FRANCIS BRADLEYwith the outdoors news of the week...
St Stephen's Day walkDublin Mountains Partnership is holding a turkey-busting hike on December 26th. Meet at the Hell Fire car park at 10.30am for a hike that will take you through Massy's Wood and along the new Dublin Mountains Way to Cruagh, where you will complete the Slí na Sláinte loop and rejoin the Dublin Mountains Way back to Massy's Wood and the car park. The walk, which will be guided by volunteer rangers, should take about four hours. Book by e-mailing info@ dublinmountains.ie or see dublinmountains.ie.
Christmas at Lough KeySanta begins his annual visits to Lough Key Forest and Activity Park, outside Boyle, in Co Roscommon, today. He'll be there this weekend and next from 4pm. As well as entertainment, face painting and carol singing, there are plenty of other diversions in this well-organised park, which has choice of trails, a tree-canopy walk (above) and the Boda Borg experience. Call 071-9673122 or see loughkey.ie, which includes a downloadable map marked with the trails.
Walking in the Urris HillsFoyle Hillwalking Club is meeting at Templemore Sports Complex in Derry at 9.30am tomorrow for a sortie in the Urris Hills (above). The club, which meets every weekend, alternating between Saturdays and Sundays, grades its walks from easy, for reasonably active people, to strenuous, for experienced walkers with a good level of fitness. All walks are led by an experienced club member with navigation and leadership skills. Call Ita McCrory on 074-9384099 or see foylehillwalkingclub.co.uk.