Tough Soles Write ups

Materials needed Replacement laces: If you’re specifically replacing laces on Salomon shoes, make sure the replacement laces you buy are thin enough for the eyelets / loops on your Salomon.

Overview Distance: 15km Format: Looped trail Time: 3 - 5hrs, depending on how long you want to explore!

Meeelrea (Maol Réidh) is the highest point in County Mayo - and in Connacht as a whole.

In the north-west of Ireland, you will find wild mountains being left to nature, with narrow trails winding over ridges and wrapping around hillsides.

I love the power of the outdoors.

Glendalough Monastic City, the end of Saint Kevin’s Way Ireland has a rich history of traditions, worship, and folklore.

Madeira is a tiny portuguese island, adrift way out in the Atlantic, in the outermost region of the european union.

The National Outdoor Recreation Conference (NORC) began as part of Ireland’s National Outdoor Recreation Strategy “Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors”, which was launched in November 2022, to encapsulate 2023 - 2027.

Overview: Distance: approx. 12km round trip Elevation gain: 746m Format: Out and back Time: 4+ hours Start / End / Parking: I parked on the Lettershanbally Trail Head (google maps link) on the R344 outside of the Glencorbet valley.

For nine years, I’ve walked and documented Ireland’s incredible trails.

Sligo is an incredible county for hiking - if you’re looking to get outdoors and explore, the north-west is consistently underrated.

Overview Distance: 8km Format: Looped trail Time: 2 - 3hrs, depending on how long you want to explore!

Overview Distance: 2km Time: 1 hour or so, depending on how long you want to explore!

Baltimore Beacon is an unusual outpost jutting out into the Atlantic from the rugged cliffs of west Cork.

The Slí Signet, by Tough Soles & The Wandering Goldsmith Inspired by Ireland’s National Waymarked Trails, the Slí Signet Ring is created for those who have fallen in love with the rugged beauty of the Irish landscape.

In 2023, Ellie set off to climb every mountain on the island of Ireland - specifically, the Vandeleur-Lynam List.

The Caves of Kesh are a short walk to an incredible viewpoint.

As may be apparent - I love a list.

The Belmont Way is a route that features far more trail than you’d expect from something of this short distance.

Union Wood is a small forest that sits between the villages of Collooney, Ballysadare, and Ballygawley, with a mixture of old native woodland, and more recent active forestry.

Overview: Distance: 2km round trip Elevation gain: 100m Format: Out and back Time: 30 - 90 mins Start / End / Parking: There is minimal parking at the base of the hill, room for only 1 or 2 cars.

Overview: Distance: 9km round trip from Carlingford village.

Welcome back to another edition of Tough Soles Fieldnotes, where all the adventures of the last few months are wrapped up in some bailer twine to carry off across the fields.