Most of our walks are between 15-22km (9-13 miles) a day with gains in altitude between 300m – 600m (1,000-2,000ft) . A good idea is to do one or two similar length walks at home before you travel to prepare yourself. If you have any medical issues that might be of concern, please discuss with your doctor before travelling. Our Mountaineer holidays are more strenuous with days of up to 30km and ascents of up to 900m (3,000 feet) so a strong level of fitness would be required.

The best way to dress for hiking is to wear layers. This way if it gets too warm you can remove a layer and likewise add a layer if too cold. If you are going uphill, you will feel warm and likewise downhill sections can make you feel cooler. For summer walking (May to September) we regard as essential that you bring the following items. 1) Waterproof Jacket 2) Waterproof hiking boots 3) Comfortable hiking socks 4) Non cotton base layer 5) Lightweight hiking trousers (Not Jeans) 6) Fleece . We recommend that you also consider taking the following: 1) Water Bottle 2) Waterproof trousers 3) Gators 4) Hiking Poles 5) Whistle 6) Personal First Aid Kit 7) Sunscreen 8) Insect Repellent . Note we can provide hiking poles if this an easier option for you

As an island under the influence of the Gulf Stream, Ireland is protected from extremes of climate. Our summers are mild (20C/68F) and you can expect 13C/56F in the spring and 16C/61F in the autumn. The west of Ireland tends to be windier and wetter than the east.. Regarding annoying flies, Ireland is blessed when compared to Scotland or Scandinavia. While you get some in high summer, we have far less of a problem than more northern locations. From April to September evenings are long and in June it can be bright up until after 10pm. While it is possible to walk in winter the days can be short so the best months to walk are from April to mid October.

Yes, this is compulsory. It is necessary in case of any medical issues or if you needed to visit hospital or in the extreme case of repatriation. Many people are covered for travel abroad through their health insurance, credit card or airline tickets, but if you are not, you will need to purchase travel insurance before you travel. It is for your own peace of mind and it is compulsory for all of our walking holidays.

In a word, great!  We take great pride in seeking out the nicest and most interesting guesthouses along our walking routes. We only use guesthouses that are in a good location near to the walks, have warm friendly owners and have a high standard of comfort. All bedrooms are en-suite unless otherwise indicated.

We recommend a minimum of two people on all of our walking holidays. This is best practice in the mountains. We cannot take bookings for less than 2 people travelling.

To reserve your walking holiday, we require a 20% deposit which is non-refundable. However, if you need to cancel your holiday the following refunds apply. If you cancel up to four weeks before your holiday, only the deposit is forfeited. If you cancel between 2-4 weeks before your holiday, you receive a 50% refund. If you cancel within 2 weeks of your holiday no refund is possible. As insurance is compulsory, your travel insurance should be able to refund you and we would be happy to supply any documentation required for your claim.

If due to an unforeseen circumstance, you need to change the date of your holiday we will do our best to accommodate your preference. We cannot guarantee that your new preferred date will be available but will work to find a suitable alternative. 

After a day’s hiking, one of the great pleasures is a nice meal and all our holidays are planned with this in mind. On all our holidays there is normally a restaurant or a pub serving food within 5-10 minutes’ walk of your guesthouse. On the rare occasion when your guesthouse is further away than this, we provide transport to the restaurant or the guesthouse will provide you with dinner. Each evening you will always be able to get a good meal and a few drinks.

On each of our self-guided holidays we provide you with breakfast and packed lunches. The breakfast is usually a choice of a continental (breads, cheese, ham, jams) or full Irish breakfast (Sausages, bacon, eggs, toast) as well as cereals and juices. Tea and coffee is also provided. Most guesthouses also offer fruit and yogurts. We can provide a gluten free, vegetarian, or vegan breakfast on request.