Now the majority of us are working from home it's time to take a break get out with the kids and keep walking!
Please take note of Phase 2 guidelines and follow them.
Take your family and take your dog! And maybe some suitable wet weather clothes. Try to leave the tech behind.
Getting out walking doesn’t need to be expensive or overly complicated. Think green and blue. I live in a very urban space and have a great local park almost on my doorstep which I use a lot during the week walking the dog. But by the time the weekend rolls around I need something spectacular like a beach or big open space to give my soul a lift.
Choose what works for you and your family. Don’t forget there are 6 National Parks in Ireland. Check your local parks, there are hidden gems that you may not be aware of like St. Catherine’s Park on the Dublin/Kildare border that you can walk along a glacial ridge and play spot the highland cattle. Yes, you did read that correctly! The 15 cattle were introduced to improve the biodiversity of the area. Family Walks Ireland is a handy database for buggy and family-friendly walks around Ireland.
Or take a woodland walk check out Coillte There are 12 forest parks and 260 recreational sites across the country with car parking and picnic areas.
And beaches are fun, free places to walk with kids and dogs. It’s impossible not to run up and down a sand dune and not enjoy it!
You could walk beside a waterway if you don’t want to have to clean up the kids or dogs.
Or take a walk on one of the 4 existing blueways. Blueways are stunning trails running on and alongside lakes, canals and rivers.
If you need some digital assistance to get organised, try the AllTrails app. This is free app that requires you to sign up and will show you trails near your location or you can filter a more specific area. The trails are handily marked as easy, moderate and hard. The app allows you to download offline maps.
The walks are tagged ‘kid-friendly’ and ‘dogs on a leash’ and there are useful reviews & tips for each walk. You can turn the app into a GPS tracker, so you don’t get lost.
Ultimately it is worth remembering that urban environments are filled with stimulation and natural environment are more restorative!