Outdoors

Early in the 21st century, little existed to attract walkers to Ireland, as access problems abounded. It was mostly just the high mountains – which we(...)

About a year ago a walker set out to climb Ben Nevis, which is the highest mountain on these islands, while unprepared for the challenge. Without prop(...)

Our appreciation of trees seems to peak in the autumn months as we witness the splendorous colour of leaves falling from broadleaf trees. The importan(...)

I’m on my first forest bathing walk with a group of 27 people in Glendalough, Co Wicklow. Shirley Gleeson, nature and well-being consultant and leader(...)

The debate on how humans have lost their connection with nature continues. Yet anyone who goes hiking in the hills, swimming in the sea or even regula(...)

“Pondlife” shouldn’t be a term of abuse, because pond life can be very, very beautiful. Zoe Devlin and I are watching dragonflies over a pond in the R(...)

Plants and Power: Botanical Imperialism is the intriguing theme of a new series of guided walks in the National Botanic Gardens on Saturdays in Septem(...)

“We would have been better off in our nude. We were drenched to the skin the whole time,” Dominic Kessie recalls wryly. He and his colleagues from Po(...)

“Why should I want to go to Africa, or anywhere else?” Paddy Dwan asks, surveying the broad expanse of the Comeragh mountains from a roadside gap betw(...)

“You get old when you stop walking. You don’t stop walking because you get old,” says Shane O’Mara, professor of experimental brain research at Trinit(...)