Nathan's Thoughts

It's not yet launched but I have a new site live - www.irelandsouthwest.com. A team of us have come together to blog about hidden gems to visit, great activities to do and fabulous places to stay and eat in Kerry and West Cork.
There's also a facebook forum attached to it, where you can ask questions, offer advice or post photos from your journey through the South West - http://tinyurl.com/yb267en
Let me know what you think of it and feel free to spread the word to anyone you know.

Fiola Foley, one of my best freelance guides, is part of Ireland's top adventure racing team. Here's their blog - http://irishar.wordpress.com. They're currently looking for corporate sponsorship if you're interested, or know of anyone who may be interested...

Some upcoming places still available in October:

• Thurs 1st - Carrauntoohil Guided Ascent
• Sat 3rd & Sun 4th - Mountain Skills 1
• Wed 7th - Rope Work & Set Up for Climbers
• Sat 10th & Sun 11th - Mountain Skills 2 (Wicklow)
• Sun 18th - Rock Climbing & Abseiling in the Gap of Dunloe
• Sat 24th - Mangerton & Horse's Glen Hike or Rock Climbing & Abseiling
• Sun 25th - Carrauntoohil Guided Ascent or Kayak Killarney Lakes
• Mon 26th - Kayak Killarney Lakes
• Fri 30th - Mount Brandon Guided Ascent
• Fri 30th - Muckross Park Night Walk
• Sat 31st - Carrauntoohil Guided Ascent

To book onto any of these, or to discuss your options, contact me on info@outdoorsireland.com or 086 860 45 63.

Singles Weekend Competition, Press Release

Adventure company Outdoors Ireland are running their first Singles Adventure Weekend this 31st Oct & 1st Nov.
It will be a weekend full of adventure, suitable for all levels; fun, like-minded people; delicious food; comfortable accommodation and great craic in the evenings in Glenbeigh village, nestled in the South West of Ireland.

''Unless you're into the Saturday night pub scene it's getting harder to meet people as our lifestyles get busier and busier'' says Nathan Kingerlee, owner of Outdoors Ireland. ''This will be an opportunity for like-minded people to meet and socialise over a fun, relaxed weekend, while taking part in adventure sports such as kayaking and rock climbing.''

Outdoors Ireland are running a competition offering a free place on this Singles Adventure Weekend. They're looking for ideas as to what activities would make the ideal weekend. Email your suggestions to info@outdoorsireland.com. The best suggestion will be adopted and the winner will win a free place. Entries will be judged by Kingerlee of Outdoors Ireland and Roisin Finlay of Outsider Magazine and need to be in by 5th Oct.

For full competition details check out http://www.outdoorsireland.com/; or contact Kingerlee on info@outdoorsireland.com or +353 (0) 86 860 45 63.

Singles Adventure Weekends

Win A Free Place!

On Sat 31st Oct & Sun 1st Nov I'm running our first singles adventure weekend!

It will be a weekend full of adventure, suitable for all levels; fun, like-minded people; delicious food; comfortable accommodation and great craic in the evenings in Glenbeigh village. There will be plenty of opportunity to meet like-minded people in a relaxed, fun setting.
The weekend will be based in The Sleepy Camel Hostel.

I'm looking for ideas, from you, as to what activities would make the ideal weekend...

Email me your suggestion; we'll adopt the best suggestion and you'll win a completely free place on the first weekend!
Email: info@outdoorsireland.com

Entries need to be in by Mon 5th Oct.

Entries will be judged by Nathan Kingerlee of Outdoors Ireland and Roisin Finlay, of Outsider Magazine.

Some of the things you'll be judged on are the amount of thought and effort you've put into your idea; what combination of activities you've put together; what rough timings for the weekend you've come up with; and, most importantly, will it work and prove popular?

If you've any questions about the competition leave a comment below. I look forward to reading your entries. Good luck!

General Format:
Arrive Friday Evening
Activities Saturday
Entertainment & Craic Saturday Evening
Activities Sunday

Potential Activities:
Rock Climbing
Abseiling
Hill Walking
Night Hike
Lake Kayaking
White Water Kayaking
Biking
Orienteering
Team Challenge
Yoga
Pilates

Click here to book onto the weekend!

Directions

View Outdoors Ireland in a larger map

Mountain Skills in Kerry

Hill walking and hiking are a great way to stay fit, healthy and get fresh air. As darkness comes earlier and the temperature drops here’s some things to take into consideration over the autumn and winter.

Check the weather forecast before you go and if necessary alter your walk according to the weather. Two good websites are www.met.ie and www.windguru.com.

Check your map before you go.

Can complete your walk before darkness?

If there are cliffs to cross will the wind be a problem?

If there are streams to cross will they be flooded and dangerous?

No backpack is fully waterproof so put everything within your backpack into a plastic bin-bag to ensure your gear is kept fully dry.

Carry enough gear to keep you warm, dry, fed and watered; plus extra gear for incidents, such as a torch for being caught in twilight, hot drink for getting cold, spare fleeces that you don’t plan on wearing, extra hat and gloves and a survival bag for emergencies.

When you’re on the hills keep yourself dry and warm at all times, don’t allow yourself to get cold or wet, as it takes a lot more time and energy to re-heat yourself.

To get your clothing layers correct for walking, generally be a little cold when you leave your car and that way after ten mins you should be comfortable temperature.

If the weather changes or someone is struggling it’s better to decide to shorten your walk earlier rather than later.

On the Ordnance Survey 1:50 000 scale maps each blue grid box is 1km, from side to side.

Across general hill terrain an approx average walking speed is 3km per hour.

Pick out your route before you’re on the hills and track yourself across the hills, so if the mist comes down you should know where you are.

When you’re navigating try to use contour features, such as spurs, instead of streams and fences, as these can change, whereas contour features haven’t changed since the last ice-age!

If you get lost ideally just re-trace your steps to your last know position and start again.

If you’d like to find out more about mountain skills and map reading courses check out our Mountain Skills courses, running in Kerry from now onwards.

Mountain Skills 1

Mountain Skills 2

Any comments or suggestions? What works for you in the hills? Please leave a comment below...

Related Posts:

What to look for with Waterproofs

Dealing with Mountain Incidents

Taking a Compass Bearing

Dun Sheen Sea Cliff Climbing

Rock Climbing on sunny sea cliffs at Dun Sheen, just outside Dingle, in County Kerry.

'Dun' is the Irish for 'fort' and above our heads, on the cliff top, is an ancient Iron Age fort, perched on the edge of the Atlantic.
Within the main fort of Dun Sheen is a secondary smaller fort, called Dun Beag. The women, children and warriors would retreat within this smaller fortification if the main walls were breached.
Attack would come from rival clans and also from the encroaching Celts.
See our Rock Climbing Courses
See our Scrambling Courses

Two places left on a Learn to Rock Climb Course this weekend.
Contact me on info@outdoorsireland.com or 086 860 45 63 to book.

Autumn Hiking Group

With the freshening days and darkening nights of autumn approaching I’m starting a hiking group on Wednesday evenings throughout the autumn and winter.

For those in their 20’s, 30’s and upwards, the aim is to get fresh air and healthy exercise after work, have fun, meet new people and explore the local hills and trails.

We’ll meet on a Wednesday evening. The hikes will be about two hours long, with all levels and abilities welcome. We’ll finish each hike with a coffee or pint in the local pub.

The cost is is €15 per person, or €10 per person for facebook group members.

So if you’re interested in a fun way to stay healthy and meet new people, outside of a gym environment, contact Nathan for more details on info@outdoorsireland.com or 086 860 45 63.

Our first hike is Wednesday 23rd September and we'll be hiking Cumman Ridge, a short and relaxing hike near Killorglin, overlooking Dingle Bay. It's an ideal walk for any first time hikers.

If you have any suggestions for good local hikes feel free to leave a comment below, as we're looking for some good hike ideas...

October Bank Holiday Hiking & Kayaking in Killarney

This October Bank Holiday climb Ireland's highest mountains, savour Kerry's dramatic scenery, explore the ruins of Muckross Abbey by night and kayak across the deep glaciated Lough Leane, with fun, like-minded people...

Saturday 24th
Hike the high peaks of Mangerton and Stoompa, past the icy waters of the Devil's Punch Bowl, contouring around the impressive cliffs of the Horse's Glen and overlooking both Dingle Bay and Kenmare Bay.

That evening take a relaxing stroll through the shadows and darkness of Killarney National Park. Explore the crumbling ruins of 15th century Muckross Abbey, before returning to the luxurious warmth of Muckross Park Hotel for hot chocolate, mulled wine and spicy buns!

Sunday 25th
Climb Carrauntoohil, Ireland's highest mountain.
As you climb steeply through ice-carved corries, jagged ridges and splashing waterfalls you'll marvel at the majestic views, atmospheric swirling of misty cloud and just possibly glimpse a soaring white tailed sea eagle...

Monday 26th
Choose from a dawn, morning or afternoon kayak trip across Lough Leane, on the Lakes of Killarney. Wrapped warmly in thick wetsuits and comfortable kayaks learn the strokes needed to kayak through the wooded islands, explore secretive limestone caves and discover the local history, from lepers to Brian Boru...

• Choose From One, Two Or All Three Days
• All Specialist Equipment Provided
• All Abilities Catered For

Price is €170 per person for all three days

Price Includes: Two Days Hill Walking, One Night Walk, One Half-Day Kayak Trip, Qualified Local Guides, All Specialist Equipment, Mulled Wine & Spicy Buns in Muckross Park Hotel.

Check out Muckross Park Hotel for their special offer this weekend