With more walking festivals about, winter is no time to be hanging up your boots, writes JOHN G O'DWYER
WHEN SUMMER ends many of us sadly hang up our boots and retreat to the fireside until spring uncoils once again. Sure you’d be crazy to go walking off-season in Ireland with all those cold days and ceaseless rain. True, some individuals are this crazy, but deep down we know they are really Everest wannabes whose idea of fun is a freezing overnight in a snowy camp somewhere on Carrauntoohil’s slopes. Right!
Wrong actually! Hillwalking in winter doesn’t have to be all heroics and hardship. Instead, it can be great for all ages and, surprisingly, you are less likely to suffer in the cause, for winter lifts the weight of summer abundance from the landscape and allows our upland areas breathe easily again. Heat, midges, luxuriant foliage and holiday crowds will have disappeared as the hill country becomes barer while taking on a bewitching bleakness that is walker-friendly.
Whether on a sunny leaf-kicking November day, the surreal gloom of a misty December afternoon, the eye-watering whiteness of a frosty January morning or a time in February when the landscape is hushed with snow, the winter hills reward the visitor. And if you couldn’t be bothered with all the jiggery-pokery that goes with route finding, don’t worry – there are now people willing to organise a winter outing for you.
Winter walking festivals were once as rare as hen’s teeth but they have begun making a welcome appearance. They are an ideal opportunity for newcomers to experience the best of our winter landscape while not worrying about becoming locationally challenged on a darkened mountaintop. So if you would like your winter walks to come pre-planned to within an inch of a trig point, book for one of the events listed below.
Upperchurch weekend
The people of Upperchurch, Co Tipperary were one of the first to see the potential for winter walking by placing their showcase weekend (November 5th to 7th) firmly in the winter season.
They have reaped the benefits with the three-pub village consistently attracting outdoor enthusiasts from across Ireland. This year’s weekend offers walks varying from the tough and lengthy Hills of Upperchurch day walk to easy family and nature trail rambles. And at night the darkened hills will echo to music, song and stories from Kinane’s traditional hostelry and from Jim O’the Mills, famous Irish music pub.
* Tel: 0504-54284 or 086-0518934 or upperchurch.ie
Westport festival
Westport is a town where things happen and is certainly a great place to bid farewell to the old year and ring in the new while taking part in a fully guided walking festival.
This year’s Christmas Walking Festival (January 1st to 2nd) programme offers a range of low and high level walks with everything provided, including transport to and from the trailhead. And you won’t be short on evening entertainment either, for Westport throbs with atmosphere throughout the New Year period.
* walkingguideireland.com or tel 098-26090 or 087-2333295
Glen of Aherlow
Last year, the inaugural Glen of Aherlow Winter Walking Festival was blessed with wonderful walking conditions and was a roaring success.
The Glen of Aherlow is a true gem for walkers with the Slievenamuck range offering great low and moderate level outing while to the south the Galtee Mountains provide long challenging circuits on Ireland’s highest inland range. The wonderful Aherlow House Hotel is the base for this year’s event from January 28th to 30th.
* Tel: Aherlow Failte Society 062 56331 or aherlow.com
Winter meet
Mountaineering Ireland’s winter meet is in Scotland from February 19th to 27th.
Last winter was exceptionally cold and a reminder that winter skills are a useful asset even on the relatively lowly Irish hills. Certainly, you are guaranteed to experience plenty of snow trekking on Mountaineering Ireland’s winter meet in the Scottish Highlands. Participants can take an “official” winter training course or join in on a more informal basis. There are evening talks and slide shows and, of course, wherever Irish mountain lovers come together there is bound to be plenty of late night craic.
* mountaineering.ie or tel 01-6251115