Category archives: Hiking Gear and Resources

I’ve previously written a guide to buying hiking boots, focusing on what to look out for when choosing a new pair. However, for the first time in over a decade, I recently found myself in the market for boots again. This article looks specifically at the option I chose —…

Wildirishwalks.ie is a blog dedicated to walking and hiking in Ireland. I’m not sure if we are one of the best Irish hiking blogs but we do try to offer something unique to readers.  For us, it’s in depth guides to various different hiking trails across the country. We like…

I’m a huge believer in supporting local businesses and always try to buy Irish whenever possible. With that in mind, I wanted to put together a guide to some of the best hiking shops in Ireland. It’s always tempting to chase online bargains, but hiking gear is one of those…

I’ve completed this Garmin Forerunner 245 Music review having previously had no interest in smartwatches. I used to be one of those people. Completely confident that a GPS watch was a luxury I didn’t need. Sure didn’t I have my phone…everything I needed was on there.  Eventually the frustrations got…

I walked the Royal Canal Way from Dublin as far as Ballynacargy in August 2019. My 108km Royal Canal journey lasted 5 days in total. This post explores the Royal Canal Way Accommodation options that I stayed in. As such, it includes my own personal experiences of staying in three…

One of the most important ingredients for an enjoyable hike is having the correct footwear. As you know, boots can be very expensive so it’s essential that you know exactly what you’re looking for when you’re buying hiking boots. Tried and trusted hiking boots from reputable brands are generally the…

It’s the start of February 2021. The country has been in Level 5 lockdown for over a month.  We are going to be in Level 5 lockdown for at least another month. No leaving the house except for essential travel.  Exercise limited to a 5km radius around your home. Put…

When I’m not hiking, I’m usually either thinking about or planning my next hike. I have found that the Ireland’s National Waymarked Trails are always a good starting point for these big dreams. There are currently 45 walking routes in Ireland that are classified as “National Waymarked Trails”. The variety…

Are there special rules of hiking? One of the aims of this blog is to help to try to educate people that hiking, and hill walking are something that everyone can do. Even with the most basic levels of fitness, there are beautiful walks out there that are accessible, achievable…

Finalising your packing list for the Wicklow Way? Here is some detail on what’s needed. You can download my Ultimate Wicklow Way Packing List at the end of this article What to Wear Walking SocksHiking BootsUnderwearHiking Trousers T-ShirtWaterproof jacket/topFitbitHigh-VisCap or Wooly Hat Everybody knows that good hiking boots are very important….