Ireland (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Fionn Davenport [616]
ORGANISED WALKS
If you don’t have a travelling companion you could consider joining an organised walking group.
Go Ireland ( 066-976 2094; www.goactivities.com; Old Orchard House, Killorglin, Co Kerry) Offers walking tours of the west.
South West Walks Ireland ( 066-712 8733; www.southwestwalksireland.com; 6 Church St, Tralee, Co Kerry) Provides a series of guided and self-guided walking programs around the southwest, northwest and Wicklow.
Rock Climbing
Ireland’s mountain ranges aren’t high – Mt Carrantuohil in Kerry’s Macgillycuddy’s Reeks is the tallest mountain in Ireland at only 1039m – but they’re often beautiful and offer some excellent climbing possibilities (Click here). The highest mountains are in the southwest.
Adventure centres around the country run courses and organise climbing trips. For further information contact the Mountaineering Council of Ireland ( 01-625 1115; www.mountaineering.ie), which also publishes climbing guides and the quarterly magazine Irish Mountain Log, or check the forums on Irish Climbing Online (www.climbing.ie).
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MORE WALKS IN IRELAND
The Wicklow Way – Glendalough To Aughrim, County Wicklow
The Great Sugarloaf, County Wicklow
Mt Seefin Click here, County Cork
Reeks Ridge, County Kerry
Mt Brandon, County Kerry
Tipperary Heritage Trail, County Tipperary
South Leinster Way, County Kilkenny
Killary Harbour, County Galway
Inisheer, County Galway
Blue Stack Mountains, County Donegal
Slieve Donard, County Down
Fair Head, County Antrim
Causeway Coast, County Antrim
The Cliffs Of Magho, County Fermanagh
Cuilcagh Mountain via the Legnabrocky Trail, County Fermanagh
The Ulster Way, County Donegal and Northern Ireland
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Water Sports
CANOEING
Ireland has canoeing for all levels, from novice to expert; winter is the best time, when heavy rains swell the rivers. Check out the Irish Canoe Union ( 01-625 1105; www.irishcanoeunion.com).
SAILING
There is a long history of sailing in Ireland and the country has more than 120 yacht and sailing clubs, including the Royal Cork Yacht Club ( 021-483 1023; www.royalcork.com) at Crosshaven, which, established in 1720, is the world’s oldest. The most popular areas for sailing are the southwestern coast, especially between Cork Harbour and the Dingle Peninsula; the coast of Antrim; along the sheltered coast north and south of Dublin; and some of the larger lakes such as Loughs Derg, Erne and Gill.
The Irish Association for Sail Training ( 01-605 1621; www.irishmarinefederation.com) watches over professional schools; the national governing body is the Irish Sailing Association ( 01-280 0239; www.sailing.ie). A recommended publication, available from most booksellers, is Irish Cruising Club Sailing Directions. It contains details of port facilities, harbour plans and coast and tidal information.
SCUBA DIVING
Ireland has some of the best scuba diving in Europe, found almost entirely off the western coast among its offshore islands and rocks. The best period for diving is roughly March to October. Visibility averages more than 12m but can increase to 30m on good days. For more details about scuba diving in Ireland, contact Comhairle Fó-Thuinn (CFT), also known as the Irish Underwater Council ( 01-284 4601; www.cft.ie); Ireland’s diving regulatory body, it publishes the dive magazine SubSea (also available online).
Divecology ( 028-28943; www.divecology.com; Cooradarrigan, Schull, Co Cork) is a good dive school, with trips to local wrecks.
SWIMMING & SURFING
Ireland has some magnificent coastline and some great sandy beaches: the cleaner, safer ones have EU Blue Flag awards. Get a list from the government agency An Taisce (National Trust for Ireland; 01-454 1786; www.antaisce.org) or check