The Irish Experience - Mountain Explorer

It was that Saturday in March whereby the weather completely forgets what month it is and fast forwards to Summer - a gloriously warm, clear day. Myself and the other half had signed up to a Mountain Explorer Experience with The Irish Experience. An eco, adventure tourism company founded and based in the Sunny South East.

L-R Willy, Graham & me!

The day started in a café of a service station in Lemybrien, Waterford. Here we met our guides for the day. Graham Doyle - owner of the Irish Experience - a ball of enthusiasm and energy, a clear passion for adventure and a bit of an adrenaline junkie. William Nolan – mountain guide, a wealth of knowledge and experience on all things mountaineering and climbing, an impressive resume of climbs and a really nice guy. A ten-minute orientation on what to expect for the day with the group (5 of us on this particular day) and then we were off up the road to park at the foot of the Commeragh mountains. 

The Crew

The walk was going to take up and around the edge of the Coumshingaun lough. We each got a map and compass and Willy took us through some map reading skills so we could find where we were and the lay of the land and then off we went. 

Fitness wise I would say a moderate fitness level is required but we did stop frequently to take in the surrounding views and to do a little bit more map reading - leaving plenty of time to take a breather. 

Trek to the Top

Both Graham and Willy are passionate about the ‘leave no trace’ movement towards ensuring that the countryside should be left exactly as you find it – Eco tourism is a big part of what The Irish Experience is all about – this was evident throughout the day as they picked up and pocketed any bits of rubbish that they came across for proper disposal later.

I have done my fair share of hillwalking over the years and I had expected that this would take me a bit out of my comfort zone – I wasn’t disappointed and to be honest I think I left the comfort zone back on the first steep bit of slope! As we got further up the mountain there were a few sections of scrambling – requiring both hands and feet to negotiate up the rocks. The section just before the summit is the toughest bit of the climb. The mountain is steep and there no room for overtaking. Willy reminded us to put our trust in our feet and they wouldn’t let us down. Despite the fact that the trail is narrow, rocky and steep I did take on what he said and it is amazing how quickly you build that bit of confidence in yourself when you know you have two guides with you as experienced as these two looking after you. The views of the lake on the way up are just spectacular and you really have to remind yourself that you are less than a half hours drive from Waterford city and about an hour from Wexford.

There were a few points where a helping hand was needed when my legs weren’t quite long enough to reach a grip and when we finally did reach the top there were smiles all around as we got to take in what we had just climbed and the spectacular views across Carlow, Wexford and Waterford.

All the way up we had been learning how to recognise the different landscapes and terrains on the map, seen features you may remember from Geography in school and learned tips and tricks for making the most out of your hill walk.

Graham - owner of The Irish Experience

At the summit we found a sheltered spot and sat for lunch. Now, there is dining alfresco and then there is alfresco dining at the top of a mountain in the Irish countryside. What a view! We had packed our own lunch and this was added to by Graham who rustled up hot chocolate for everyone along with a flapjack  - the most enjoyable hot chocolate I think any of us had ever had!  

Making the hot choccies!

After lunch we learned how to use the compass with the map, how to measure distance and some other things which I will look forward to putting into practice on my next outing.

The decent down the other side of the lake was not quite as strenuous and the lads told us some local stories such as that of a man who returned from war and lived for 40 years in the mountains here as he couldn’t bare to be around people and the busyness of the towns.

Snowballs!!

The whole loop covered about 7.5km and we completed it in about 5.5 hours and we had a bit of a sit-down and debrief once back at the carpark.

As well as some fantastic photos, great laughs and a confidence boost we took away some skills that we can work on and develop for future adventures into the mountains!

As the saying goes, ‘tell me and I will forget, show me and I will remember but involve me and I will learn’. The knowledge, passion and genuine excitement at showing people this fantastic landscape and teaching them is a wonderful thing to witness and I would highly recommend Graham, Wille and the Irish Experience as a great way to get a foot out the door and into the surrounds of the South East countryside and coastline.

The View

Tips:

A reasonable level of fitness would be recommended. Walking boots are a must and plenty of water and snacks. Graham sends an email in advance of the day with everything that you will need.

Pricing: This particular excursion costs 59.95 low season and 79.95 per person in the high season, which starts on May 1^st. Group sizes are small to ensure safety and enjoyment for all. 

About The Irish Experience:

The company was founded in 2016 by Graham. They are a Wexford based outdoor adventure company and as well as the mountain experience (which is new for 2017) they offer a range of outdoor activities including kayaking, stand up paddle boarding and coasteering in the stunning surrounds of the Hook Peninsula. Catering for corporate, private group, families, hens/stags and students the team are happy to work with you to ensure an enjoyable and memorable experience for all.

The Irish Experience can be contacted through their website: theirishexperience.com

So why do it? Why go up the mountains, out of your comfort zone, learn something new and enjoy breath-taking experiences? In the words of guide Willy Nolan “For those who understand, no explanation is necessary; for those who don’t understand, no explanation is possible”.

Get out, join the Irish Experience and Make it Mór!

We did it!

County High Points

There are 25 county high points in Ireland. Some counties happen to share a high point which made the challenge of climbing them all in 12 months seem a little bit more do-able!

I am not sure when it went from 'let's climb Mount Leinster' on a clear Saturday morning to 'sure why don't we all 25 county high points' (hereafter CHPs) - but it has and so we will!

I bought a great little guide book called Ireland's County High Points by Kieron Gribbon. It gives tips and routes for climbing the peaks and most helpfully - it gives the sat nav coordinates to the best place to park and start the climb - when undertaking a challenge like this it is imperitive that you don't fall out with your climbing buddies while trying to navigate to the carpark!

We started off with Mount Leinster. CHP of Wexford and Carlow. I would love to say it was spectacular and the views were amazing but it was snowing as we started the walk and by the time we got to the top you could see about 10 feet in front of you and that was about it. Everything was pure white - a winter wonderland!

Since that we have climbed Brandon Hill, Kilkenny CHP. The views were much better in that there were views to see! I did have to go on hands and knees to the trig point at the very top because the wind was so strong.

So that's how the story starts and we will learn as we go. The very good people of The Irish Experience have invited us to Waterford on Saturday to learn some mountaineering skills and I am so excited to learn from the experts! Watch this space for a full report!

Ends of the earth...

The ends of the earth to which I refer is actually Mizen head - Ireland's most south westerly point. Head to Cork, go through the Jack Lynch and keep going and then keep going some more!

When we visited we camped in Barleycove. A gorgeous little campsite just down the road from Crookhaven village with a lovely little beach in a sheltered inlet to enjoy. 

Mizen head is another fifteen-minute drive from there. Top tip is to get there early in the morning. We arrived just as they were opening up and apart from a few student tour guides lazing in the sun at the visitor centre we had the Southerly tip of the country to ourselves. Just as you are guaranteed to see Fungi in Dingle you are guaranteed to see seals off Mizen head. We weren't disappointed. There was a pair basking in the pool below the landmark bridge - absolutely beautiful! 

 

While we were enjoying the views we noticed a few dolphin fins making their way across the headland. Then a few dolphin fins turned into tens and then into hundreds - it was unbelievable - literally dolphins or as far as you could see. Like a mass migration across the water - what a treat and we got to enjoy the spectacle from the very tip of the country and without a soul around!

It is 7.50 per adult to go through the visitor centre and cross the bridge. There are a few different walkways around and the scenery is worth every cent! Also included is a throwback to junior cert Geography - a spectacular example of a sea arch and sea stack!

Some top tips for your trip to Crookhaven - the campsite owners don't always let you book in advance and operate a first come, first serve basis in the high season. Ring ahead and see what it's looking like then arrive early. Bring a torch for the walk back from the pub at night. It's a narrow road and a busy one when the pub empties out!

Crookhaven village, home of the most southerly pub in Ireland, is a tiny little place and if you are planning on taking a break from campsite cooking and eating out then you will need a reservation during the high season.

On the way to Crookhaven you can take a small detour to Beal na Blaith - the site of the shooting of Michael Collins. It's a humbling place to stop and take in the importance of the history of the area.

Finally, on a summers day, you will be hard pushed to find a more beautiful place to get totally lost so fill up the tank in Dunmanway, turn the sat nav off and just enjoy it!

Just run.

Since taking up running last year I have learned a number of lessons - some of those lessons include:
1. If you run, you are a runner.
2. You are physically and mentally capable, of much more then you think.
3. Stop thinking about how exercise makes you look and start concentrating on how it makes you feel.
4. Wherever you travel, always bring your running gear!

So here is the back story - I'll keep it brief. Just over a year ago I was working in an office in an industrial estate. I decided in order to de-stress (I was hating the job) at lunchtime I would start running because there was nothing else to do. Some quotes that I said quite frequently at the time:
1. I am not a runner and could never run.
2. Doesn't walking do the same thing.
3. 5km? Are you mad?
There was a 3km loop with lamp posts lining the whole way. What I did was simple - ran between two posts, walked between two posts - the whole way around the loop. The first day I only ran about 3 minutes of the 15 altogether. I could only run about 25 metres at a time. Slowly but surely I built up the running but couldn't get around the 3km loop without stopping. I hated it! Every single step. The only thing I liked was the feeling once the run was done - that endorphin boost was the only thing that made me keep it up - well that and the utter boredom of sitting in the office during lunch!

Fast forward to now and I can run 5k without thinking to much about it. So what happened?

My first 3 5km race numbers - hung on the wall!

Actually it was very straightforward.
One evening I decided I wanted to run a 5k route. Liam (my fiance dearest) came with me. Knowing my negative way of thinking, he was right in knowing that I was already telling myself I wouldn't run the whole 5km. He asked me to make a promise -  one thing and I said yes and that was the turning point. He asked me to promise him that no matter what happened I wouldn't stop running. I promised.
That was it - during that 5km my mindset totally changed. I didn't have any music on so I had to be totally present during the whole thing - no distractions. Just Liam saying every now and again "don't stop running". I got pissed off, really angry and frustrated, sore and there were a few parts when I shuffled at a fairly slow pace but not once did I stop.

When we got to the 5k mark I may as well have ran a marathon. My legs were aching - but I was elated - that was it.

From then on I stopped making excuses - those bullshit excuses we are all guilty of telling each other and ourselves. "I can't do it" "I'm not fit enough" "I need music to distract me" "I don't have time today". I thought it was all about physical fitness - It simply is not. Your mind needs to be trained as much as your body - for me, even more so.

My local running track - Curracloe beach

Recently we have 'Mindfullness' has become the in vogue thing - all the cool kids are doing it. For once, instead of being way behind I was well ahead of the game and started practising mindfull meditation over two years ago. It is only recently, however, that I started to apply the mindfullness practice to the running. Seriously hard work - when all you want to do is distract yourself from what you are doing I now try and feel every bit of it. Every bit of an ache and pain that you overcome makes you a little bit stronger - as someone who is prone to stress and axiety I always say to myself that a run will never feel as bad as a bad day does and if I can get through a bad day I can get through the run. Of course if you pay any attention to the likes of Bressie and his '
Lust for Life' campaign and Karl Henry from Operation Transformation then you will know that one of the best forms of medication for anxiety and stress is running! If I have a big day or night out I will always get a run in that day and know that I will enjoy the day/night more because I have burned off that negative energy.

Running in Sligo

So what has running got to do with this blog and it's usual content? The last of my four lessons was to bring the running gear wherever I go. This year we ran in the beautiful hills of Donegal, a world class golf course in Sligo and in the spectacular surroundings of the island of Lanzarote. I live in Wexford so Curracloe is one of my regular spots! I know what you are thinking - are you mad brining running gear on holidays. The fact is that I enjoyed each trip away even more because of getting out for a run and also saw views and places that I wouldn't have otherwise.

Running on Hols in Lanzarote

The sky is the limit!

So, my advise for those who are taking up running. As the marketeers at Nike so perfectly say "Just do it". Stop making excuses and just put on the runners and go.
Also, for the social media lovers among you, follow the likes of Debbies Health and Fitness Motivation or one of my favourites, Joanne Larby - The Make Up Fairy - both cut the crap kinda girls who are getting the fitness job done! My owning fitness musings can be found on my insta @aideenke

Insta is great for the motivational quotes!

There are couch to 5k groups all around the country, there are free park runs every weekend all around the country, you can get a free high viz jacket off the road safety authority, you will meet people, there will be loads of people at your level, no expensive equipment needed, if you don't love it at first, don't worry - you will still feel amazing after each and every run.

My Park Run card!

This year I will continue to pack an extra bag on all out travels and see where the road takes us!

Donegal beach run - freezing but fabulous!

Step House Hotel - An elegant stay!

A sleepy little village in the heart of County Carlow. A main street and on one side is the Step House Hotel. A boutique hotel and thee perfect place to relax and unwind.

The hotel is just the right size for what it is about. The reception area is stylishly decorated and a lovely young receptionist checked us in. We were staying in an deluxe room. 

Up a little flight of stairs and you are at the room. This hotel is my kind of place. A beautifully decorated room in soft, country greens and creams with a touch of a victorian feel in the furnishings. The double doors opened out to a spacious balcony with a view of Mount Leinster.  Such peaceful and elegant surroundings.

So why did we really chose the Step House – well its reputation for food really!

We dressed for dinner – which there was absolutely no need to do. A few years ago in Ireland there was such a trend of dresscodes. It makes me very happy that is no longer the case but I do like to get a little dressed up – to pay respect to the beautiful food!

The Room

When we booked we didn’t know that the restaurant didn’t open on a Monday or Tuesday. We had opted for lunch earlier on in the day in a little old fashioned pub down the road so we hadn’t already dined in the bar. I have to say I was a little disappointed as I had heard that the ambiance of the restaurant was as nice as the food itself. In saying that the bar had a cozy open fire, bubbly local staff and a genuinely warm atmosphere.

Duck Main Course

The menu is the type of menu I love. Nothing stuffy or anything that could be perceived as pretentious. Just a good selection of good food cooked beautifully.
 

Sticky Toffee Pudding

For starters I had my most favourite dish. Goats cheese. It was done on a toasted bread, toasted nuts, mixed greens and a lovely  delicate dressing. I would have to say it is up there with the best goats cheese starters I have ever had. Honestly it was just divine!

For mains the two of us went for the duck (Duck again I hear you ask?? Yes, we are duck fans and so think we know good duck when we taste it!) This was more then good.  We opted for a red wine with the mains.

For desert Liam opted for a selection of ice cream and sorbets. They were so tasty.  I am a huge fan of anything that has caramel, toffee, butterscotch of a variation of any of these so desert for me was a no brainer. Sticky toffee pudding with popcorn, apricot, elder flower and a nutty ice cream. It was heavenly! A desert chef who can serve a sticky toffee pudding that is rich but not very heavy is top class in  my books!

Relaxing.

After dinner we brought drinks up to the room, threw open the balcony doors and sat enjoying the sunset until, in a matter of minutes, the sky clouded over and then down pour…The perfect time to jump into the huge, cozy and ridiculously comfortable bed!

Breakfast was served in the restaurant. 
It's decorated very simply. It seems to be that if a restaurant is decorated simply the food is where the artistry is. Breakfast offered a choice or healthy or indulgent and we enjoyed a bit of both. The pastries were divine!

The bill came to €170 for the night b&b, dinner and after dinner drinks. The Step House has romance, elegance,  is a culinary treat and a great retreat. Honestly, what’s not to love!


So what's coming up. This Friday we are going to the wedding of friends of ours in the beautiful Seafield Hotel near Gorey, Co Wexford. I have been to the spa but never stayed. As a bride to be myself  it will be a real treat.

Also, I am expecting a fab hamper from Irish Food Co-op full of Irish artisan goodies so I will be doing a review of the products and introducing you to some great Irish food producers.

I hope you enjoyed the read.
Aideen.

The view from the balcony

More views of the Carlow countryside

Dressed for dinner

The 'real' capital, A trip to Cork city.

Cork, the peoples republic, the ‘real’ capital, whatever you like to call it Cork is a very unique city. It is like Dublin without the rushing around and Galway with the extra shopping!

My own love affair with Cork is actually more coastal then the city. My grandparents lived in Kinsale for years and it was very much a home from home for basically as many holidays as I could get there! However, in all the years I was visiting Kinsale I never once stayed in the Cork city.

The Room

So last week myself and himself headed to the Imperial Hotel to enjoy two nights. The hotel is part of the Flynn Group. Location wise  it is the perfect base to enjoy the city on foot.

My first tip for this hotel is make sure you have a rain jacket in the car! There is no parking at the hotel itself. They have a set rate (€9 per night which is an additional charge) with a car park that is about a five – eight minute walk away. So, park at the door, the concierge will give you a hand to unload the bags, and then you can go park the car and stroll back.

Check-in was swift and efficient.  We stayed in a room on the first floor with a view out the front of the hotel. The room was lovely. High ceilings, big bed, TV, nespresso machine (much to the delight of himself!) and a lovely bathroom with heated mirror (I Love them!!). 

  The room was very warm and I did end up saying this to reception. They didn’t move us but in the end this issue was dealt with in a manner that we were happy with. They are in the process of updating all the rooms with air-conditioning  so perhaps request one that is already has it.

Black Pudding Starter

Food in the restaurant was tasty. I enjoyed a black pudding starter. It really was a treat. Mains, I ordered steak cooked medium. It was perfectly cooked but there was a lack of seasoning. I ordered the red wine jus on the side but when it arrived it was very much like regular gravy so I asked for béarnaise instead and it was lovely.  Dessert was a hearty apple crumble and I really enjoyed that.

The highlight for me was the bar. It has a vintage feel about it and you could be sitting in the 1960s. Nice jazzy music and great staff served us after dinner drinks. A really lovely end to the day.

Would I stay again? Yes, I have to say I would. Every once in a while you will have a stay in a hotel and things, sometimes big or in this case small, go wrong or don’t live up to your expectations. The mark of a good hotel is how they deal with these things. The staff in the Imperial are top notch and dealt with the few issues we had in a polite and effective manner.

Blarney Castle

The great thing about Cork city is there are some great attractions within a stones throw of it. Blarney castle is only a ten minute drive from the city centre.  Admission is €13 each per adult. The usual concessions apply. I have to say I didn’t realise how big the gardens are. As we walked in there was a man with gorgeous red hair and a big beard, dressed in a Magees of Donegal style tweedy suit and playing a harp. The Americans absolutely loved it. He was literally the most leprechaun looking man I have ever seen.

The highlight of the visit of course is the Blarney Stone. Climbing up the steps of the castle there are beautiful views and a spectacular 360 from the top. I am not a huge fan of heights so I was happy enough to watch others kissing the stone. Himself already has a true ‘gift of the gab’ (he had kissed the stone years ago!!).

There is a coffee shop on site but there is loads of space to enjoy a picnic.

The village of Blarney is postcard perfect. Stroll from the castle and have a gander in the Blarney Woollen Mills. “The largest Irish shop in the world” is the tagline. It really is a who’s who of gorgeous Irish products.

Blarney Woollen Mills

The English Market, Cork

I am a firm believer that the rain shouldn’t impact a getaway in Ireland. We live here, we know what it’s like so we have no excuse not to be prepared. The second day of our stay it pretty much rained all day. No problem! We threw on rain jackets and off we went. The great thing about Cork city is it’s an easy city to navigate and as we popped in and out of shops the rain wasn’t an issue.

Shopping in Cork city offers something for everyone.  If you haven’t been to the English market put it on the top of your list. Fish mongers, delis, butchers, gift shops and my favourite, vintage shops.  Well worth a visit.

We strolled the city and shopped for the day. There are all the high street shops and lots of great little independent shops – great to see they are thriving among'st the big boys!

On our second evening we enjoyed dinner in a new Cork hotspot – Elbow Lane. (Review coming soon) It’s a funky smokehouse and bonus points – they brew their own beer.

Myself and himself are big fans of craft beers and so we couldn’t come all the way to Cork without visiting The Franciscan Well. As we were just post dinner we didn’t eat and just enjoyed some of their, brewed on site, beers. There is a little pizza hut out the back and they do stone baked pizza to enjoy with your pint.

For a city break with plenty of great places to eat, shop and visit, Cork is well worth a visit.

Hope you enjoyed the read. Apologies for lack of photos. My poor camera died! Shes recovered now though so lots of pretty pics to come!

A lunchtime treat - Dry Dock Bar, Ferrycarrig Hotel.

Ferrycarrig Hotel is one of the most well-known family hotels in County Wexford. It  is set on the banks of the River Slaney and boasts beautiful views of the river just before it reaches Wexford town and on out to sea.

A fresh salad

I recently popped in to the Dry Dock Bar to have a late, relaxing lunch and do a bit of writing. I dined in the Dry Dock bar and as the Sunny South East was living up to its name I sat outside. The sun was shining and the views really are fab!

I enjoyed a chicken caesar salad and a glass of pinot grigio. The salad was huge and there was lots of beautifully grilled chicken. A lunch favourite done well.

Lunch with a view.

The bill came to €19. The service was prompt and friendly and the salad was enough for two!

The other dining option in Ferrycarrig is Reeds Restaurant. I dined there with family a few weeks ago and I would highly recommend it for a fine dining experience without the huge price tag.

A short little read this evening! Do comment if you have enjoyed a lunch there recently.

Aideen.