Please Text Message For A Last Min Booking - Working Out Of Office

For a last min booking next few days please text message 00353 86 860 45 63, as I am working out of office.

Good availability for our Killarney Lakes Kayaking, plus a Mountain Skills 2 also.

Thanks, Nathan

The Naismith Rule - Mountain Walking Speed

The Naismith Rule - Mountain Walking Speed

Measure your distance from Point A to Point B as you intend to travel. Use the millimeter ruler on your compass to measure.

1 millimeter is equal to your map scale; so on a 1:50 000 scale map 1 millimeter = 50 meters;  on a 1:25 000 scale map 1 millimeter = 25 meters; and so on.


5KM Per Hour
1KM Per 12 Mins
500M Per 6 Mins
100M Per 1.2 Mins

Add 1 Min Extra For Every Uphill Contour You Climb
Ignore Downhill Contours




3KM Per Hour
1KM Per 20 Mins
500M Per 10 Mins
100M Per 2 Mins

Add 1 Min Extra For Every Uphill Contour You Climb
Ignore Downhill Contours


Is it good to have at least two walking speed calculations; for example 5km per hour and 3km per hour; as different situations, conditions and navigation techniques will effect your speed.

Boiling Water - Always

Found this dead sheep filtering down a fast flowing stream and into a lake last week.

In a survival or bushcraft situation you want to boil your drinking water, no matter how fast flowing or how pristine you think your water source. 1 min 'rolling boil' normally and a 3 min boil for altitudes of 2000 meters plus.

Because of the two different boil times and the fact a pan can slip off the boil momentarily, I say always go for a solid 3 min boil, wherever you are - to keep it simple.

Nathan-Outdoors Ireland

Please Send A Text Message For A Last Min Booking

I am working out of office for the next few days. To make a last min booking for Sat 23rd to Tues 26th April inclusive please send a text message to 086 860 45 63 and Tomas will get back to you straight away. Thanks, Nathan

Mountain Skills 1 Photos From Last Weekend, In The Kerry Hills

Some photos from last weekend in the Kerry Hills, in superb weather and beautiful location, on a Mountain Skills 1.

Wild Foraging - Hawthorn

Hawthorn buds and leaves are delicious right now; bursting with flavor and tasting like lettuce! We are using them quite a bit as a super nutritious salad on our bushcraft courses right now.

Hawthorn has also been used to treat heart disease from the 1st century.

Click Here To Read More

A Guide For Climbing Rope Lifespan

A Guide For Climbing Rope Lifespan

Intensive Use = Less Than 1 Yr
(Sport Climbing/Everyday Climbing/Mountain Guide)

Regular Use = 2 Yrs
(Year Round Weekend Use)

Irregular Use = 3 Yrs
(Seasonal Weekend Use)

Occasional Use = 4/5 Yrs
(Monthly Use)

Unused Rope = 10 Yrs Max

When not in use keep rope cool, dry, shaded and uncoiled; so flaked loosely into a paper bag or wardrobe is good.

Learn To Rock Climb & Learn To Map Read Coming Up

Weekend of Sat 9th & Sun 10th Apr we have a two-day Learn To Rock Climb Course happening, with a couple of places still available.

Learn To Rock Climb is beginner friendly and gives you the skills to be a competent assistant climber outdoors, or a self sufficient climber indoors.
More RC1 Details
To Book Please Click Here


Weekend of Sat 16th & Sun 17th Apr we have a two-day Mountain Skills 1 Course happening, with a couple of places still available.

Mountain Skills 1 is beginner friendly and gives you the skills to become self sufficient in the mountains, off tracks and trails.
More MS1 Details
To Book Please Click Here

Last Week In Photos & Video

Raised Swamp Bed

View Over Breakfast On A Bushcraft Course

Limestone Islands On Lough Lein

A Peaceful Inlet In Killarney National Park

Snow Capped Peaks From A Glassy Lake