September 18, 2015

Hiking Through Ireland's Magical Landscape

Europe Hiking & Trekking Traveler Stories

Hiking Through the Land of a Hundred Thousand Welcomes

A small harbor with boats docked along the shoreline, a cluster of buildings, and hills in the background under a cloudy sky offers a warm Irish welcome to all who visit. — Dingle Harbour

Three hikers walk along a path on a grassy hillside overlooking the ocean and distant mountainous islands under a cloudy sky, as if to say, "a hundred thousand welcomes" to the breathtaking scenery. — A coastal hike with “An Blascaod Mór,” Great Blasket Island, in the distance, off the coast of County Kerry.

Hikers in colorful jackets walk along a foggy, grassy mountain trail with hiking poles, embodying the spirit of Céad Míle Fáilte. — Following Con, our fearless leader, into the Irish fog.

Left image: Group of people climbing stone steps on a hilly landscape under a blue sky. Right image: Person standing atop a large vertical stone formation in a grassy area with hills and sky in the background, embracing the spirit of Céad Míle Fáilte. — Ann leading the group down a stairway on Skellig Michael, built by 12 – 14 monks and inhabited from 600-1200AD. Amazing place! The island will be featured in the next two Star Wars movies.// Con on top of a rock circle.

A narrow winding road through a hilly landscape with green fields and a distant river. Sheep are grazing near a large rock by the roadside, offering travelers a true sense of "a hundred thousand welcomes. — High altitude sheep herding

A beach with clear blue-green water, four people walking along the shore, and hilly islands in the background under a partly cloudy sky offers a scene that perfectly captures a sense of Céad Míle Fáilte. — Are we in Ireland or Hawaii?

Ruins of stone buildings scattered across a green hillside under a partly cloudy sky, offering a Céad Míle Fáilte to all who visit. — Ruins on the hillside

A calm sea under a cloudy sky with distant mountains on the horizon, offering a Céad Míle Fáilte to all who behold its serene beauty. — Where the water meets the sky in Ireland

On the left, two people stand on a high cliff overlooking a valley and lake below. On the right, a group of people pose in front of a stone beehive structure, embodying the warm spirit of an Irish greeting with one hundred thousand welcomes. — Con is standing on a ledge in the Gap of Dunloe in Killarney, telling us a story about how he was a young boy climbing these cliffs saving sheep. Note the road 1,500+ feet below. Very thrilling!//At a ancient ruin Con gave all of us books to remember Ireland by. We had two ministers in our group, Roy & Nancy, who read from the books they received at the ruin.

Scenic view of a green valley with hills on both sides, leading to a distant body of water and mountains under a cloudy sky. A true Céad Míle Fáilte to nature's serene beauty. — Beautiful Ireland

-Photos and Text by 2-time WT adventurer Gunnar Scholer, Spirit of Ireland