The Trail Blazers Hiking Group

Park at Carrick Little Car Park, walking at 9am.. (£3 or €4)

Distance: 25km
Ascent: approx 1700m

Looped walk following the Mourne Wall from Slieve Binnian to Slieve Loughshanagh (options on the day to climb it or stay low, depending on time/weather).

Return to the start point via the Binnian/Lamagan col from across the bog after Slieve Loughshanagh.

Hike is open to regular, fit hikers. New TB members must make contact with the organiser before attending.
Pace will be steady due to time of year.
Bring enough food/water for a long day on the mountains and full winter gear is needed. There will be no back marker, so the ability to navigate is essential.

Hi all, meeting at the Glen of the Downs car park for 09.30, this will be a nice hike around the two sugarloafs, 22km approx. Some really nice views on a clear day. This trek is mainly on tracks and trails.
Appropriate hiking gear is required for this & all of my hikes.
Bring lunch & drinks of your choice. Coffee afterwards for those who wish and have the time.

Meeting at car park outside Lacken National school at 9.30am (just outside Blessingtown town). This is approx 19km hike on forest tracks & open hillside. First we take the mass path to Lugnagun, Sorrel Hill Cairn, Black Hill, Hampden Bomber crash site of 1941, then we hit the beach on return to the car park. This hike should take approx 6hrs or less. Bring appropriate hiking gear & a packed lunch for this hike. Coffee afterwards in Blessingtown for those who wish and have the time.

Meeting in Ticknock car park (use drop pin) at 9.30am and on the trails thereafter.

This looped hike will take in the Three Rock, Wicklow Way sections, Cruagh woods, Dublin Mountain Way section, Fairy Castle and back to Ticknock car park. This hike is mainly on tracks and trails and a few off-road sections just for fun.

Duration: Approx - 6.00hr or less
Distance:- 19km
Ascent:- 710m

Appropriate hiking gear is a must on all of my hikes.

Bring lunch and drinks of your choice. Coffee afterwards as usual :-)

An early Christmas get together for a few drinks in the Duke Bar.
We have the upstairs bar reserved for 8pm but I hope to be in the bar downstairs for around 7pm. Feel free to drop in at any time, even just to say hello.
Open to all Trail Blazers, regulars, not so regulars or newbies. Pace will be relaxed for a change.

I inFor those who would like to…gathering in the overflow car park to Johnny Fox’s pub for 9.30am…and on the trail asap!

Distance: Approx 13km

Ascent: Approx 450m

Duration: Approx -3h

This will be a Very Brisk hike!

There are NO “Back Markers” provided on this hike!…It is your responsibility to keep up with the group !

Bring liquid and snacks of your choice…ie…mulled wine…mince pies…chocolates…etc…etc 🎉

🎄

Our annual Christmas DMW. This is a 40km linear walk across the trails of the Dublin Mountains.
We will kick off from Tallaght Stadium at 09:00. Some of us will meet in Shankill around 08:15 and get a taxi over to Tallaght.
We expect to be finished in approximately 8 hours, so nippy pace.
We will be having some food and drinks in Bradys pub in Shankill afterwards.
Bus and Dart available in Shankill for return journey.
Light hiking boots or trail runners are suitable for this hike as mostly forest trails and roads.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * EXPRESSION OF INTEREST.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I am looking ahead to New Years celebrations - I know it is early, however I need to plan and organise this way in advance, especially as this hotel fills up quickly and I wanted to secure a great deal for us all. Based in the Leenane Hotel, Connemara, it is my intention to head down there on Sun 29th Dec, hiking Mon 30th & Tues 31st, ring in the New Year - check out 1st Jan (as most are back in work 2nd Jan).
So should you find yourself at a loose end for the New Years then why not consider coming out West with a few fellow Trail Blazers and finish off this year on a high.
Two days hiking, one day the Sheefry mountain range 590 - 772m and the other day Mweelrea (Connacht's highest peak 814m). Then when we have all the hiking out of the way it is time for welcoming in the New Year.
I have been in touch with the hotel and have negotiated a special Trail Blazers rate, 3 nights B & B, with 3 nights evening meals (3 courses). I have double rooms (sharing) and single rooms held for us, on a first come, first served basis.
Double room / sharing = €319 PP
Single room = €349
If you are interested in this event & I have moved you across to "GOING" then please contact the hotel directly - Leenane Hotel email is:[email protected] - tel. number 095 42249 - Contact name. Agnes,
The rooms are reserved under Reservation Number 096448 - the hotel will request your credit card details to secure your room, payment is taken only upon departure. These rooms are held up until Dec 1st, after this time they are released back to the hotel.
The staff in Leenane hotel have always been fantastic to us so I can highly recommend going here.
Leenane is a fabulous place to spend New Years and is somewhere different.

A waitlist will apply to this event - so please don’t be offended if the waitlist applies for a period.

Preference will, as you might expect be given to regular fit hikers with the Liam Mc Trail Blazer hikes.

These hikes are for experienced & fit hikers - given the changeable weather conditions in the Mweelrea / Sheefry / Leenaun mountain ranges at that time of year.

All fellow Trail Blazers are fully responsible for their own health & safety on these hikes / trip. This is a condition of your RSVP.

🇫🇷 ❄️⛷🏂😎🚠🍻☕️⛰️ 🇫🇷
Winter 2025

Getting There:
Fly Aer Lingus to Geneve
Arrive: Tues 28th January
Depart: Tues 4th February

Location for the Week:
We will be based in the Val Thorens Ski Resort, in the French Alps. This is Europe's highest ski resort and offers great skiing for all levels.

Once people have confirmed their flights, we can setup a WhatsApp group and exchange transfer/accommodation plans etc. The full week is also not compulsory of course, and from my experience, four days skiing is often plenty. So you can tailor your arrangements as suits.

Whilst some of our more experienced skiers are going back for the vast array of skiing, this trip will also be fun for new and improving skiers. I am happy to show people the ropes over the first few days (not lessons obviously). If it's your first time, I highly recommend taking some lessons before your trip. Even if you have skied before, a reminder lesson is invaluable. Of course, you can also arrange lessons over there.

The craic should be mighty and we don't have to ski all the time. We can't promise very much hiking.

This trip is open to regular TBs who have traveled (and behaved 😂) with us in the past. A waitlist will apply🗒

What could possibly go wrong? ⛑🚁⚰️💣

More info:
https://www.valthorens.com/en/

Expression of interest:
A weeks walking holiday will bring us on the Famous "Litoral Way" or "Senda Litoral" hugging the Western Coastline of Portugal, 7 nights with 6 days walking.
This Way walk is 143klm long and passes through the sleepy towns of Portugals coastline. Stunning vistas along the Way and good food to be enjoyed.
This event will need booking early January 2025 to secure accommodation as it's a popular route in September and the Easy payment instalment system will be in place by mid-February.
This event will be closed by December, and deposits will be required by 6th of December to secure your place.
Deposits are €200 and are Non Refundable.
As per Camino 2024, the members who sign up don't have to walk as a group as each destination is predetermined, and each person can walk as they choose, in a group or solo.
Places will be limited. Camino participants of the 2024 event be given preference for 2025..
The final 6 day walk to Santiago de Compostela will be completed 2026.