouds

Some photos of what Truskmore looks like on a good day

Thanks Gerald for sharing from your hike today

Such a shame we didn’t get any views at all on our last outing Saturday week last. That’s the unpredictable nature of mountain weather

Errigal Twin Peaks hike

In the aftermath of Storm Arwen we faced the might of Donegal's highest mountain Mount Errigal 751m.

At the car park in preparation for some sub zero temperatures on the summit we layered up in advance. The best on offer was a four trouser layer and 5 upper body layer. 😂, Some of us felt more like the Michelin man. But one must be prepared 😍.

After making the ascent of Mackoght 555m we set our sights on the imposing ridge of Errigal.

The winds had eased somewhat and it was deemed safe to progress to the summit. It was then the layering system really shone with temperatures at sub zero and a wind chill measured at -10c. We all were well insulated and apart from the frozen hands used to take photos we felt really toasty.

It was truly a memorable day and well done to the "Magnificent Seven" who undertook the climb👏.

Sheefry's - A guided hike

We got a roaring welcome today on our first guided hike of the Sheefry's mountains in south Mayo. Low cloud combined with heavy rain and strong winds kept us on our toes. The steep ascent up from Doolough got the heart rate up into the red 😍. There was figures mentioned of 174!!!!

All in all we came and conquered and all made it down safely.

It is definitely one worth another visit albeit on a better day.

A welcome treat back in the Blackberry in Leenane was most welcome while one very brave girl headed into Killary for day 13 of her 30 day cancer challenge. Well done Edel.

Thanks to all who kept up the high spirits on a challenging day out.

Mweelrea 814m - hiking up the highest mountain in Connacht

We had an amazing day on Mweelrea yesterday. It was a day of many seasons starting off in bright sunshine and then peppered with hailstones half way up the ramp. On reaching Benbury, Mweelrea was completely enveloped in cloud. However as we made our way to the summit the sun appeared again and we enjoyed the stunning views of the Nephin range to the north and the 12 Bens to the south and westward over Killary and the Atlantic with its many well known islands.

The terrain was extremely spongy and extra care was needed both on the ascent and descent. Lots of slipping and sliding but in the end all down safely and rewarded with a great day on the highest mountain in Connacht.

Benbulben guided hike

This morning we headed out with a yellow wind and rain warning from Met Eireann. There is a feeling that winter is upon us.

It is always a difficult call whether or not to proceed under these circumstances. However we all agreed to give it a go and if required we could always turn back.

Up on top of the ridge the wind speed measured 90Kph. The north side of the plateau provided some measure of shelter so we rambled on to the Trig and out as far as the head in good visibility. There was not too many other souls about apart from a large group from the Wayfarers Hiking club. Not a day for the faint hearted.

The rain held off until lunch time. Ground conditions were extremely slippery and it was difficult to keep upright.

All down safely in good time. Well done to all 👏👏👏

Carrauntohill 1038m - Saturday 25th September 2021

Last Saturday we climbed the highest mountain in Ireland. It was a most enjoyable and memorable day. We enjoyed some fabulous views during the ascent and descent. Unfortunately the summit remained hidden in the cloud as so often is the case. Well done to all.

Royal Peaks hike 18th September 2021.

All stops out this morning for our Royal Peaks Hike. First stop was on Benbulben Trig and then on to Kings Mountain. After refueling we proceeded up to the cross on Slievemore. The rain arrived a bit earlier than expected but the visibility stayed good as we made our way over the high ridge of 566.

A heavy mist descended as we approached the head of the Gleniff Horseshoe valley but soon cleared away to reveal the awesome views of the cliffs of Annacoona. It is always nice to keep the best wine till last. Benwiskin never fails to excite and today was no exception. After all that we made our way back down into the valley feeling very fulfilled after over 7 hours on the hills with a distance of 20k and over 850m of accumulated height gained. Not a bad statistic but our day was much more than just than. Some lasting memories and the odd tired limbs. Well done to one and all.

Best day ever on Benbulben

What a day to start off the Autumn season. A truly memorable day with people joining us from all parts of the country. Nice also to have John from New York, the first of our international visitors this year.

Welcome to the 12 Bens - An introductory hike

The midges were not all that welcoming as we arrived and set off for the summit of Benbaun 531m. On reaching the summit either the midges called it a day or else we managed to outrun them but they disappeared. The next object of our hike was the rocky quartzite summit of Benbrack at 636m. Time for a well deserved lunch. The route continued past a small wee corrie lake which looked inviting for a dip but we instead kept our focus on the final summit of Knockbrack. To reach that we had to pass through the boundary fence of the Connemrara National Park. Thankfully there was a hole to pass through as climbing over the high deer wire would not be an option. The descent off the summit of knockbrack needs careful footing at first and also crossing the long grass lower down with all its hidden drains. It was then back to Kylemore for some well deserved treats to celebrate a memorable day.

Post hike boot maintenance

Here’s a few tips on how to look after your boots especially after a really wet and boggy hike like we had last Saturday in the Poisoned Glen

1. Wash your boots thoroughly with tap water. For leather boots use a scrubbing brush to remove any residual peat. Wash the soles also

2. Remove insoles and dry them either in a drying room or close to a good heat source

3. Loosen laces around the tongue as shown below

4. Dry boots slowly. In good weather place outdoors. Never place them close to a fire or radiator.

5. When completely dry refit the insoles and apply a wax to your leather boots. Make sure it’s suitable for goretex as you don’t want to block the membrane and reduce the breathability

These few simple step will prolong the life of your boots, help to maintain their waterproofing and breathability

Just remember they’ll respond to a little TLC

Benbulben - a guided hike

Imagine heading to hike a mountain you could not see with a guide you’ve never met😵‍💫 Some dilemma!!!

That was the challenge facing those travelling to climb Benbulben this morning.

A step of faith was required and I’m delighted to say that for all those who stepped out into the poor prevailing conditions they were eventually rewarded with some fine views when the mist and fog lifted as we approached Benbulben head.

Another great day

Well done to one and all 👏👏👏

Benwiskin - "The Breaking Wave"

Today’s adventure took us up Benwiskin to experience the might and the height of “The Breaking Wave”

With strong headwinds of 50kph and temperatures of 10c it was noticeably colder than of late.

Thankfully the rain stayed away until after lunch

So all in all it was a most enjoyable and memorable day