Wilderness Hiking

Imagine waking up in a stunning villa overlooking the mountains with private pool + sauna… Lacing up for guided hikes through breathtaking coastal paths, olive groves & mountain trails… Feeding your soul with fresh market feasts, charming village stops, epic trail adventures, yoga & pure French Riviera magic. **Everything included:** ✅ Airport pickup & drop-off ✅ Shared villa stay with private pool, sauna & epic views ✅ Breakfast every morning + all lunches & dinners (vegetarian feasts) ✅ Local wines, beer & drinks at the villa ✅ French farmers market visit ✅ Guided hikes & trail adventures around Nice & the Riviera ✅ Daily village explorations & scenic walks ✅ Yoga classes ✅ Recovery boots & massage guns ✅ All transport & logistics Only **3 spots left** for May 2026! Perfect for solo adventurers, couples or your crew who actually show up. No pressure, just good humans, epic trails & memories that’ll last forever. [INFO HERE](https://www.epic-retreats.org/retreats/may-hiking-nice-france)

***Mountain Skills for Only €120 / course*** Ever wanted to learn the skills you need to become a competent navigator in the Irish mountains, the UK, the Alps or beyond! As a fully qualified mountain guide and course provider for Mountaineering Ireland and the UK, I run Mountain Skills which is a nationally accredited course and is delivered in an upland environment. Hiking in Ireland can be challenging not only because of its wilderness, but the island has very little sign posted hiking trails in the mountains or hills. In addition to this, as being an island in the Atlantic we experience the forces of nature; storms and weather events. In other words, Ireland is probably the best place in Europe to learn a new outdoor skill like Mountain Skills. The aim of this course is to help you learn the skills you need to get out hiking in the hills and mountains independently, safely and responsibly. You will learn how to navigate with confidence by any type of weather conditions. A Mountain Skills course is run over 2 days in an upland environment and covers: Map reading, map description, map scale, contour lines, land and ground features, navigation legs, simple navigation techniques, setting the map, the 5 D, estimation of direction & destination, grid reference, mountain hazards, hypothermia, mountain environment, timing, pacing, route planning, route card, emergency procedures, personal equipment, safe movement skills, river crossing and much more… Some level of fitness is essential in taking part in this course. Each course (MS1 / MS2) is a 20 hour syllabus which includes indoor and outdoor sessions and night navigation (MS2) **A course includes:** Maps and compass provided, tea breaks, course notes, 3 route cards, a free hiking day practice as part of a weekend. **For Only €100 for under 18 and students and €120 for adults.** Accommodations can be provided Her are few additionnal dates: Jan 24-25 MS2 Glenmalure, Co.Wicklow Feb 11-12 MS1 Comeragh, Co.Waterford March 21-22 Glenmalure, Co. Wicklow March 28-29 Glenmalure, Co.Wicklow April MS1 18-19 Glenmalure, Co,Wickow For more information contact us at: [aeaccom@gmail.com](mailto:aeaccom@gmail.com) / +35387 9691193 Or go to: [www.mountainadventures74.com](http://www.mountainadventures74.com)

We will meet at Laragh Free car park, next to Woollen Mills and GAA club in Laragh at 9.40am (see map below for exact location). We will head to Mall Brook waterfall for our lunch stop, this hike is approx 19km, taking in a section of WW, Brockagh mountain, tracks, trails and cross country. Gaiters, hiking poles would be useful in spots. The ascent up Mall Brook is adventurous, challenging and exciting Coffee afterwards in Glendalough Cafe for those who wish and have the time. Appropriate hiking gear is a must on all of my hikes.

Grand Canal Way in County Kildare. * Meeting Point : Hueston Station * When : 12:30 AM, 17th of May. Meeting in Dublin Hueston Train Station for 12:30 AM (Inside beside Pret A Manger), Waiting 10 Minutes. At 12:40, we will going to take the Commuter train which is Scheduled for 12:50 AM to Portlaoise. We will be getting off the train at Sallins and Naas 13:22 PM. This Train Serves Park West and Cherry Orchard, Clondalkin Fonthill, Kishoge, Adamstown, Hazelhatch and Celbridge. When we reach Sallins and Naas Train Station, there is a coffee shop called Hey Darling Sallins and Coffee Express Trailor at the train station. It is a 6 minute walk to the start of the trail, this is a easy walk and you might see some boat passing by on the canal. Trail Duration is 2 to 2 in a half hour walking loop, 7.9 KM. Every event is 5 Euro's you can pay by using Revolut or Cash. I hope to see you thre.

**SILENT WALK: The Fully Alive Experience** 🌿✨ Are you ready to step away from the noise? Join us for a unique experience of peace, connection, and great food! **ATTENTION: How to find us!** ⚠️ We want to make sure you find the group easily! Look out for our team waiting for you outside the Dún Laoghaire DART Station. We will be there holding a sign that says: 👉 ***"SILENT WALK"*** 👈 Don't be shy! Come to say hi and join the tribe! What to expect 🕊️ Kick off a peaceful journey with reflection and amazing company. The Silent Walk is designed to help you disconnect from the city's hustle and reconnect with your inner self. • 📍 Meeting Point: Outside Dún Laoghaire Station. • 🪧 Look for: The "SILENT WALK" sign. • 🎧 ESSENTIAL: Please bring your own headphones/earphones for the guided reflection. • 🌊 The Route: A beautiful walk by the sea with guided moments. • 🍔 Social Lunch: After the walk, we are heading to Wetherspoon for an optional lunch together! It’s the perfect time to chat and meet everyone. **Schedule** 10:30- Meeting (DART Station) 10:40 - Walk 11:00 - Silent Walk 11:20 - Small group sharing 12:00 - Optional lunch **Stay Connected!** We have a vibrant community on WhatsApp where we share updates, meeting points, and photos from our walks. Join us to stay in the loop: 👉 Join our WhatsApp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/IVskvE1hQar90o0bmT8kMs?mode=gi_t

**Explore River Boyne Greenway in County Louth.** * **Meeting Point : Dublin Connolly.** * **When : 12:00, 16th of May.** **Meeting in Dublin Connolly Train Station at 12:00 (Inside beside Pret A Manger) Waiting 5 minutes.** **We are taking the SCHEDULED 12:18 InterCity Train to Drogheda** **Duration 1 Hour and 2 Minutes (11 Stops)** **Serving Howth Junction Donaghmede, Clongrffin, Portmarnock, Malahide, Donabate, Rush & Lusk, Skerries, Balbriggan, Gormanston, Laytown and finally Drogheda.** **Arriving at Drogheda Train Station for 13:20.** **For those who need to go the toilet can go at the train station, then we will be walking for 19 minutes 1.5 KM, to the starting point.** **We will be walking through the city and heading west pathway to the Mary Mc Aleese Bridge, Oldridge estate, and the Batlle of the Boyne Sight.** **Trail Loop is 8.2 KM (1 in a half to 2 hours Duration).** **This is a scenic walk.** **Every event is 5 Euro's you can pay by using Revolut or Cash.** **I hope to see you there !**

**History** The history of [Blendon Woods Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/blendon-woods/) began long before its 1951 opening, rooted in a landscape of rugged ridges and deep ravines that made the land unsuitable for traditional farming. In 1945, a report proposing a metropolitan park system for Franklin County specifically highlighted these cliffs of Bedford Shale as some of the "wildest land in the vicinity". Following this recommendation, the recently formed park district purchased the first 229 acres in early 1949. Because the terrain was so uneven, developers had to cut a mile-and-a-half-long roadway through dense woods just to bring in heavy equipment. This initial preservation effort ensured that the mature second-growth hardwood forests remained largely untouched by the urban expansion spreading toward Westerville. Opening day arrived on Labor Day, September 3, 1951, marking Blendon Woods as the second park in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system. The final push to open was a frantic race; the State Highway Department only finished the primary gravel access road four days before the gates opened. Early staff members, consisting of just four full-time employees, had to hand-dig pit toilets and learn construction skills on the fly to build the first picnic shelters. Despite the dusty conditions and limited facilities, the park was an immediate success, drawing massive crowds from across Central Ohio. By the end of the 1950s, annual visitation had already climbed to over 190,000 people. As the surrounding suburbs grew in the 1960s, the park faced severe overcrowding that threatened its natural habitats. In response, Franklin County voters passed the first Metro Parks levy in 1960, providing the funds necessary for a decade of steady expansion. During this era, the park nearly doubled in size, growing from 264 acres to over 570 acres by 1968. Planners also addressed a critical water shortage by collaborating with the U.S. Soil and Conservation Service to build a lake in 1964. This body of water originally served as a temporary reservoir before its role shifted toward conservation and wildlife support. The 1970s marked a transition toward the specialized wildlife and educational focus for which the park is known today. In 1971, the Walden Waterfowl Refuge was established around the 11-acre Thoreau Lake, creating a sanctuary that remains restricted to provide a quiet habitat for migratory birds. A formal nature center was also developed during this period, expanding on the guided Sunday walks that had been a park staple since the early 1950s. The park’s famous "Monarch Mansion" also became a prominent fixture, starting a long tradition of raising and releasing thousands of monarch butterflies each September. These initiatives cemented the park’s reputation as a premier destination for birders and nature enthusiasts. In more recent decades, Blendon Woods has continued to modernize while maintaining its wilderness character. The 10-acre Natural Play Area was added in 2017, encouraging kids to explore the ravines and woods off-trail. This was followed by the opening of a $1.5 million inclusive playground in April 2025, designed to accommodate children of all physical abilities. The nature center also underwent major renovations to include immersive, three-dimensional exhibits and a new butterfly house. Today, the park encompasses 653 acres, preserving a unique geologic and biological corridor amidst the bustling Westerville and Northeast Columbus area. **Map of the Park** Here is a map of [Blendon Woods](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BLN_map_Inclusive-Playground-and-Butterfly-Trail_May-2025_1980px.png). **Summary** For this event, we will hike the Lake View, Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook, Brookside, and Sugarbush Trails. This sounds like a lot, but it will really be only a little over five miles. Blendon Woods has a few hills here and there, but it's not one of the more strenuous metro parks. **Where We'll Meet** We'll meet just in front of the Nature Center. This is about a mile into the park from the main entrance. You have to go past the Ranger Station and the Shadblow Reservable Area to get to it, so don't stop too early at the Ranger Station and get it confused with the Nature Center. **After the Hike** Afterward, we will head over to [Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/) at Easton for [drinks](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/#dinner-menu) and [food](https://forbiddenroot.com/wp-content/uploads/Cbus-Food.pdf). We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks. The brewery's actual address is [4080 Worth Ave, Columbus, OH 43219](https://www.google.com/maps/place/4080+Worth+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43219/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x88388a86d10b6619:0x4d42b470a5cf11d3?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111); however, I recommend pointing your GPS to the [Worth Garage](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Worth+Garage/@40.0542293,-82.9137962,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88388b4df6082825:0x17582f0eccd9dda1!8m2!3d40.0542293!4d-82.9137962!16s%2Fg%2F11rzfvvv8b?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQxNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) across the street. Parking in this garage is free as long as you're not on the first floor, and it is literally right next to the brewery.

This is a small but pretty park with a 1.7-mile loop. We will walk it 2 times. It goes along a ridge and has moderate elevation changes.

Hi ladies. We will meet in front of the Nature Center and head to the two Observation decks. We will then hike Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook and Sugarbush trails to get approximately four miles total distance. We will walk approximately a 18 minute mile pace. Please wear appropriate hiking shoes.

Hi ladies. Let's hike the edward thomas trail, lake trail , spring creek and a short walk on the multi purpose trail. This is one large loop . Wear your shoe of choice. Meet in the Maple Grove Picnic area. 4.2 miles in length .

Hi ladies. Let's hike the Edward Thomas, Spring Creek, and a little multi-purpose trail - approximately 4 miles so please wear your shoe of choice. Please bring a water bottle as needed and appropriate shoes. Meet in the Maple Grove Picnic area.

June 17, 2026: Worthington Library. Wild Ohio: The Best of Our Natural Heritage. Jim McCormac. Worthington, Ohio. 7 pm.