I think the Slieve Bearnagh hike is my favourite mountain summit trail in the Mournes. Thats saying something given the very strong competition from Slieve Donard and Commedagh, as well as Slieve Binnian. However, I think the Slieve Bearnagh hike just shades it for me. One of the main reasons is that I just loved []The post Slieve Bearnagh Hike via Trassey Track and Hares Gap appeared first on Wild Irish Walks.

Camping with Dogs: Rules, Prep, and RV Tips

Madeira is a tiny portuguese island, adrift way out in the Atlantic, in the outermost region of the european union. This small archipelago has become one of the most iconic outdoor meccas in Europe, and has been on my bucket list for many years.However, this fame has come with a price - and if I was going to Madeira, I wanted to get a chance to experience its wild beauty from the lesser travelled trails. Which is how I ended up back on a Trails & Roots camp this summer.And so one day of travel and a Ryanair flight later, I woke up in the city of Funchal, under azure blue skies, surrounded by good coffee and the rustle of lizards scurrying for cover. The first day is almost like orientation. All the campers arrive at our home for the week - a sprawling house and gardens, the kind I only expect to see in period movies or on a guided tour, much less sleep in myself. Once were assigned our rooms and have finished exploring the grounds, its time for a yoga session to get us limbered up and ready for the days ahead.Little do you realise that this is the start of falling into the daily rituals that bookend the otherworldly experiences that are the trails.. Hours and hours of climbing and descending single track paths, filling your time so thoroughly that days begin to feel like weeks. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize But Im getting ahead of myself - its night one, and after our incredible group meal, Heather appears with her calendar for the week, and our first day of trails is filled in. We discuss the route, gear, and breakfast times. That night, its the grand finale of the madeira firework festival, and I stand on the balcony with people Ive just met, watching the sky light up like nothing else.Lets get running. Our second day has a breakfast call of 6am, followed by 18km of the eastern sea cliffs. Daniel, our local legend and guide, tells us about Madeira and its incredible number of micro climates - we will only experience a selection of them on this trip. The volcanic rock here is rugged with red undertones, the trails having an almost arid feel. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize On day 3 our breakfast starts at 5:45, with the bus leaving at 7:30am. Being based in the Quinta in Funchal, each morning we have our own bus that brings us to and from the trail heads, meaning that all of our runs are point to point, getting to experience as much of the island as possible. For some, the twisting roads were nausea inducing, but for me, I feel like I spent most of that time staring out at the magic shapes that the mountains bent themselves into.Departing the bus, our next run took us along stunning lavadas to reach the 600 year old forests of fanal, famous for the perpetual mists and eerie trees. This is a very popular area, but thanks to our guides we came and went with only moments passing through the crowds. Again, this is why I came to Madeira with Trails & Roots - their local guides know the island better than the back of their hands, changing routes each year to offer the best experiences. I feel like we were ghosts in the mist, entering and leaving along our own quiet paths.We finished this day on one of the black sand beaches that are natural to Madeira, swimming in the sea, and eating a picnic while we dried off in the sun. Sitting there, electrolytes in one hand and a cookie in the other, my brain honestly found it hard to believe that the incredible sea cliffs, disappearing off into the distance, were real. The longer I stared, the more waterfalls I noticed, more wisps of cloud weaving with the trees, more green life spilling over into the ocean. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Our fourth day had the earliest alarm - we were heading to the trails for sunrise. And not only that, we had some of the first permits for the incredible PR1 to Pico Riuvo, the highest summit of Madeira. Even our guide Daniel was giddy with excitement that morning - this was his first time back on this trail since it had closed two years before from a wildfire. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize We hiked into our viewpoint for sunrise, bathing us and the ridgelines around us in a heavenly red glow of morning light.This was possibly our most technical day of trails - mostly due to the exposure and sheer steepness of the routes - which famously dont really come out on camera. So just believe me, it was like magic. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize What I havent mentioned so far, is that I came to trail camp with a hip injury - a week before I could barely walk. Some physio sessions and strong pain killers later, I decided Id come regardless, and if all I was able to do was take in the scenery and lounge by the house pool, then thats what Id do. Madeira is gorgeous whether or not you can run.Thankfully, my body held out for three of the five long runs, before it called a halt to my antics. And so for the final two days, I did small sections of the route solo, either returning to the bus start point, or being dropped close to the end of the route and walking down.I include this mostly to mention that its a normal part of these camps for some people to take a day off, or switch up how much they can do once theyre here. On day five, it was all about the tunnels and waterfalls, the route feeling like a tropical rainforest. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Day six was a descent through the ecological park above Funchal, finishing in the village of Monte. I got dropped five or so kilometres from the end, getting to take in a small bit of the park, and the summit of Pico Alto. I chose this section of the route because it was my Birthday, and ever since 2018, Ive visited a new summit to celebrate the day. I hiked in and called Carl at home, sharing the trail with him and the views out over the city. I cant finish this write-up without mentioning the food. Not only are the runs bespoke - all your meals are cooked by the most lovely, talented chefs. Our head chef for this camp was Greta, and I hope she knows just how mind-blowing the food was. Deconstructed lasagnes, reimagined madeiran food that had us all drooling, and a lemon tart that I will think about for the rest of my life. It was fine dining every night, with dishes magically disappearing as each course came and went. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize And a final mention for the house. I've never sat below such a grand chandelier while listing to a training workshop (shout out to Zandy for all the advice he shared across the week), our walked around as grand a study. It felt old and beautiful, but also human - the penciled in height markers of generations of this family caught my eye as I walked to the bathroom one evening, and made me imagine the many people who walked these halls before me. This has been made in collaboration with Trails & Roots! Thanks to Heather for organising a fantastic trip, and for facilitating me coming to camp to document the adventure once more. Trails & RootsTrails & Roots is a small, passion-driven Irish business founded by Heather Gordon.Heather organises & leads group trail running holidays in some of the world's most beautiful mountain destinations - from the iconic trails of Chamonix to Madeira's dramatic coastal paths, Slovenia's alpine peaks to Thailand's hidden jungle gems. Each Trail Camp is thoughtfully crafted to combine guided mountain runs, innovative cuisine created by the Trails & Roots Head Chefs, and a community of like-minded adventurers to share the experience with.Come for the Trails. Stay for the People. Come back for the Food.Check www.trailsandroots.com or@trailsandroots on Instagram Further ExploringIf you're interested in similar kinds of adventures, I also went to Thailand with Trails and Roots back in January 2025. Read my write up here, or watch the video version here.

Theres something uniquely energising about planning a group outdoor trip. The excitement of shared adventure, the chance to move your body

Any Camping with Style regular will know were a sucker for all things colourful, and these cool boxes might just be the most colourful weve ever seen! Weve hunted out the cutest new designs and the most colourful cool boxes, because we understand that sometimes, great functionality isnt enough and we also want our camping gear to be aesthetic.These cool boxes might be pretty, but theyre not just about looks. They also deliver when it comes to keeping food fresh and drinks cold, with many offering impressive ice retention and the ability to keep food fresh and drinks cold for several days.From pastel shades and bold pops of colour to charming retro-inspired designs, cool boxes have come a long way over the last couple of decades. Today, there are sizes, styles and cooling capabilities to suit every kind of camper. In this feature, we round up some of the cutest, coolest and most colourful camping cool boxes currently available.Igloo Tag Along 360 20 Quart Swivel Cooler Pink ThriftI remain unapologetic in my immense love for the colour pink, and the latest colours in the Igloo Tag Along cooler collection absolutely delight me and make me happy, so Im starting off strong with perhaps my absolute favourite of all.Buy It HerePolarbox Classic Retro 20L Cool Box YellowI own one of these and I love it. They are the ideal size for day trips, solo overnight camping trips and taking along to summer garden parties and barbecues. It provides solid cooling performance (see our full polarbox review here) and comes in an array of gorgeous colours.Buy It HereYeti Roadie 24 Quart Cool Box Pace PurpleIts certainly not the biggest cool box in this round up, holding around 22 litres, but oh my gosh its a cutie! Once again, the Yeti Roadie series of cooler are available in a variety of sizes and colours and this pace purple hue is perfection.Buy It HereIgloo Tag Along 18L Passive Cool Box Lagoon TealTeal is perhaps my second favourite colour, but its honestly so difficult to choose! The entire Tag Along range has well and truly nailed it with the most perfect shades of the loveliest colours. And of course, its not just about looks. Igloo cool boxes deliver excellent performance too.Buy It HereYETI Tundra Haul Wheeled Cooler Firefly YellowAt around 52litres, the Yeti Tundra Haul is a wheeled cooler with vibrant looks and serious cooling credentials, keeping ice with ease for 4-5 days. Also available in more conventional colours, were big fans of the vibrants firefly yellow colourway.Buy It HereEngel 28L Cool Box Sea FoamAvailable in an array of colours, the Engel 28L cool box is ideal for short camping trips and will keep ice for 24 hours, but the contents will stay cold long after the ice melts. A fab little cool box with retro-feel to the design.Buy It HereIgloo Special Edition 25 Quart Picnic Basket Cooler JadeThe styling of this cool box screams 1980s and honestly, were loving it! Designed to mimic a classic picnic basket, this Igloo special edition cool box holds 22L and screams retro cool. Ideal for overnight camping trips or days out at the beach.Buy It HereYeti Hopper Insulated Backpack Cooler Bag Big Sky BlueIdeal for day trips, beach picnics and those times when youre out and about but still need to keep your food and drink cold and fresh. This wearable cool bag is styled like a backpack making it easy to sling on and go without the need to drag or carry a traditional cool box. Loads of lovely colours to choose from too!Buy It HereShop Related Products on AmazonNaturehike Cool Box Compact 18LIgloo Tag Along 360 20 Quart Swivel CoolerPolarbox Portable Mini Cooler 20LENGEL Cooler Box 12.3 LWhere to next?Igloo Maxcold Latitude 62QT Wheeled Cool Box Review Long Term TestIs The Ninja FrostVault Cool Box A MustHave For Camping?10 Of The Best Camping Cool Boxes 2026 Passive Cool Boxes Expert RankedThe post Super Cute, Ultra Cool These Are The Most Colourful Camping Cool Boxes appeared first on Camping Blog Camping with Style | Travel, Outdoors & Glamping Blog.

Free Camping in the US: Where Its Legal and How It Works

Camping with Dogs: Rules, Prep, and RV Tips

There is a particular kind of magic to waking up under canvas in the grounds of somewhere grand. If you have ever glamped in the shadow of a British castle or on a country estate, you will know the feeling: that quiet, slightly smug pleasure of having the sort of setting people queue to visit all to yourself at 7am, coffee in hand, before the day has properly started.France has been quietly perfecting this idea for decades, and if chteau-grounds glamping is your thing, there is one collection you should have on your radar for next year.The estate campsite, explainedIn France, camping runs on an official star system, inspected and awarded by Atout France, the national tourism body. At the top end of that scale sits a category that does not really have a British equivalent: the estate campsite.The best-known collection is Les Castels, a network of 13 independent four- and five-star France campsites founded back in 1959. The concept is simple and rather wonderful: every site sits on a heritage estate, whether that is the grounds of a chteau, an old manor or a protected natural setting, and every one is still independently owned and run by people who clearly care about the place.The result is glamping with a sense of place. Instead of a purpose-built park, you get wooded grounds, walled gardens, lakes and, in several cases, an actual chteau at the end of the lawn. Accommodation runs from spacious pitches (some with their own private bathroom, a small luxury that changes everything) through to chalets, safari-style furnished tents and more unusual lodgings such as treehouses and gypsy caravans.Spotlight: Domaine de Svenier & Spa, ArdcheIf one site sums up where French glamping is heading, it is Domaine de Svenier & Spa, a five-star estate campsite in the hills above the Ardche Gorges in southern France.There are no rows of tents here. Svenier is a sustainable chalet village of just 56 rentals, set among the vines and garrigue near the village of Lagorce, with a panoramic view that does most of the talking. On site you will find a pool, a restaurant and a proper wellness and spa area the kind of place where an afternoon slips past between the sauna and a sun lounger without you noticing.And then there is the setting. The Ardche is one of Frances great outdoor playgrounds: the famous gorges, hilltop villages, hiking trails through wild herb-scented scrub, and the river itself, where canoeing beneath the limestone arch of the Pont dArc is the regions signature day out. It is that rare combination the wellbeing-minded camper is always chasing big, restorative landscapes by day, and something genuinely comfortable to come back to.Three more glamping-worthy picksLes Ormes, Domaine & Resort BrittanyA five-star site on a 250-hectare estate between Saint-Malo and Mont-Saint-Michel, with an indoor pool for the days the Breton sky turns moody. The scale of the grounds means you can walk for an hour without leaving the estate, and the coast is on your doorstep.Chteau de Lez Eaux NormandyA five-star site set in the grounds of a chteau near Granville, within easy reach of Mont-Saint-Michel. Slides and pools for the family, chteaux grounds and sea air for everyone else.Domaine de la Bien-Assise Cte dOpaleA five-star estate campsite roughly seven miles from Calais port, which makes it either a brilliant first night in France or a destination in its own right: long empty beaches, chalky cliffs and an indoor pool, around 90 minutes from Dover by ferry or 35 minutes from Folkestone via Eurotunnel.The wellbeing case for going slowRegular readers will know the argument by heart: time outdoors is not a luxury, it is maintenance. What the estate campsite model adds is the removal of friction. The pool, the restaurant, the spa, the walking trails everything is within the grounds, so the holiday stops being a logistics exercise and becomes what it was supposed to be: slow mornings, long lunches, unhurried evenings under old trees.There is also something to be said for the digital switch-off that big landscapes enforce. A week spent between the river and the terrace has a way of resetting the nervous system that no weekend mini-break quite manages.Planning your 2027 escapeA word of warning born of experience: the best weeks at the most popular estate campsites are booked months in advance, often by families who return every year. If a summer week at somewhere like Svenier or Les Ormes is on your list for 2027, autumn and winter are the time to secure it, when the full choice of accommodation is still available.Most sites in the collection accept pets subject to conditions that vary by site and accommodation type, so check before booking if the dog is part of the plan and remember that GB pet passports are no longer valid for EU travel; your dog will need an Animal Health Certificate issued by a vet within ten days of departure.Chteau grounds, five-star spas and a chalet with a view of the gorges. Camping has come a very long way from the muddy field.ho compare multiple glamping getaways and verify details like deposits, check-in processes, and included extras are more likely to book with confidence.DISCLOSURE | This post has been placed by a third party as part of an agreed brand collaboration.The post Glamping in the Grounds of a Chteau: Inside Frances Les Castels Estate Campsites appeared first on Camping Blog Camping with Style | Travel, Outdoors & Glamping Blog.

Whether its the warm Algarve in Portugal, the Adriatic coast of Croatia, Lake Garda in Italy, or the Pyrenees in northern Spain, many campers from the UK travel by air and only pick up their campervan or hire car when they arrive at their holiday destination. This combination saves time and makes it easier to explore even the more remote campsites around Europe. However, good preparation is essential to ensure a comfortable start to your trip.Unexpected issues often arise from differing entry requirements, airline rules or gaps in your planning. If you take care of the most important details before you leave, youll start your holiday feeling a lot more at ease and can enjoy your time at the campsite from the very first minute. Check your travel plans and know your rightsMany campers travel in their own vehicles. However, plenty of people planning a camping holiday prefer to fly to places like Spain, Italy, Croatia or Portugal, choosing to pick up a campervan or hire car once they arrive. In these situations, its advisable to confirm your travel plans a few days before departure.Before heading to the airport, confirm the essentials like your departure time, terminal, and your airlines baggage rules. It also makes sense to familiarise yourself with flight cancellation compensation before your trip so that you know what financial compensation and assistance you may be entitled to if your travel plans are disrupted. The EU Air Passenger Rights Regulation (EU261) protects passengers on many flights within Europe in the event of a flight cancellation or significant delay. Depending on the route and airline, travellers departing from or arriving in the UK may instead be covered by the equivalent UK261 regulations. Keep your boarding pass, booking confirmation and receipts for any additional expenses such as meals, transport or accommodation as these documents may be required if you need to make a claim after your journey has been unexpectedly disrupted. Dont forget the internet, adaptors and electricityTechnology is now part of practically every camping trip. Keeping your devices charged is more important than ever, whether youre using them for navigation, checking into your campsite, finding nearby walking trails or staying in touch with family. Because of this, its a good idea to find out what plug types, voltages, and power connections are used in the country youre visiting.Campsites can vary just as much. Some pitches have standard mains sockets, while others require a CEE adaptor, which is widely used at campsites throughout Europe. Packing the right one before you leave saves you the trouble of hunting for an adaptor once you arrive.Its also worth downloading offline maps and saving important travel documents, camping information and booking confirmations on your device. Having everything available offline means you can still find your way even without an internet connection, as mobile signal can be patchy in remote coastal, forested or mountainous areas.Check your driving licence and the countrys traffic lawsWhether youre travelling abroad in your own motorhome or picking up your campervan at your holiday destination, you should familiarise yourself with the applicable laws before departing. While most european countries accept a British driving licence, the rules vary depending on the destination and the weight of the vehicle.Most drivers in the UK hold a category B driving licence, which allows them to drive vehicles with a maximum authorised mass of 3.5 tonnes. However, larger motorhomes or campervans may require a different category of driving licence. When hiring a campervan, it is therefore important to check the vehicle details before completing your booking.Traffic laws can also vary considerably abroad. In France, for instance, you are required to carry a warning triangle and a high-visibility vest in your vehicle. Tolls or vignettes are required on many motorways, for example in Austria and Switzerland. Motorhomes may also be subject to different speed limits in Spain or Croatia than in the UK, and low-emission zones in cities may impose additional restrictions.DISCLOSURE | This post has been placed by a third party as part of an agreed brand collaboration.The post Camping Holidays Overseas Things to Consider Before Leaving appeared first on Camping Blog Camping with Style | Travel, Outdoors & Glamping Blog.

Christopher Nolans beautiful The Odyssey reinvents one of historys greatest adventure stories for the big screen, but theres one place that deserves just as much