Exploring the limestone caves on Lough Leane!
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Relaxing on the summit of Carrauntohil; with Killorglin, Inch Beach and Dingle Bay in the background!
28 February 2008
June Bank Holiday Adventure Break in Killarney
Exploring the limestone caves on Lough Leane!
Relaxing on the summit of Carrauntohil; with Killorglin, Inch Beach and Dingle Bay in the background!
21 February 2008
Adventure Race Training - 29th & 30th March
Photo: Valerie O Sullivan www.valerieosullivan.com
Sat 29th & Sun 30th March
Two-day training course, covering key elements and skills for adventure racing; including equipment, mountain biking, abseiling, canoeing, hill running and trail running.
Based at Aghadoe Hostel, in Killarney, Kerry; the two days will be spent in the MacGillycuddy Reeks and the Gap of Dunloe. Qualified instructors and adventure race experts will be working closely with you throughout the weekend. Instruction, accommodation, meals and transportation will be provided.
The price is €250 per person.
Price includes:
Two Days Adventure Race Training.
Two Nights Accommodation.
Two Continental Breakfasts.
Two Packed Lunches.
One Evening Meal.
Transportation.
The price is €250 per person.
Price includes:
Two Days Adventure Race Training.
Two Nights Accommodation.
Two Continental Breakfasts.
Two Packed Lunches.
One Evening Meal.
Transportation.
You will need to provide your own outdoor clothing, footwear and backpack. Also ideally your own mountain bike and helmet. Mountain bikes can be provided at an additional cost.
All abseiling and canoeing equipment will be provided.
Course Programme
FRIDAY EVENING
Arrival & Registration
SATURDAY
Introduction
Mountain Biking (bikes, equipment, riding skills, typical terrain)
Abseiling (equipment, safety, abseiling skills)
Evening Meal (three course evening meal)
Preview of 'An Turas Beag'
SUNDAY
Canoeing (canoes, equipment, safety, canoeing skills)
Hill & Trail Running (equipment, running skills)
Questions & Answers
Debrief
Contact Nathan on info@outdoorsireland.com or 086 860 45 63 for more details or to make a booking.
15 February 2008
Intro to Mountain Skills Comments
Thanks for the course two weeks ago, I found it very beneficial. For me, I was surprised that you can learn so much information about your bearings from careful map reading. I found the one day course comprehensive, the presentation was excellent and the mountains will be a safer place for me following the course.
Tim Leahy
Overall I found the course very useful. I enjoy hill walking but when heading off the beaten track to get my own personal view of the country, I lacked the confidence of relying on my map and compass. I use O.S maps and topographic surveys on a daily basis in my job but I had never been instructed on the proper use of a compass and the correct method of pacing in the field. There is a big difference between owning a map and compass and knowing how to use them! The course gave me a little more confidence in my abilities and made me wonder what more could be gained by attending the Mountain Skills 1 course.
Niall Chamberlain
Thanks again for a wonderful day up the mountains. The most important lessons I took from the day were learning how to pace out 100m and learning to see how the map represents the landscape, like when we sat in the re-entrant and found it on the map or recognising when we really reached the top of the hill by comparing the ground we stood on with the map. It was a most enjoyable day and we learned more through spending the day outside with our maps (and you and Wally of course) than we ever could by just sitting in a classroom.
Maureen Fitzgerald
The one day Intro to Mountain Skills run by Nathan Kingerlee was excellent. We covered Equipment, Safety, Spot Heights, Cols, Spurs, Pacing and Compass Bearings. Nathan was friendly and extremely professional in all aspects of Mountain Skills which made me book a place on his Mountain Skills 1 course which I have now completed and looking forward to booking my place on Mountain Skills 2 with him.
Ger Horgan
As a keen hill walker I was, up to a point, happy to join a group of walkers under an experienced leader. However, there came a time when I was asking how these leaders knew when to go up a mountain, when not to go up a mountain, how to plan the route, how long will it take, who can you safely bring along with you, etc. On hearing of Nathan’s Intro to Mountain Skills, I decided to go along and get my questions answered. On route we were shown how to observe our surroundings, taking note of landmarks, such as rivers, woods, steep inclines, declines, buildings, etc. Then it was out with the maps and compasses and just to prove that map reading was not all plain sailing, a downpour was thrown in for good measure. What followed was not a lecture but an experience in working out a route, calculating distances walked and times required to cover a distance. This was all extremely well executed with a very good warning not to take too much for granted along the way (woods that are on a map can be felled!)
Lorcan Kehoe
The intro to mountain skills day has only wet my appetite for wanting to know and do much more. The basic skills which were kindly passed on to us on the day will always be my base, that the rest of the knowledge and skills I pick up, can be built upon.
Paul Tobin
Tim Leahy
Overall I found the course very useful. I enjoy hill walking but when heading off the beaten track to get my own personal view of the country, I lacked the confidence of relying on my map and compass. I use O.S maps and topographic surveys on a daily basis in my job but I had never been instructed on the proper use of a compass and the correct method of pacing in the field. There is a big difference between owning a map and compass and knowing how to use them! The course gave me a little more confidence in my abilities and made me wonder what more could be gained by attending the Mountain Skills 1 course.
Niall Chamberlain
Thanks again for a wonderful day up the mountains. The most important lessons I took from the day were learning how to pace out 100m and learning to see how the map represents the landscape, like when we sat in the re-entrant and found it on the map or recognising when we really reached the top of the hill by comparing the ground we stood on with the map. It was a most enjoyable day and we learned more through spending the day outside with our maps (and you and Wally of course) than we ever could by just sitting in a classroom.
Maureen Fitzgerald
The one day Intro to Mountain Skills run by Nathan Kingerlee was excellent. We covered Equipment, Safety, Spot Heights, Cols, Spurs, Pacing and Compass Bearings. Nathan was friendly and extremely professional in all aspects of Mountain Skills which made me book a place on his Mountain Skills 1 course which I have now completed and looking forward to booking my place on Mountain Skills 2 with him.
Ger Horgan
As a keen hill walker I was, up to a point, happy to join a group of walkers under an experienced leader. However, there came a time when I was asking how these leaders knew when to go up a mountain, when not to go up a mountain, how to plan the route, how long will it take, who can you safely bring along with you, etc. On hearing of Nathan’s Intro to Mountain Skills, I decided to go along and get my questions answered. On route we were shown how to observe our surroundings, taking note of landmarks, such as rivers, woods, steep inclines, declines, buildings, etc. Then it was out with the maps and compasses and just to prove that map reading was not all plain sailing, a downpour was thrown in for good measure. What followed was not a lecture but an experience in working out a route, calculating distances walked and times required to cover a distance. This was all extremely well executed with a very good warning not to take too much for granted along the way (woods that are on a map can be felled!)
Lorcan Kehoe
The intro to mountain skills day has only wet my appetite for wanting to know and do much more. The basic skills which were kindly passed on to us on the day will always be my base, that the rest of the knowledge and skills I pick up, can be built upon.
Paul Tobin
24 January 2008
Bank Holiday Adventure Breaks in Kerry
Plan a unique and exciting break in Kerry for 2009! Choose from hiking secluded trails on the Kerry Way; climbing Carrauntoohil, Ireland's highest mountain; exploring the Lakes of Killarney by kayak; or paddling down gently flowing rivers. At night relax and enjoy the gourmet food and vibrant atmosphere of Killarney.
May Bank Holiday
Hike the rolling hills of Purple & Tomies - €50 pp
Climb Carrauntoohil - €50 pp
Kayak on the Lakes of Killarney - €75 pp
Special Weekend Price, Three Days for €150 per person!
June Bank Holiday
Kayak on the Lakes of Killarney - €75 pp
Rock Climb & Abseil in the Gap of Dunloe - €75 pp
Climb Carrauntoohil - €50pp
Special Weekend Price, Three Days for €175 per person!
July Bank Holiday
Hike through the Brida Valley & Black Valley to finish in the Gap of Dunloe - €55 pp
Hike the high, glaciated Coomasaharn Horseshoe, near Glenbeigh - €50 pp
Kayak down the gently flowing Laune River - €75 pp
Special Weekend Price, Three Days for €155 per person!
Aug Bank Holiday
Kayak on the Lakes of Killarney - €75 pp
Climb Carrauntoohil - €50 pp
Rock Climb & Abseil in the Gap of Dunloe - €75 pp
Special Weekend Price, Three Days for €175 per person!
May Bank Holiday
Hike the rolling hills of Purple & Tomies - €50 pp
Climb Carrauntoohil - €50 pp
Kayak on the Lakes of Killarney - €75 pp
Special Weekend Price, Three Days for €150 per person!
June Bank Holiday
Kayak on the Lakes of Killarney - €75 pp
Rock Climb & Abseil in the Gap of Dunloe - €75 pp
Climb Carrauntoohil - €50pp
Special Weekend Price, Three Days for €175 per person!
July Bank Holiday
Hike through the Brida Valley & Black Valley to finish in the Gap of Dunloe - €55 pp
Hike the high, glaciated Coomasaharn Horseshoe, near Glenbeigh - €50 pp
Kayak down the gently flowing Laune River - €75 pp
Special Weekend Price, Three Days for €155 per person!
Aug Bank Holiday
Kayak on the Lakes of Killarney - €75 pp
Climb Carrauntoohil - €50 pp
Rock Climb & Abseil in the Gap of Dunloe - €75 pp
Special Weekend Price, Three Days for €175 per person!
- Book For One, Two Or All Three Days
- All Equipment Provided
- Qualified Instructors
8 January 2008
Spanish Rock Climbing
Spend four days rock climbing in the sun on the Costa Blanca, in Spain. Sunshine, warm rock and average temperatures of 19 degrees!
Whether you are a complete beginner, an indoor climber looking to move outdoors or an avid climber looking for something different, you can be guaranteed an experience to remember!
Spend the days climbing in small groups, with qualified instructors and spend the evenings savouring tapas and wine in the quiet village of Finestrat or enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of Benidorm. Accommodation, Food, Transport and Equipment will be provided. No Experience Needed!
Price €495 per person.
Price Includes:
Four Days Rock Climbing.
Qualified Instructors.
All Equipment.
Transport, Including Collection & Drop Off At Alicante Airport.
Four Nights Accommodation.
Four Breakfasts.
Four Packed Lunches.
Evening Meals Not Included.
Whether you are a complete beginner, an indoor climber looking to move outdoors or an avid climber looking for something different, you can be guaranteed an experience to remember!
Spend the days climbing in small groups, with qualified instructors and spend the evenings savouring tapas and wine in the quiet village of Finestrat or enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of Benidorm. Accommodation, Food, Transport and Equipment will be provided. No Experience Needed!
Price €495 per person.
Price Includes:
Four Days Rock Climbing.
Qualified Instructors.
All Equipment.
Transport, Including Collection & Drop Off At Alicante Airport.
Four Nights Accommodation.
Four Breakfasts.
Four Packed Lunches.
Evening Meals Not Included.
Flights Not Included.
Dates:
Thurs 3rd - Sun 6th April
Thurs 10th - Sun 13th April
Dates:
Thurs 3rd - Sun 6th April
Thurs 10th - Sun 13th April
- Collection from Alicante Airport at 6pm & 930pm, to accommodate flights from Dublin & Cork.
- Drop off at Alicante Airport at 4pm, to accommodate flights to Dublin & Cork.
7 January 2008
Free Rock Climbing Promotion
Come and try Rock Climbing FOR FREE, on the cliffs of the glaciated Gap of Dunloe, in Kerry. Discover the fun and excitement of rock climbing. Learn to tie knots, belay and climb with qualified instructors. Two hour sessions, running from 10am to 6pm each day.
Sat 5th & Sun 6th April
Location: Gap of Dunloe, KillarneyTimes:
10am - 12pm
12pm - 2pm
2pm - 4pm
4pm - 6pm
Alternatively, if you would like to do a full day of rock climbing, I am running Half Price Rock Climbing on Sun 27th April. The discounted price is €50 per person.
I am running this promotion to launch my rock climbing courses for 2008, which include, Learn to Rock Climb, Improve your Climbing & Spanish Rock Climbing.
This promotion is being sponsored by Sport Corran Tuathail, Killarney's Outdoor Adventure Shop. They are also offering a 10% Discount to everyone coming on the promotion.
For more details contact me.
Kerry Adventure Break
Spend four action packed days discovering Kerry. Hike along ancient secluded trails on the Kerry Way, Climb Carrauntoohil, Ireland's highest mountain, Rock Climb and Abseil in the glaciated Gap of Dunloe and Kayak through the three deep Lakes of Killarney, exploring islands and limestone caves along the way. Stay in a luxurious guesthouse in the vibrant town of Killarney, with packed lunches provided each day and a three course gourmet dinner on evening of arrival and final evening. Transport each day is provided.
Price €590 per person.
Price Includes: Two Days Hiking. One Day's Rock Climbing & Abseiling. One Day's Kayaking. All Equipment. Five Nights Bed & Breakfast. Four Packed Lunches. Two Three-Course Dinners. Transport.
Dates:
Fri 21st - Mon 24th March (Easter)
Sat 25th - Tues 28th Oct (Oct Bank Holiday)
Also Available As Non-Residential.
3 January 2008
Hiking in Kerry
An American Hiker’s Thanksgiving Journey
By Renee Navarette
It is important to note from the start that, for the most part, Americans consider Western Ireland a primitive land where short-tempered, drunk men wearing kilts run about the countryside looking for battle with a warring clan while the women and children toil on farms and tend to the thatched roofed cottages they call home. For weeks prior to my arrival in Ireland, family, friends, and co-workers were questioning my decision to spend the Thanksgiving holiday hiking in Country Kerry. The cacophony of doubts and naysaying heightened once I informed them of the gear that my guide, Nathan Kingerlee, had instructed me to bring – hat, gloves, hiking boots, waterproof pants, waterproof jacket, backpack, and two fleece. I was barraged with questions almost daily such as, “Just where is he taking you? The wilds of Ireland?” I would reply with a smile, “God, I hope so.” People would walk away shaking their heads not understanding my desire to escape the comfort food and college football games of America’s most popular family holiday for hiking into the unknown in Western Ireland.
I knew that I had likely not done the amount of preparation necessary to face the challenges awaiting me in Ireland. I have a monotonous, demanding desk job requiring long hours and copious amounts of energy. My training during the week was limited to a one hour walk from downtown through the Strip District of Pittsburgh at lunchtime and walking two hours a day on the paved rolling hills of my hometown on the weekends. I naturally have a great deal of endurance so that coupled with my sheer will and determination would have to be relied upon to pull me through. I also had every confidence that Nathan knew me well enough from a previous tour that he would select hikes ideally suited for me.
There are number of hiking trails in Western Pennsylvania but many are paved or well-graveled and if the trail is not so civilized, the dirt paths are comprised mostly of clay which provides steady footing. I live in an area of hills and valleys but most are grassy and at a gentle grade, except in state parks where there are gigantic glacier-deposited boulders or steep hills for hikers to scale. The bottom line is that for the most part, I would be in alien territory hiking in Ireland.
In fact, most of the hiking trails in Western Ireland would likely be considered barbaric at home in Pennsylvania. When I was not pulling a stuck foot out of a bog or mud, I was walking on a path that seemed suspiciously like a rocky stream bed. Stepping on white rocks at home is a good thing – solid limestone – but here it was quite a bad thing. Nathan would attempt to lead me through a less precarious path but inevitably I seemed to have a magnetic attraction to bogs and slippery rocks. Much of my days were spent – step, step, slide, step, step, stuck – with a few sheep ladders and metal or barbed-wire fences to overcome to add another level of challenge to my five foot stature.
Through all of this, I also had the unfortunate discovery that waterproof clothing and boots are only waterproof for a limited time when traversing wet terrain, particularly when walking for hours in slightly windy rainstorms. The only item I wore that proved itself worthy of the designation of waterproof was a felt slouch hat that kept my hair tucked underneath it dry even in downpours. I strove to ignore whatever discomfort and focus on enjoying my exploration with Nathan of a land that at times appeared straight out of a setting for a gothic novel or a child’s fairy tale.
Despite the mental and physical challenges, or perhaps because of them, I loved each and every hike I completed in County Kerry. No matter if I was gaping in wonderment at a waterfall, scaling a mountain or beach rock, sloshing up a sponge-like almost vertical hill, traipsing through a dense forest, meandering through a pasture, or stomping through a stream, I felt vibrant and alive – colors seemed richer, the scent of fetid leaves and peat more aromatic, the sound of trickling water more soothing, and time itself seemed to stand still. Though I will return to face further hiking challenges that await me in County Kerry, this idyllic week can never be replicated.
On the surface, my life appears to have returned to normal. I am back at home plowing through piles of work on my desk – concentration a task more arduous than any hike. For now, I have learned that eating a packed lunch on top of the Windy Gap on Thanksgiving can be far more satisfying than sitting at a table eating turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie in celebration of an over-rated American holiday. And next time I see a rainbow, I will know there is not a pot of gold at the end, but I will recall a memory far more precious to me of a pot of tea at the end of the trail in Glenbeigh.
By Renee Navarette
It is important to note from the start that, for the most part, Americans consider Western Ireland a primitive land where short-tempered, drunk men wearing kilts run about the countryside looking for battle with a warring clan while the women and children toil on farms and tend to the thatched roofed cottages they call home. For weeks prior to my arrival in Ireland, family, friends, and co-workers were questioning my decision to spend the Thanksgiving holiday hiking in Country Kerry. The cacophony of doubts and naysaying heightened once I informed them of the gear that my guide, Nathan Kingerlee, had instructed me to bring – hat, gloves, hiking boots, waterproof pants, waterproof jacket, backpack, and two fleece. I was barraged with questions almost daily such as, “Just where is he taking you? The wilds of Ireland?” I would reply with a smile, “God, I hope so.” People would walk away shaking their heads not understanding my desire to escape the comfort food and college football games of America’s most popular family holiday for hiking into the unknown in Western Ireland.
I knew that I had likely not done the amount of preparation necessary to face the challenges awaiting me in Ireland. I have a monotonous, demanding desk job requiring long hours and copious amounts of energy. My training during the week was limited to a one hour walk from downtown through the Strip District of Pittsburgh at lunchtime and walking two hours a day on the paved rolling hills of my hometown on the weekends. I naturally have a great deal of endurance so that coupled with my sheer will and determination would have to be relied upon to pull me through. I also had every confidence that Nathan knew me well enough from a previous tour that he would select hikes ideally suited for me.
There are number of hiking trails in Western Pennsylvania but many are paved or well-graveled and if the trail is not so civilized, the dirt paths are comprised mostly of clay which provides steady footing. I live in an area of hills and valleys but most are grassy and at a gentle grade, except in state parks where there are gigantic glacier-deposited boulders or steep hills for hikers to scale. The bottom line is that for the most part, I would be in alien territory hiking in Ireland.
In fact, most of the hiking trails in Western Ireland would likely be considered barbaric at home in Pennsylvania. When I was not pulling a stuck foot out of a bog or mud, I was walking on a path that seemed suspiciously like a rocky stream bed. Stepping on white rocks at home is a good thing – solid limestone – but here it was quite a bad thing. Nathan would attempt to lead me through a less precarious path but inevitably I seemed to have a magnetic attraction to bogs and slippery rocks. Much of my days were spent – step, step, slide, step, step, stuck – with a few sheep ladders and metal or barbed-wire fences to overcome to add another level of challenge to my five foot stature.
Through all of this, I also had the unfortunate discovery that waterproof clothing and boots are only waterproof for a limited time when traversing wet terrain, particularly when walking for hours in slightly windy rainstorms. The only item I wore that proved itself worthy of the designation of waterproof was a felt slouch hat that kept my hair tucked underneath it dry even in downpours. I strove to ignore whatever discomfort and focus on enjoying my exploration with Nathan of a land that at times appeared straight out of a setting for a gothic novel or a child’s fairy tale.
Despite the mental and physical challenges, or perhaps because of them, I loved each and every hike I completed in County Kerry. No matter if I was gaping in wonderment at a waterfall, scaling a mountain or beach rock, sloshing up a sponge-like almost vertical hill, traipsing through a dense forest, meandering through a pasture, or stomping through a stream, I felt vibrant and alive – colors seemed richer, the scent of fetid leaves and peat more aromatic, the sound of trickling water more soothing, and time itself seemed to stand still. Though I will return to face further hiking challenges that await me in County Kerry, this idyllic week can never be replicated.
On the surface, my life appears to have returned to normal. I am back at home plowing through piles of work on my desk – concentration a task more arduous than any hike. For now, I have learned that eating a packed lunch on top of the Windy Gap on Thanksgiving can be far more satisfying than sitting at a table eating turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie in celebration of an over-rated American holiday. And next time I see a rainbow, I will know there is not a pot of gold at the end, but I will recall a memory far more precious to me of a pot of tea at the end of the trail in Glenbeigh.
7 December 2007
New Year's Hiking
Spend this New Year's hiking the glaciated valleys and high hills around Killarney. Explore secluded trails through Glencar, enjoy breathtaking views over the Lakes of Killarney or climb up through Carrauntoohil's steep corries.
Dates: 30th, 31st Dec & 1st Jan.
Book for one, two or all three days.
Price: €75 per person, per day.
Transport Included.
Qualified Experienced Guides.
20% DISCOUNT IF YOU BOOK BEFORE 18TH DEC!
Sun 30th Dec: Hike along the Kerry Way, through the oak woods of Killarney National Park and Torc Waterfall, past 18th century Muckross House and 15th century Muckross Abbey to finish with a pint at Molly Darcy's Pub.
Mon 31st Dec: Climb Carrauntoohil - Ireland's highest mountain, rising to 1039 metres above sea level.
Tues 1st Jan: Hike through the lush, wooded valley of Glencar, following an ancient penal mass path, climb through the Windy Gap and descend into the village of Glenbeigh, to finish beside the warm fire at the Towers Hotel.
Contact us for more details.
Click here to download booking form.
Dates: 30th, 31st Dec & 1st Jan.
Book for one, two or all three days.
Price: €75 per person, per day.
Transport Included.
Qualified Experienced Guides.
20% DISCOUNT IF YOU BOOK BEFORE 18TH DEC!
Sun 30th Dec: Hike along the Kerry Way, through the oak woods of Killarney National Park and Torc Waterfall, past 18th century Muckross House and 15th century Muckross Abbey to finish with a pint at Molly Darcy's Pub.
Mon 31st Dec: Climb Carrauntoohil - Ireland's highest mountain, rising to 1039 metres above sea level.
Tues 1st Jan: Hike through the lush, wooded valley of Glencar, following an ancient penal mass path, climb through the Windy Gap and descend into the village of Glenbeigh, to finish beside the warm fire at the Towers Hotel.
Contact us for more details.
Click here to download booking form.
25 November 2007
Kerry Winter Training
Are you planning on venturing into the Irish Mountains over the Winter or taking a trip to Scotland? Do you want to become more self-sufficient?
Spend one day's training in the Kerry Mountains, covering the skills you need to deal with bad weather, darkness, steep ground and emergencies. Mountain Efficiency, Equipment, Emergency Procedures, Steep Ground Skills, Navigation & Night Hiking will all be covered.
Dates:
Sun 20th Jan
Sun 3rd Feb
Mon 18th Feb
The price is €75 per person.
Contact us for more details.
Spend one day's training in the Kerry Mountains, covering the skills you need to deal with bad weather, darkness, steep ground and emergencies. Mountain Efficiency, Equipment, Emergency Procedures, Steep Ground Skills, Navigation & Night Hiking will all be covered.
Dates:
Sun 20th Jan
Sun 3rd Feb
Mon 18th Feb
The price is €75 per person.
Contact us for more details.
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