May is National Walking Month! More daylight, more sunshine (hopefully) and more opportunities to walk.Walking is the most accessible form of exercise there is. It costs nothing, requires no equipment beyond a decent pair of shoes, and the benefits as we touched on last month in reference to the POMNI survey are manifold, both physical, mental and emotional. Whether you prefer a gentle stroll along the coast, a forest trail with the family, or something that gets your heart pumping up into the hills, Northern Ireland has a walk for every mood and every ability.Walk with othersOne of the best things about walking is that its as good in company as it is in solitude. If youre looking for a group to get out with, the Ulster Federation of Rambling Clubs (UFRC) brings together walking clubs from right across Northern Ireland and is a great way to meet like-minded people, discover new routes and build a regular habit of getting outside. Over May and June, they are running a series of Walk With Us events, introducing people to their walking clubs. Find them on their website.For those who feel that walking is not always designed with them in mind, the Walking for All programme is well worth exploring. This cross-border initiative is designed to make walking more inclusive and accessible, supporting people of all abilities and backgrounds to enjoy the outdoors. It is, in their own words, a simple way to get active, enjoy the outdoors and connect with others in your community.Walk your own wayOf course, sometimes the best walk is the one you do yourself, on your own terms, at your own pace. A dander round the park. A coastal path after work. A forest trail on a Sunday morning. It doesnt have to be epic or gruelling to be worth doing, it just has to get you outside.WalkNI has almost 1,000 walks across Northern Ireland, free to access, searchable by location, difficulty and type. Whether youre after a stroll or a challenge, a mountain or a shoreline, a solo ramble or a family outing, its all there.May is your invitation to get out and explore. Find your walk here.The post May is National Walking Month! appeared first on WalkNI.

For nine years, Ive walked and documented Irelands incredible trails. Thousands of kilometres and just as many hours, Ive spent my life in the Irish elements, falling in love with our amazing landscapes and habitats. And now I want to share it with you.In 2024 I became a Lowland Leader, which means Im qualified to bring groups out on the tracks and trails Ive grown up on. This summer, Im starting small with my own series, and hopefully I might see you on one of them.A big goal of mine for these hikes is to create a space to meet new people and make friends with people who want to spend time outdoors! 1. Beginner Hike: Howth Head TrailsAccessible from Dublin City via public transport, Howth Head offers so many options for a morning walk. Beginner Group Hike: Howth Head 15.00 Come for a laid back morning walk along Howth Head. Meet others and make friends with people who want to spend time outdoors! Details: Date: 12th July 2026Meeting time: 9:15amDuration: approx. 3hrs Pace: relaxed! Trail Grade: Easy - BeginnerMainly on easily identifiable paths, with good underfoot conditions. This is a beginner friendly walk! Weather permitting, we will be taking in the gorgeous views from Howth hill and the cliffs. All walks are led by qualified and insured leaders. Feel free to email me with any questions - ellie@toughsoles.iePublic Transport:The timing of this hike has been set to give participants time to get the bus from Dublin City Centre: find the Dublin Bus Route 6 timetable here. Add to cart When: Sunday 12th JulyWhere: Howth HeadMeeting time: 9:15amDuration: approx. 3hrs Pace: relaxed! Trail Grade: Easy - Beginneron easily identifiable paths, with good underfoot conditions. Learn more about trail grades here.Public transport: Dublin bus route 6This is a beginner friendly walk to enjoy the fantastic trails around Howth Head at a leisurely pace. Hopefully with good weather will let us also see the great views out over the Irish Sea. Total group size will not exceed 10 people. Tickets 15 per person. 2. Beginner / Intermediate: Wild Nephin National Park Loop Group Hike: Wild Nephin Loop, Mayo 25.00 Explore some of Irelands wilder trails in Wild Nephin National Park! along this 12km adventureDetails: Date: 1st August 2026Start Time: 10am Start Location: Letterkeen Trail Head (Google Maps)Distance: 12kmApprox. Duration: 3 hoursAll walks are led by qualified and insured leaders. Feel free to email me with any questions - ellie@toughsoles.ie Add to cart Along this 12km adventure well experience the desolate beauty and wildness that still exists in Ireland, as well as finding some of Irelands only bothies.Date: 1st August 2026Start Time: 10am Approx. Duration: 3 - 4 hoursTrail Grade: Easy - ModerateLearn more about trail grades here.This route is inspiring whether you're new to the trails, or a dab hand at the hills. The Wild Nephin National Park is a stunning setting. Group will be kept small to minimise impact to the natural landscape. Tickets 25 per person. 3. Intermediate: St. Kevins Way, Wicklow St. Kevin's Way - Wicklow 36.00 St. Kevins Way is a gorgeous 26km trail that winds its way through the heart of Wicklow. Details: Date: 11th JulyStart time: 9am at the Glendalough Upper Car Park (Google maps)Finish time: approx. 6pmIncluded in the ticket price is an Irish Camino Passport, car parking at Glendalough, and shuttle bus. This is a full day event, and all attendees will need to bring a packed lunch and lots of snacks.All walks are led by qualified and insured leaders. Feel free to email me with any questions - ellie@toughsoles.ie Add to cart St. Kevins Way is a gorgeous 26km trail that winds its way through the heart of Wicklow.Date: 11th JulyStart time: 9amFinish time: approx. 6pmTrail Grading: Easy - ModerateThis is a waymarked route with some road walking, as well as more informal paths, rougher, boggy and more uneven terrain.Learn more about trail grades here.Included in the ticket price is an Irish Camino Passport, car parking at Glendalough, and shuttle bus. This is a full day event, and all attendees will need to bring a packed lunch and lots of snacks. What makes this trail difficult is not the underfoot terrain, but the length of the day. Tickets 36 per person. 4. To Be Announced: Boyne Valley Trails Festival 2026Date: mid-september Trail grading: easy-moderateDetails will be updated once events are announced - all I can say for now is that I am so excited to get to come back to the Boyne Valley Trails Festival again this year for some more fantastic hiking. For the most up to date info, check out the Boyne Valley Trails Website. Important notes:Plans in the Irish outdoors are subject to our wild weather and the sustainability of the habitat - Ive already changed one hike location due to recent fires. This is to give the habitat adequate time to recover this summer, and to make sure that we have the best possible experience.Pre-booking is essential. My permits for events and safety planning are based on specific numbers of attendees. If youve any questions, please email hello@toughsoles.ie .Checking the Tough Soles Events Page is the best place to find up-to-date information on upcoming events.

If youve ever pulled a damp towel out of a bag on day three of a camping trip and been hit by a pong youd rather scrub from your olfactory memory forever, youll appreciate the anti-niff properties of this copper-infused towel. Especially useful if youre living out of a van or bag for days at a time.The Copper Clothing Antimicrobial Cotton Towel is 100% cotton and its properly soft and absorbent, without the sensory hell hat is a microfibre situation, and its infused with copper ions that actively destroy bacteria and fungi on contact. Practically speaking this means no musty smell between uses, even when you havent been able to wash it for a few days.For multi-day camping trips or van life, this is genuinely useful. When storage space is tight, laundry visits arent possible or are perhaps irregular, a towel that can go longer between washes without becoming a biohazard is one less thing to think about. The towel measures 125 x 70cm, so its a roughly bath-towel size. At 500 GSM it feels more like something you might find at a hotel compared to the usual microfibre towels, which do the job, but just dont give you that satisfying proper towel feel. PRODUCT INFORMATIONMore about the antimicrobial cotton towelThe Copper Clothing Antimicrobial Bath & Gym Towel is 100% cotton, 500 GSM, and priced at 19.99. Free from added chemicals, its safe for sensitive skin, children, and pets. Find out more at copperclothing.comIts not the cheapest towel on the market, but its also not disposable the copper infusion is built into the fibres, not a coating that washes off after a limited number of uses, so it lasts the lifetime of the towel and keeps on doing its thing long-term. Weve scored it 4.5 out of 5, simply because I usually choose, and prefer, colourful towels that are slightly larger, but Mark has happily yoinked this one from me for his camping kit bag.DISCLOSURE | The featured product was gifted to us. We were not paid or required to write this review.The post The Copper Infused Cotton Towel Thats Ideal For Camping Trips & Van Life appeared first on Camping Blog Camping with Style | Travel, Outdoors & Glamping Blog.

If you are flying into Dublin and planning a campervan trip around Ireland, the process is simpler than most people expect. Our Greystones depot is 45 minutes from Dublin Airport on a clear run, and picking up from there rather than trying to find a hire company in the city itself is genuinely more straightforward.This guide covers everything you need to know: how to get from Dublin Airport to our depot, what happens when you arrive, what to bring, and where to go on your first night.Campervan hire near Dublin AirportGetting from Dublin Airport to our Greystones depotOur depot is at Knight Park, Charlesland, Greystones, Co. Wicklow (postcode A63 WW87).From Dublin Airport, the most practical route is: take the M50 southbound towards Bray and Greystones, exit at Junction 14 (Bray North / Greystones), follow the signs for Greystones Town via the R761, and continue through Greystones Town towards Charlesland. The journey is around 45 minutes in normal traffic, a little longer during Dublin commuter hours (7-9am and 5-7pm on weekdays). If you are arriving on a weekend morning, you will likely be with us in 40 minutes.You can get an Uber or taxi from the airport directly to the depot for around 40-50. There is also a DART train from the Airport Bus stop at Spencer Dock (short Aircoach ride from arrivals) to Greystones Station, and the depot is a short taxi from there.What to bringYou do not need much beyond what you are already carrying. A few things worth having ready:Your driving licence. You will need the original, not a photo. If you completed our online check-in before arrival, you will already have uploaded a copy, but we check the physical licence at pickup.Your booking confirmation, either on your phone or printed.If you are bringing a dog, let us know in advance. Our fleet is pet-friendly and we are happy to accommodate well-behaved dogs.Payment for any extras you have added (table and chairs, bed linen) if you have not already paid online. Most customers sort this in the check-in email two days before pickup.What happens when you arriveChristopher or another member of the team will meet you at the depot. Plan for about 30 minutes for the full handover. It is thorough but not complicated. We will:Walk you through the van: how the gas works, how to set up the sleeping areas, how the heating operates, where the water connections are, how to dump waste at campsites.Go through the rental agreement and confirm your return date and time.Take the security deposit. You will have already chosen your deposit option in the check-in email (2,000, 1,000, or 500, all fully refundable) so this takes a moment.Point you in the right direction. Christopher is happy to recommend a first-night campsite or route based on where you are heading.By the time you leave, you will know the van well enough to feel comfortable. Most people are surprised how quickly it all makes sense.What is included in your hireFull 24-hour breakdown cover across Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK. Included in the price, not an extra charge.Full gas cylinder. Fresh water in the tank. Clean bedding if you have opted for that extra. A full kitchen setup: hob, oven, fridge, freezer, crockery and utensils. Hot shower. Private toilet area. 12V power inverter for charging phones and electronics wherever you are parked.You bring your personal gear, food, and anything specific to your trip.View our full fleetWhere to go on your first nightFrom Greystones you have several good options within 90 minutes:Head south along the coast through Wicklow and Arklow towards Wexford. There are excellent campsites near Courtown and Rosslare.Head west over the Wicklow Mountains on the Military Road. It is spectacular scenery and a memorable first drive. Stop at a campsite near Laragh or Rathdrum.Head north-west towards Kildare and onwards to the Midlands if you are making for Roscommon or Galway on your first day.If you want to do the Wild Atlantic Way, most customers leave Greystones and head straight for Galway on day one, stopping somewhere around Athlone or Ballinasloe overnight. You will be well into Connemara by the next morning.Returning the vanReturn is the reverse of pickup. Arrive at the agreed time. We will ask you to agree a return time when you collect. We check the van together. Empty the waste, top up the water if possible, and bring it back broadly as you found it. Christopher does a full check with you present, and if everything is in order, your deposit is released the same day.Planning your routeWe are happy to help with route planning. Christopher at the Greystones depot and Joe at our Roscommon depot both know the Irish road network from years of customer conversations. If you want suggestions for a 7-day route, a weekend break, or a trip built around specific areas, just ask when you arrive or drop us an email before you travel.The whole of Ireland is genuinely accessible from Greystones. The west coast is under three hours. The southwest is four. The north is three and a half. You have more flexibility than most people realise when they start planning.For more answers, visit our FAQ page.Campervan holiday offersThe post Campervan Hire Near Dublin Airport: Your Complete Pickup Guide appeared first on Craic N Campers.

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If youve ever wished that England had the same Stay the Night Scheme that Scotland does- I have good news! Forestry England is trialling overnight parking spots...The post Forestry England Trials Motorhome Campervan Overnight Stopovers appeared first on Wandering Bird Motorhome Travel Blog.