Post #50! Royal Canal Walk: West Dublin to Maynooth

First blog post of 2021 and we're in September. This time I'll blame the tough lockdown earlier in the year and two bouts of injuries and recoveries (knee in February then knee again coupled with wrist in late June), also technical issues with WordPress. I'd been feeling the cabin fever again lately and fancied getting …

2020: August to December in Images

I already did a recap of the first part of 2020 during the summer so thought I'd do another round-up to end this most 'memorable' of years.  Top image: Walking up a gap in the cliffs at Eagle's Rock in the Sperrin Mountains, County Derry in early December The first two are from a visit …

Slieve Beagh: Crocknagrally Forest Loop (and Detours)

Seeing as our current lockdown restrictions don't include travel limits for exercise, I took a spin down to the Slieve Beagh area last Sunday for a change of scene and a longer walk than my usual, local routes. I've walked in this quiet area for many years, including approaching the highest ground from all three …

Hudy’s Way (Aborted Walk, Pleasant While it Lasted)

I thought I'd put up a quick post following my walk yesterday as I'm aware that this blog has become a series of occasional round-ups. I had a day off and seeing as my original plans were thwarted by Covid-19, headed for the Sperrin Mountain foothills... specifically in the eastern Sperrins since the western end …

Ireland, England, Scotland and Lockdown: 2020 to Date

My year to date hasn't been too good for getting outside and taking photos, what with sh*te Scottish weather, fleeing home across the Irish Sea when lockdown came in, managing to damage first one and then both of my camera lenses, and finally falling off my bike and being off my feet for the past …

2019: A Look Back in Images Part 2

Here's the second part of my review of 2019, in lieu of not actually posting much during the year. It's been great to look back as you forget just how much you get about in a year. Top image: part of the skyline of the town of Paisley in Scotland, taken in October.   Walking …

2019: A Look Back in Images Part 1

I've neglected this blog once again, mainly for reasons relating to my move to Scotland earlier in the year.  Hopefully I'll get to post a bit more often in 2020 but for now here's a look back at some of the places I've been during 2019, namely Ireland, Scotland, England and Poland.  Top image: looking …

Back in the Sperrins 2: Glenlark Forest

I enjoyed revisiting the Sperrin Mountains during the walking festival covered in my previous post, so paid another visit two weeks later. On this occasion we explored one of the biggest areas of forestry in the range, Glenlark Forest. It wasn't the longest or most dramatic of hikes but it's always good to tread new …

Back in the Sperrins 1: Reliving the Flight of the Earls

I've been neglecting this blog once again so thought I'd post some photos from a couple of recent hikes in the Sperrin Mountains. The first was part of the Omagh and Sperrins Walking Festival and led by outdoors adventure providers Far and Wild.  Top image: Our group descending the summit of Carnanelly with a view …

Serbia: Hiking in Tara National Park

Greetings, Readers. I've neglected this blog for the past six months, firstly because I had a lot on with work and then because I took some time out to go travelling around my favourite part of Europe, the Balkans.To get things back on track, I thought I'd add some photos from a hike I did …