Walking in a winter wonderland

Go Walk:Whether it's easy or tough, there's a walking route out there to work off the seasonal excesses, writes Francis Bradley

FATHER CHRISTMAS is a man of considerable girth and at this time of the year we often feel as if we are heading in a similar direction. A feeling of lethargy, together with a stretched waistband is the order of the day. What to do? I’ve a suggestion: get off that couch, switch off that telly – it’s usually rubbish anyway – and go for a walk.

To help you on your way here’s a selection box with a difference: 24 of our most popular walks categorised as easy, moderate and difficult.

The easy walks are, for the most part, suitable for all ages, are on easily identifiable trails and require the minimum of outdoor skills. Moderate routes are somewhat longer and/or more testing, are not suitable for very young walkers and require a working knowledge of map reading and use of a compass. Difficult routes are for experienced mountaineers or are of a distance that would render them impractical for the untested or unfit.

You can access pdfs of the original articles, including maps at: irishtimes.com/ indepth/gochristmaswalks/. These will be available until December 31st. Enjoy.

Easy routes

Ballycotton, Co Cork

Perhaps better known for its lifeboat, the fishing village of Ballycotton is the start and finishing point for this 9km circuit. One section of the walk takes you along the dramatic, rugged coastline where you should take care, especially with children. The circuit should take two to three hours.

Clara Vale, Co Wicklow

Situated between Laragh and Rathdrum, just off the R755, the Vale of Clara or Rathdrum Wood offers you a choice of three marked trails, most of which are relatively buggy-friendly. The section along the Avonmore River is particularly pleasant – you may even get to see some canoeists putting their skills to the test. The walk described is 8/9km and should take two-and-a-half to three hours.

Glendalough, Co Wicklow

An easy walk on trails built and maintained by Mountain Meitheal. The walk starts nearly 1km from Laragh on the Glenmacnass/Sally Gap road (R115) and winds its way around the southeastern reaches of Brockagh Mountain before heading west to reach the halfway point at the ancient monastic site at Glendalough.

To return, simply head back the way you came. The distance is 6/7km and should take one-and-a-half to two hours.

The Murrough Broad Lough, Co Wicklow

No matter what route you take you are faced with a bracing walk along this shingle coastline. The Murrough, classified as a coastal wetland, lies just north of Wicklow town. Broad Lough is a Special Protection Area and is an important site for wintering birds. If you bring a dog keep it on a lead. Distance: 6.5km. Time: two hours. Not suitable for buggies.

Portumna Forest Park, Co Galway

This Coillte-managed forest park offers a variety of easy trails. The one described here – the Bonaveen Trail – is the longest at 12/13km, but does not require any specialist mountaineering skills.

The trail takes you through pleasant mixed woodlands to Bonaveen Point overlooking Lough Derg. Also, it should be possible to spot a large herd of fallow deer which doesn’t pay much attention to the presence of humans. Estimated time: three hours.

Castlewellan Forest Park, Co Down

Castlewellan possesses a paradise of riches for tree groupies, what with the Sequoiadendron giganteum, along with two unassuming cypress trees which are the parents of all X cupressocyparis leylandii(better known as Castlewellan Gold) worldwide.

And to finish off you can toss the kids into the Peace Maze – one of the largest in the world – for a bit of the aforementioned peace and quiet. Maybe you should send an adult or two with them – the grandparents.

Dromore Wood, Co Clare

There are six marked and tended trails in Dromore Woods Nature Reserve ranging from 1.5km to 4.3km. All are relatively easy and five are looped trails.

Royal Canal, Co Kildare

Cut your cloth to suit your measure with this walk. It is 13km from Kilbrook to Moyvalley. But you could do a shorter version, like starting or finishing in Enfield. This is an easy walk on level terrain – perfect for post-Christmas bloatedness.

Derrynane Loop, Co Kerry

The perfect loop walk over 8km that can be started at several points around the loop.

Unfortunately, Derrynane House is closed at this time of the year. However, there is enough variety in this walk to keep walkers of all ages occupied for the two to two-and-a-half hours it should take.

Moderate routes

Croaghanmoira, Co Wicklow

A pleasant mixture of forest trails and open mountainside. The first 6km is along part of the Wicklow Way, so navigation should be easy – if you pay attention.

The second half, depending on the weather, could put your compass use and map reading skills to the test. At 14/15km, this walk is too long for small children. Estimated time: four to four-and-a-half hours.

Causeway Coast, Co Antrim

This is a linear walk, so a little bit more organisation is required for drop-off at the start or pick-up at the finish.

While the Causeway Coast Way stretches out over 52km, this 16km section linking the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and the Giant’s Causeway is my favourite. There is a well-maintained causeway path but care should always be exercised near the cliffs – especially in windy conditions. Estimated time: four to five hours.

Lough Belshade, Co Donegal

A tough, 10km walk which takes you from forest/mountain trail on to open mountainside in the southeast corner of the Bluestack Mountains. The going can be quite heavy and navigational skills are required. You can search for the fabled treasure at Lough Belshade – but look out for the cat!

Maulin/Djouce, Co Wicklow

Perhaps one of the most popular circuits in Co Wicklow – and justifiably so. There is a well-defined trail around the whole circuit but if the weather closes in you will need to use your map and compass skills.

A choice of two finishes: one at 15km taking fours hours; the other at 18km taking five hours.

Keeper Hill, Co Tipperary

Although routed entirely on easy-to-follow, well-marked trails, Keeper Hill rises to 694 metres and at this time of the year can present a fairly hostile environment.

While Keeper Hill is a benign beast, a change in the weather could make it bare its teeth.

Knocknacloghoge, Co Wicklow

Located amidst some of the most jaw-dropping scenery in Co Wicklow, this linear 9/10km walk starts at the pier gates above Lough Tay, continues down into the valley and along the Cloghoge River to Lough Dan.

Then west along the northern shore of Lough Dan and around to the finish at Oldbridge. Two cars needed. Estimated time: three hours.

Arigna Miner’s Trail, Co Leitrim

Another linear walk requiring two cars or a list of local taxi numbers.

The 14km trail follows old routes used by miners to get to the mines and also goes along the route of a defunct narrow-guage railway. All great history which is described very well in the Miner's Way and Historical Trail Guide Bookpublished by EastWest Mapping, now, sadly, out of print.

Estimated time: three-and-a-half to four hours.

Great Western Greenway, Co Mayo

The only significant challenge on this linear route is the distance, 16km. You can make it easier on yourself by cycling it.

Also, there are several “break out” points along the route which allow you to take a shorter option.

There is pick-up and drop-off bike hire available in Mulranny and Newport. Estimated time: five hours.

Blackstairs Mountains, Carlow/Wexford

An 11km ridge walk where care is needed – there are many concealed cavities. Mountain skills are prerequisite.

The most testing part is getting from the start to the ridge. This involves a lot of twisting and turning through forest trails before emerging onto the ridge. This may take well over an hour. Two cars are needed. Estimated time: five-and-a-half hours.

Difficult routes

Glenbeigh Horseshoe, Co Kerry

The full Glenbeigh Horseshoe starts in Glenbeigh village, is 31km long and has a total ascent of 2,300 metres. This version virtually halves these measurements but still includes Coomreagh, Teermoyle, Mullaghnarakill and Drung Hill. The distance is 15km with an estimated time of six hours.

Brandon Mountain and Ridge, Co Kerry

A classic. This walk starts at sea level, leads you into a coom with a seemingly impassable headwall. Then with a short ascent to the summit of Brandon Mountain you are at the highest point of the circuit after little more than 6km and you still have another 16km ahead of you! Estimated time: eight-plus hours.

Beenkeragh, Co Kerry

Created for adrenalin junkies. This 10-11km walk includes an ascent of the Hag’s Tooth, that unmistakeable pinnacle that rises above Lough Gouragh.

This is followed by an ascent of the Hag’s Tooth Ridge – which presents a variety of testing rocky scrambles in exposed conditions. And finally, Beenkeragh, the second highest mountain in Ireland. What more can I say? Estimated time: five hours.

Slieve League, Co Donegal

Two cars needed here. A 10.5km walk along the top of the highest seacliffs in Europe at over 600 metres, including some vertigo-inducing, narrow paths which are avoidable but add to the thrill. Estimated time: five hours.

Croaghaun, Achill

A 6km walk that offers great exposure on the seaward side of Croaghaun. Step out too far and you could end up as seagull fodder as evidenced by the odd sheep carcass lying about. Estimated time: three hours.

Lismore/Blackwater, Co Waterford

A lovely ramble along the course of the River Blackwater. Comprised of road, lane and trail, walking it still amounts to 30km which is a long, testing walk in anybody’s book. Estimated time: over six hours.