THE route is all left turns, easily followed from the map. As we proceed north, and then west, we have views of the forested slopes of the Ballyhoura Range, Caroline Mountain, Knockduv, Carron and Seefin.

Six trails start at a car park within the National Park where there are map boards and a large, stone toilet building. There are three options for reaching the Trailhead: (1) Park at St Finbarr’s Oratory and walk the forest motor road (all but trafficless) to the trailhead (2) drive past the Oratory, park outside the motor toll gate and walk, via the motor road, to the Trailhead (3) pay the toll, drive into the park, and leave the car at the trailhead.

KNOCKAINEY WALK, CO. LIMERICK

Lough Fada and Hag of Beara

UNION HALL AND LOCH CLOCHAR

ARDMORE-GOAT ISLAND, WATERFORD.

Birdwatching amid the sands and a silver sea

A lesson in history with every footstep

WE set off, walking to the right along the beach, first fording a small stream.

OUR trailhead is Howe Strand, where a few cars can park but space is limited. The beach looks out onto Courtmacsherry Bay and beyond it, the open ocean. Westward are the Seven Heads, and to the east, the Old Head of Kinsale.

WE take the road across from the pier, between the Marine Hotel and the house opposite it.

SKIBBEREEN/BALTIMORE: LOUGH HYNE

WALKING this route on the glorious Sunday of June 22, the cliff path took my wife and I above Ardmore’s golden sands, crowded with holidaymakers.

DRIMOLEAGUE HERITAGE LOOP WALK

Bantry to Drumclough loop of the Sheep’s Head Way

ROSSDOHAN WALK, KERRY WAY

THIS walk is best enjoyed in summer. These recent weeks, wildflowers are everywhere along the paths in Garretstown woods. Most are at their best this week. In late May, the bluebells were a little faded, but those growing in shade were a vivid, gentian blue.

ARRIVING on the riverside pathway, we are immediately removed from the bustle of the town. Here, the Bandon is a broad, slow-flowing river.

WE set off up the steep road from the pier, past the ruined friary.

WE have parked opposite the old Post Office, marked on the OS map. Before setting off, we should certainly retrace our steps to the Blackwater Bridge — we will be re-crossing it on our return, but viewing it before we start will make us aware, when we see the Blackwater River upstream, of how romantic and wild it is in this gorge.

IN Ringarogy, the peace and quiet of another era still reigns. The houses may be modern or modernised but on the lanes one rarely sees a car. There are few human artefacts to distract us from nature. Once, almost 800 people lived here; now, there are about 70. I can think of few more pleasant walks.

WE set off north, up MacCurtain Hill, passing the garda station on our right.

WHEN I walked this route, mid-March 2014, the banks of the attractive little rapids on the Slaheny River above Coolyard Bridge were being reinforced. There are many classic mountain-river rapids and waterfalls to admire on this walk.

We set off from the pier.

WITH our backs to the Town Hall we set off down Main Street, keeping to the left pavement. Skibbereen is, arguably, the most ‘typical’ of West Cork market towns, little changed in the last century.

GLENINCHAQUIN WALK, BEARA PENINSULA, CO KERRY

CLOHEEN MARSH WALK, WEST CORK

TIMOLEAGUE AND ARGIDEEN WALK

GLANMORE LAKE WALK, BEARA PENINSULA

Castletownshend and Castlehaven

A long way away from the rest of the world.

LEHID BRIDGE, KENMARE, CO KERRY

LEAVING the tourist office, we go left, along the waterfront. Scilly hamlet, with its imposing old buildings on the shore, is seen across the water or exposed mud flats of the Inner Harbour.

WHIDDY ISLAND WALK, WEST CORK

KENMARE RIVER WALK

From the car park, we follow signs for Lady Bantry’s Walk.

BERE ISLAND WALK

MUCKROSS WALK, KILLARNEY

OLD WORKHOUSE AND RATHCOOL WALK

CLEAR ISLAND WALK, WEST CORK

BLASKET ISLAND VISITOR CENTRE WALK

BROWN’S MILLS WALK, KINSALE, CO CORK

RATHBARRY, CASTLEFREKE AND THE LONG STRAND (CLONAKILTY)

ROARING WATER RIVER WALK, WEST CORK