Such a nice email and photo to get this morning

Such a nice email and photo to get this morning 🙂

''Hey Nathan, Thank you for the knowledge and skills you imparted with me on the course we did recently.
Summited Lobuche East, 6119meters, week ago.
Thank you''

(Lobuche is in the Nepalese Himalayas)

Christmas Gift Vouchers - Outdoor Adventure Ideas

 

Christmas Gift Vouchers are available :)

For training courses and guided kayaking trips...

 

info@outdoorsireland.com For Details

 

www.outdoorsireland.com For Ideas

Sea Kayak Training Coming Up In Bantry Bay - Cork

We may have some sea kayak training happening both before xmas; and just after xmas. Moving into proper sea kayak conditions, and the start of Level 3 Skills Training.

Running in the Bantry Bay area.

 

Get in touch on info@outdoorsireland.com if you are interested.

 

You would need to have a decent Level 2 Skills already (either certified, or un-certified)

 

Thanks to https://www.instagram.com/mcelligottshane/ for these fab photos

Sea Kayaking Trips Available This Week, In Glengarriff Bay:

Sea Kayaking Trips Available This Week, In Glengarriff Bay:
 

Wed 26th 3pm
Thurs 27th 3pm
Sun 30th 7am (Dawn Trip)

beginner friendly, all gear provided to keep you warm and cosy inc spraydecks + neoprene gloves 

Winter Bushcraft Courses - Glengarriff, Cork

Planning to run some Winter Bushcraft Courses, this Dec and Jan, at our bushcraft base in Glengarriff, Cork.

No overnight sleeping in the woods.
Once dinner is done, you'll finish for the day. Then start again the following morning, fire lighting and cooking breakfast.
Plenty of accommodation in Glengarriff, if you need it.
Completely beginner friendly.
Choose from a two-day or a three-day course.


Two-Day Bushcraft Skills 1:
1. Wed 17th - Thurs 18th Dec 2025
2. Fri 2nd - Sat 3rd Jan 2026
Price €330pp Without Accommodation. All Food Provided.


If Needed, Accommodation Can Be Booked Here: https://www.outdoorsireland.com/news/glengarriff-accommodation/

Including Glengarriff Hostel (https://glenhostel.ie/) @ €35 Per Night + Black Sheep B&B (https://blacksheep.tripcombined.com/) @ €30-€40 Per Night

If Booking With Glengarriff Hostel Or Black Sheep B&B Use Ref 'Winter Bushcraft'

You will need no accommodation breakfast, as course food is provided - and cooking breakfast is part of your course


Three-Day Bushcraft Skills 1:
1. Wed 17th - Fri 19th Dec 2025
2. Fri 2nd - Sun 4th Jan 2026
Price €495pp Without Accommodation. All Food Provided.


For Details Contact Nathan Kingerlee - Outdoors Ireland

Bushcraft Training Day - Sun 30th Nov - Glengarriff, Cork

Bushcraft Training Day coming up on Sun 30th Nov, in Glengarriff.

Designed for forest school leaders, outdoor instructors, leave no trace trainers; it is also totally beginner friendly and open to anyone.

Over the day we will be looking at different ways of fire lighting; and different ways of using and rigging tarps.

Places Available
info@outdoorsireland.com For Details

Green Huntsman Spider - Rock Climbing - Glengarriff

Sitting on a rockface, on this weekends climbing course, and this beautiful rare Green Huntsman Spider came scampering by

Never seen one before, and in Ireland they're only found in the southwest.

Thanks Ellie and Tough Soles for this photo!

 

Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve

Killarney National Park

Leave No Trace Ireland

When it comes to rock climbing - your body is a tool...

When it comes to rock climbing - your body is a tool.

How you use your body balance and center of gravity; how you shift your body weight; how you breathe...

Do you face into the climb (square-on), or do you face sideway (side-on)?

Using your leg power/leg energy far more than using your arm power/arm energy is ideal.

Do you use and trust the small holds?

Here's two of my old blog posts to do with climbing technique:
1. https://outdoorsireland.blogspot.com/2017/07/11-different-rock-climbing-techniques.html
2. https://outdoorsireland.blogspot.com/2016/02/13-rock-climbing-techniques-we-teach-on.html

Mountaineering Ireland

What a great October 🙂

What a great October 🙂

Still the occasional kayak trip; skinning rabbits on a Bushcraft Week; making gorse-flower bread on a Bushcraft 1; coming across glowing blue beetles on a Map Reading Course; and most recently - thanks Peter + Paul for completing an intensive six-day Scrambling Ropework Course...

Outdoor Lead Climbing Course / Trad Climbing Course - Coming Up In Glengarriff/Cork - 1 Place Available

If you've ever wanted to become a self-sufficient outdoor rock climber; able to climb with graceful technique; place anchors; set up belays and climbing systems; and lead climb - we have two places available for a Beginner To Lead Climber Course, coming up soon.

Based in Glengarriff area, on sandstone mountain slabs and awesome sea cliffs. Beginner friendly and all gear provided.

 

This is also an ideal course for an indoor climber / indoor boulderer, looking to make the step to outdoor climbing.

 

Split over two weekend blocks:

7th – 9th Nov Plus 14th – 16th Nov

 

Details Here:

https://www.outdoorsireland.com/activities/rock-skills/

info@outdoorsireland.com

Great Outdoors

Awesome Walls Cork

Great Power Bank For The Wilds :)

Got given this power-bank/power-pack recently to try out.

Delighted with it. In fact having been in the woods for the past seven days, bushcraft training, it has kept me and the office nicely on the road :)

This bank can get a re-charge from solar - although I haven't had much chance to test that part of it yet!

Thanks PowerBanks.ie  :)

https://www.instagram.com/powerbanksireland/

https://powerbanks.ie/ 

Mountain Skills 1 - Map Reading & Navigation Skills - Coming Up In Glengarriff, Cork. Mountaineering Ireland Certified

 

in the Burren National Park or slow-worm to be precise; which technically is a lizard!

 

These are the kind of amazing things you come across wandering the hills.

 

If you're interested in getting into the hills and getting self-sufficient; we have a beginner friendly Mountain Skills 1, in West Cork, 11th-12th Oct and also 21st-22nd Oct.

 

Couple spots still available.

Details: info@outdoorsireland.com

 

Mountaineering Ireland

Looking For Hiker Guinnea Pigs, For Upcoming Lowland Leader Assessment

Assessing some hike leaders on Sun 5th Oct, and some proper hiker 'guinnea pigs' would be handy.

If you're interested in joining a guided hike for the day, on a section of Beara Way, please get in touch.
Ideally novice'ish hikers, even better if you're unfit and not used to slippy rocky trails (within reason) 😅

info@outdoorsireland.com for more details.

Lowland Leader Assessment - Cork; And Lowland Leader Training - Wicklow

Lowland Leader Assessment coming up in Glengarriff, with some spots available, 4th-5th Oct.

Mountain Skills 1 (beginner friendly), Glengarriff, 11th-12th Oct, with some spots available.

 

Lowland Leader Training coming up in Wicklow, 1st-2nd Nov, with one spot left available.

 

For Details: info@outdoorsireland.com 

 

 

Mountaineering Ireland

Mountain Training

Leave No Trace Ireland

Training & Assessment Course Calendar For 2026

Outdoors Ireland Training & Assessment Course Calendar For 2026.
Course Directed By Nathan Kingerlee.

 

Mountain Skills 1:
14th - 15th Mar 2026
18th - 19th Mar 2026
20th - 21st Jun 2026
29th - 30th Aug 2026
8th - 9th Oct 2026
14th - 15th Nov 2026
19th - 20th Dec 2026

Mountain Skills 2:
25th - 26th Mar 2026
28th - 29th Mar 2026
11th - 12th Apr 2026
21st - 22nd Oct 2026
28th - 29th Nov 2026

Lowland Leader Training:
21st - 22nd Mar 2026
2nd - 3rd May 2026
6th - 7th May 2026
29th - 30th Aug 2026
28th - 29th Oct 2026
12th - 13th Dec 2026

Lowland Leader Assessment:
4th - 5th Apr 2026
23rd - 24th May 2026
27th - 28th May 2026
4th - 5th Nov 2026
17th - 18th Dec 2026

Camping Leader Assessment:
1st Apr 2026
10th Jun 2026

Scramble Skills 1:
13th - 14th Jun 2026
21st & 22nd Nov 2026

Scramble Skills 2:
5th - 6th Dec 2026

Scramble Skills 3 / Beginner To Lead Scrambler:
20th - 22nd Mar Plus 27th - 29th Mar 2026
30th Oct - 1st Nov Plus 6th - 8th Nov 2026

Learn To Rock Climb / RC1:
11th - 12th Apr 2026
30th - 31st May 2026
4th - 5th Jun 2026

Improve Your Climbing / RC2:
11th - 12th Jun 2026

Learn To Lead Climb / RC3:
8th - 10th May Plus 15th - 17th May 2026
30th Oct - 1st Nov Plus 6th - 8th Nov 2026

Bushcraft Skills 1:
25th - 26th Apr 2026
6th - 7th Jun 2026
10th - 11th Oct 2026

Bushcraft Skills 2:
24th - 25th Oct 2026

Bushcraft Skills Week:
15th - 19th Apr 2026
14th - 18th Oct 2026

Survival Skills 1:
20th - 22nd May 2026
23rd - 25th Oct 2026

For Details/Booking Please Contact Nathan Kingerlee - Outdoors Ireland:
info@outdoorsireland.com
086 8604563 / 00353868604563

Upcoming Training Courses & Assessments Over The Next While

Kayak Skills Training : Contact Us 086 8604563

4th - 5th Oct : Lowland Leader Assessment

 

11th - 12th Oct : Mountain Skills 1

 

13th - 15th Oct : Survival Skills 1 (Beginner Friendly)

 

13th - 17th Oct : Bushcraft Skills Week (Beginner Friendly)

 

18th - 19th Oct : Bushcraft Skills 1 (Beginner Friendly)

 

21st - 22nd Oct : Mountain Skills 1

 

24th - 29th Oct : Beginner To Lead Scrambler / SS3 (Beginner Friendly)

1st & 2nd Nov : Lowland Leader Training : Wicklow

7th - 8th Nov : Learn To Rock Climb (Two-Days)

7th - 9th Nov : Learn To Rock Climb (Three-Days)

7th - 9th Nov Plus 14th - 16th Nov : Beginner To Lead Climber / RC3 (Beginner Friendly)

-

- 

For Kayak Trips In Glengarriff Bay Please Text/Whatsapp 086 8604563

Survival Skills Training / Bushcraft Skills Two-Day Course / Bushcraft Skills Week : All Upcoming In Glengarriff, Cork

Last chance to book three-day Survival Skills Training, starting 12th Sep. You'll cover a lot, but it is also beginner friendly.

Our next two-day, beginner friendly, Bushcraft Skills 1 is now fully booked - but if there's enough interest it may be possible to schedule extra dates before xmas.

 

And we have a five-day, beginner friendly, Bushcraft Skills Week still available to book; running 13th-17th Oct.

 

All these courses cover, to different levels; shelter building, fire starting, fire managment, fire cooking, water gathering, water purification, wild foraging, natural cordage.

For Details:
info@outdoorsireland.com
086 8604563

Beautiful West Cork, Glengarriff Bay, Sea Kayaking Tours

Beautiful West Cork, Glengarriff Bay, Sea Kayaking Tours

Lowland Leader Training Course - Wicklow - This November

I don't run many courses in Wicklow these days; however a two-day Lowland Leader Training Course is coming up in Laragh/Wicklow on 1st & 2nd Nov.

Filling up surprisingly fast, but a couple of spots are still left...

 

This is a nice training and qualification scheme; for people who'd like to guide and lead others in Ireland and UK; on trails and tracks.

 

We'll be covering navigation, group managment, leave no trace, access, route planning, emergency procedures, communication skills, running dynamic/tactile sessions, and more

 

Details Here: https://www.outdoorsireland.com/activities/lowland-leader/

 

Mountaineering Ireland

Leave No Trace Ireland

Mountain Training

Three-Day Survival Skills 1 Coming Up On 12th-14th Sep : Glengarriff/West Cork

Three-Day Survival Skills 1 Coming Up On 12th-14th Sep

 

Beginner Friendly & Places Available.

 

Fairly intensive course, you will be kept on your toes both physically and mentally.

 

Making camp, breaking camp, one night sleeping in a shelter you build; one night sleeping in tarp and hammock setup.

 

Making fire from spark, lots of fire cooking-inc making bushcraft bread and bushcraft scones.

 

Water collection methods. Wild foraging.

 

Preparing an animal for cooking, such as fowl or rabbit.

 

Get in touch if you're interested: info@outdoorsireland.com

Seaweed Stew - Simple Bushcraft Recipe

This post is inspired by the awesome @ https://www.instagram.com/beckygilmour_/ 

Not only is Becky skateboarding the entire Wild Atlantic Way, but what I think is even more impressive, is she is hard-core wild camping most of it; plus wanting to live off seaweed!

It got me thinking about seaweed. I use it/eat it a bit, but never generally as a main meal; that needs to fill and warm the body, restore nutrients to the body, and give energy. Especially when doing something as physical as what Becky is doing, day in, day out, week after week...

So last night I decided to cook up a simple seaweed stew, to my own recipe; purposely not searching online for any kinda recipe. I also cooked the stew on a basic camping stove; and with just one cooking pot; to show what's possible.

Cooked the limpets and mussels first for 5/10 mins, then removed them to simmer the seaweed and veg. 

Then re-added the shellfish, and simmered some more.

Cooked everything in seawater, which gave it a delicious salty taste, and saved drinking water for just drinking.

Most seaweeds on Irish coast are edible, so you can't really go wrong. The three I used here are spiral wrack, sea spaghetti, egg wrack.