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Outdoor Trails

Discover the great outdoors on Ireland's best walking trails

<p>The National Folklore Commission recorded foxglove’s close associations with fairy lore and, therefore, people once believed it was unlucky to bring the plant into their houses. Picture: Brian Lawless</p>

outdoors

Flower fairies: Foxglove and fuschia feature prominently in folklore

The warn sunny conditions of late have created the ideal climate for our wild plants, such as foxglove and fuchsia, which are growing in glorious profusion across the country

<p>People at Warren Beach in Rosscarbery taking advantage of a sunny day. Picture: Andy Gibson</p>

outdoors

St Swithin's Day: Could it stay sunny for the next 40 days? Here's what we know

<p>Close up view of a moon jellyfish</p>

outdoors

These are the jellyfish to watch out for and the ones you don't need to be afraid of

Hikes and trails: WB Yeats wrote about this woodland loop — and it still has the wow factor

outdoors

Hikes and trails: WB Yeats wrote about this woodland loop — and it still has the wow factor

Making a toast in a seaside café

outdoors

9 summer walks in Cork where you can cool down with an iced coffee

Helicopter dumping water on a wildfire

outdoors

Burning issue: What Europe’s wildfires can teach Ireland

Top 20 walks to explore this weekend in Ireland — where to stop, eat and stay

outdoors

Top 20 walks to explore this weekend in Ireland — where to stop, eat and stay

Painted Lady Butterfly

outdoors

Age-old question: Could the longevity of butterflies be down to diet?

Abandoned

outdoors

Donal Hickey: Expand grant schemes to beat rural decline

Total eclipse of the Sun. The moon covers the sun in a solar eclipse

Sky Matters: Get ready for the biggest celestial event of the year

Now is the time to start scouting out locations to view the biggest celestial event of 2026, the upcoming eclipse of the sun on August 12 that will see around 95-97% of the sun eclipsed by the moon

Mon, 06 Jul, 2026

Newlyweds cutting wedding cake

Small wedding decisions that can cut waste, without cutting the joy

No wedding is perfectly sustainable. Weddings involve travel, food, flowers, clothes, music and celebration. And yet small, sensible choices around the day can make the celebration not only beautiful, but a little more thoughtful too

Sat, 04 Jul, 2026

common swift in flight

Winging it: Swift ‘the devil bird’ that does its own thing

The European swift engages in behaviours very different from those of other, more ‘normal’ birds, and yet when it comes to nesting, there's no place like home

Fri, 03 Jul, 2026

Feeling the heat: Challenge to provide cooler spaces in urban settings

Feeling the heat: Challenge to provide cooler spaces in urban settings

Experts suggest we need nature-based solutions to mitigate against the Urban Heat Island effect in cities whereby hard surfaces such as tarred roads, footpaths and buildings trap more heat than rural areas and natural landscapes

Thu, 02 Jul, 2026

Hikes and Trails: Following in the footsteps of The Liberator

Hikes and Trails: Following in the footsteps of The Liberator

Today, the landscape Daniel O’Connell roamed is preserved as the Derrynane National Historic Park, where visitors experience the same tranquil woodlands, bays and beaches that captivated him

Wed, 01 Jul, 2026

Resourceful raptors: Sky dancing hen harriers are fierce survivors

Resourceful raptors: Sky dancing hen harriers are fierce survivors

The fortunes of Irish hen harriers have fluctuated wildly in the past but now, against all odds, there may be reason for optimism for the survival prospects of this endangered species

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

House Wooden Frame

Wood from the trees: Timber a route to low-carbon construction

Timber, as a low-carbon construction material, presents a compelling opportunity to rapidly increase housing supply while at the same time taking action on climate change targets

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Woman is using eye mask in bed while electric fan is blowing on the foreground

Awake to the consequences: How climate change is affecting our sleep

There are many traditional reasons for a bad night’s sleep from a snoring partner to a neighbour's car alarm at 3am. But science suggests we may now add another culprit to the list: climate change

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

New book tells the remarkable story of Cape Clear Island in West Cork

New book tells the remarkable story of Cape Clear Island in West Cork

A new book by historian Diarmuid Ó Drisceoil explores the life and times of the West Cork island of Cape Clear

Wed, 24 Jun, 2026

Rippling Waters Over Submerged Stones

Pádraic Fogarty: Taking a very long time to ‘bring everyone with us’

Government seems to be taking a very long time as it ‘brings everyone along’ in addressing the challenges of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss

Tue, 23 Jun, 2026

Danger Deep Water and No Swimming Sign

Inflatables, rip currents and more: How to stay safe in the sea this summer

As the temperatures continue to soar, we are all heading to the beach.

Tue, 23 Jun, 2026

Making homemade deodorant stick with all natural ingredients concept. Antiperspirant on minimal background with lot of copy spac

Pit stop: The science behind smelling better with less plastic

Refillable deodorants have elbowed their way into bathroom cabinets and promise fresher pits while resulting in less single-use plastic. They are a small gesture we can all make to help tackle the bigger packaging problem around bathroom products

Sun, 21 Jun, 2026

Crab

Walk on the wild side: Crabs move sideways to confuse predators

Researchers in Japan tell us why crabs move sideways, rather than straight ahead like all other creatures and how 'sideways motion’ is to their benefit

Thu, 18 Jun, 2026

Damage done: Expanding deer population sparks calls for culls

Damage done: Expanding deer population sparks calls for culls

Culls alone will not solve the problem of an expanding deer population but should form part of a comprehensive herd management plan

Thu, 18 Jun, 2026

Machair wild flower meadow, The Outer Hebrides Western Isles

Wild Matters: The symbiotic nature of midsummer meadows

Species rich grasslands are now one of the most threatened habits in Ireland and if once common orchids, bees, butterflies, wildflowers and farmland birds are to be part of our future, we must act now for effective restoration

Tue, 16 Jun, 2026

Hikes and trails: Tory may be small but it packs a mighty punch

Hikes and trails: Tory may be small but it packs a mighty punch

Lying 15km off the Donegal coast, Tory is about 5 km long and 1km wide, with massive cliffs on its northern flanks. Distinctive for its strong Irish-speaking culture, it has become a Mecca for discerning tourists and is host to a seven-day walking festival in September

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

Skellig Island Puffin, County Kerry, Ireland

Nature Cams: Reconnecting us with the wild, or just another screen?

The strongest case for nature cams is access, as not everyone can visit a wetland, island, woodland or cliff edge. But there are limits. Watching nature is not the same as being in nature

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

Woman hiker legs walking beautiful flowering grassland

Head to the hills: Taking steps to maintain our outdoor areas

Getting farmers and private landowners in upland areas involved in maintaining paths is seen as key to restoration projects aimed at creating a more sustainable future for visitors

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

Beautiful Landscape depicting Strange Weather Phenomenon due to Climate Change, comprising dramatic dark grey Nimbus clouds alon

El Niño: World on watch as tropical Pacific warming

Scientists are watching events and weather forecast models closely as the final strength and the precise impacts of El Niño will only become clearer as the Pacific ocean and atmosphere continue to evolve

Sat, 06 Jun, 2026

large swarm of dangerous striped stinging insects wasps fly against the background of a green summer garden

Busy as a bee: Summer swarming season in full swing

Political swarm clouds are gathering over honeybee colonies in Ireland just now. The swarming season has arrived and palace revolutions will erupt over the next two months as hives become crowded

Sat, 06 Jun, 2026

Common / Bandit Pipistrelle Bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) hunting at twilight, Berwickshire, Scotland, June 2008

Donal Hickey: Going to bat for our flying friends

Bats are often maligned in folklore, but in reality they are a very good measure of how good our habitats are and are an indicator that an area is in good environmental condition

Thu, 04 Jun, 2026

Venus Elongation, 4K Footage

Sky Matters: Just as people change and age, so too do planets

Climate change and its impacts are constant, and not just on Earth. We only have to look at our two nearest neighbour planets to see examples of how rampant climate change has transformed them into inhospitable wastelands

Sat, 30 May, 2026

Woman holding a big bouquet of flowers

A sustainable bloom: Meet Ireland's flower farmers

Of the €270m we spend on cut flowers in Ireland, it’s estimated less than 5% are grown here. Roz Crowley meets the flower farmers on a mission to change that

Sat, 30 May, 2026

A close up of a male Common House Mosquito on a Fennel flowers (Culex pipiens)

Hot topic: The ecological winners of the mini May heatwave

When Ireland gets unusually warm, nature pays attention. A burst of warmth in late May can change behaviour, accelerate life cycles and create ecological winners. Not every species dislikes heat. Some quietly thrive

Thu, 28 May, 2026

View from dune top over North Sea

Sands running out: Natural solutions to combat coastal erosion

Experts suggest that by investing in restoration and conservation of dune habitats, we can more sustainably protect against coastal hazards

Thu, 28 May, 2026

Human nature: Rewilding as a means to avoid a future of decline

Human nature: Rewilding as a means to avoid a future of decline

Rewilding is often portrayed as being no different to land abandonment. But the case of Italy’s Abruzzo region shows this to be far from reality

Sat, 23 May, 2026

Builder On Site Putting Waste Into Rubbish Skip

Round the houses: Building more and wasting less should not be competing ambitions

Ireland urgently needs homes and increasing supply remains a national priority. The challenge, however, is not whether Ireland should build. It must. The challenge is whether future construction can become genuinely circular

Sat, 23 May, 2026

Net result: Ocean warming may see sharks in uncharted waters

Net result: Ocean warming may see sharks in uncharted waters

Creatures of sub-tropical habitats are recorded here increasingly and great white sharks may do likewise. They already frequent the Bay of Biscay, and ocean warming may lead to expansion of their range

Fri, 22 May, 2026

Thorny tales: Whitethorn may owe its abundance to prickly folklore

Thorny tales: Whitethorn may owe its abundance to prickly folklore

Could it be that the survival of so many whitethorn trees and bushes may somehow be due to an old superstition that it could be unlucky to damage them, or cut them down?

Thu, 21 May, 2026

Gray Wolf Standing by Trees

Road to perdition: Is the wolf the only European species threatened by hybridisation?

The findings of a recent study into cross-breeding present ‘extraordinary practical conservation challenges’ for the future of wolves in Europe. With increasing urbanisation, hybridisation will continue growing

Sat, 16 May, 2026

Industrial Skip, Overflowing

Home free: Saving by clever reuse of building waste

Disposals from construction and demolition make up our largest single waste stream. Yet much of what's thrown out could be recycled or repurposed, with obvious savings for all

Sat, 16 May, 2026

Summer: young adults watering plants on a rooftop community garden

Couple goals: Can economic growth finally go green?

Researchers have found that many urban economies are continuing to grow while fossil-fuel pollution declines, meaning some cities are beginning to 'consciously uncouple' economic growth from fossil-fuel dependence

Sat, 16 May, 2026

How to make your garden truly green: 'We should be gardening with nature, not against it'

How to make your garden truly green: 'We should be gardening with nature, not against it'

As part of Sustainability month at the Irish Examiner, we asked some of Ireland's gardening experts for advice on how to approach our outdoor spaces with both beauty and environmentalism in mind

Sat, 16 May, 2026

Flower garden

Wild Matters: The coexistence of gardens and nature

Resisting our cultural tendency to ‘tidy’ everything up in our gardens gives untold opportunities for wild creatures

Thu, 14 May, 2026

Hikes and trails: Stroll through a piece of cinema history in Kerry

Hikes and trails: Stroll through a piece of cinema history in Kerry

If visiting the Dingle Peninsula and looking to discover more about Ryan’s Daughter, the Lúb na Cille walk is your answer

Sun, 10 May, 2026

Great and Blue Tit Feeding

No silver lining: Great tits under threat from global warming

Weather fluctuations and extremes caused by global warming can have disastrous impacts on great tit nestling growth and chick survival, researchers have found

Sat, 09 May, 2026

Opening hours: Why some plants open by day and close at night

Opening hours: Why some plants open by day and close at night

Plants are constantly sensing, responding, and adapting to the world around them. They track time, detect light, react to temperature, and coordinate with insects in ways that are surprisingly sophisticated

Sat, 09 May, 2026

Donal Hickey: Skelligs an outstanding area for viewing seabirds

Donal Hickey: Skelligs an outstanding area for viewing seabirds

Each summer, the Skellings area hosts some mammoth seabird breeding colonies, some of which are of international importance

Thu, 07 May, 2026

Blue Moon

Sky Matters: Astronomical events that come along ‘once in a blue moon’

From meteor storms to exploding stars or supernovae, there are a myriad of rare or once-in-a-lifetime events that take place in the universe all around us... but the rarest and most unique event of all is us

Sun, 03 May, 2026

Age-old question: What are the factors behind a long life?

Age-old question: What are the factors behind a long life?

Why do some individuals die much sooner than others, despite belonging to the same gene pool and facing similar life challenges? What lifestyle factors, if any, influence life-expectancy?

Sat, 02 May, 2026

The marsh iris (Iris pseudacorus) feels most at home at the edge of the water.

Ireland's May Day traditions: Welcoming summer with wild flowers and ancient Bealtine customs

May is immersed in traditions relating to nature, growth and the outdoors in general. More than anything else, perhaps, it’s when we welcome summer

Fri, 01 May, 2026

Michelle McKeown: Peatlands and why scientists around the world agreed on 50 urgent questions

Michelle McKeown: Peatlands and why scientists around the world agreed on 50 urgent questions

Peatlands may not be glamorous landscapes. They are muddy, waterlogged and often difficult to access. But they are among the most important ecosystems on Earth for tackling climate change

Fri, 01 May, 2026

Solar power: Sunny April weather sees butterflies take flight

Solar power: Sunny April weather sees butterflies take flight

Whether on the farm, in the garden, or the council-owned and managed open spaces, every patch of green space can play a role in helping butterflies and biodiversity, mainly by facilitating native flowering plants

Sat, 25 Apr, 2026

rain is falling in a puddle in the garden

Michelle McKeown: The smell of rain and the science behind it

This smell of rain is a real physical thing that can be explained by science. In Ireland, where rain is a regular feature of daily life, this phenomenon is easy to overlook. But it is worth pausing to notice next time it rains

Fri, 24 Apr, 2026

Abstract Weather Concept - Sun In Serene Sky With Flare Effect

Donal Hickey: April a capricious month as we move from showers to flowers

People in medieval times depended on weather lore for their forecasts with many people in rural Ireland still mindful of the old proverbs

Wed, 22 Apr, 2026

Short-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus) in the thickets of sea grass Zostera. Black Sea. Odessa bay.

Anja Murray: Ireland’s seahorses and the seagrass meadows they call home

A rarely-sighted seahorse washed up on Ballynamona Strand recently is a small reminder of the richness of our coastal waters and the urgent need to protect habitats while there’s still something to protect

Sat, 18 Apr, 2026

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