Pól's Travel Clinic: What are your top Camino tips, and the best routes with some R&R afterwards?
Q: What are your top tips for the Camino? What are the best routes to do, with some R&R for afterwards?
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Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Seven days of unforgettable hiking in the Donegal highlands
An avid Camino walker, Peggy Stringer found in 2020 that she was unable to undertake her usual Spanish hike due to coronavirus restrictions. Seeing a silver lining in the dark Covid cloud, the resourceful Carndonagh-born businesswoman decided that if she couldn't visit Iberia, she would instead bring Spain to her native county. As vice president of the Donegal Association in Dublin, Stringer wanted to ensure that the Association's charity contributions could continue despite the pandemic, which had forced the cancellation of most fund-raising activities. Noreen Darcy, Deirdre McGlone and Peggy Stringer on the Donegal Camino, 2023 With five friends, she trekked 160 kilometres in her native county while raising badly needed cash for Cancer Care West. To her surprise, they raised €5,460 and the idea for a major charity event in the Northwest was born. By adopting the evocative moniker 'Donegal Camino', Stringer acquired an appellation for the project that spoke of purposeful walking through the very best of the unspoiled Donegal outback. With this compelling title, the new event was destined to go from strength to strength. For the 2021 Donegal Camino, Stringer invited her friend, the Donegal Person of the Year 2015, Deirdre McGlone, to get involved. McGlone brought additional marketing nous to the project since she had, with her husband Marc Gysling, helped establish and later owned Harvey's Point, one of Ireland's finest hotels. Also, joining the team in 2021 was TV personality Noel Cunningham, a board member for Cancer Care West and the current Donegal Person of the Year. In its second year, the Donegal Camino attracted about 50 participants and raised €20,000 for cancer support. The event had now established itself not only as an important fundraiser but also as a showcase for the enchanting Donegal landscape. Donegal Camino — there are one-, three-, and seven-day walking options. Pictures: John G O'Dwyer Since then, it has been onwards and upwards with the Camino 2024 having 735 participants and raising a record €122,000. Now a highlight of the Irish walking calendar, it draws large numbers of participants to the Northwest each September and has raised a total of €280k for cancer support services with its unique selling point of seven days unforgettable hiking amid the Donegal highlands. Starting each year from Malin Head, the most northerly point in Ireland, the Camino weaves its way south to Europe's highest sea cliffs on Sliabh Liag with an itinerary designed to showcase the best of the Northwest including its offshore islands. One of its strengths is undoubtedly that it is not a linear walk and thus avoids the logistical problems this would entail. Instead, the Donegal Camino offers a series of stand-alone hikes that are changed from year to year to reveal different aspects of the Northwest. Those who have enjoyed the event previously are thus supplied with a reason to return and enjoy a different experience. Donegal Camino 2025 takes in some of the most breathtaking walking routes in Donegal from Inishowen Head to Europe's highest sea cliffs, Sliabh Liag. Pictures: John G O'Dwyer The Donegal Camino is designed around a simple premise. Participants find their own accommodation and use private transport to reach the trailhead for the hike. The organisers then request each person to donate €100 to Cancer Care West for each day walked, although this requirement isn't written in stone. Participants can then choose to join some or all of the walks on offer. The Donegal Camino 2025 will again raise funds for Cancer Care West Support Centre Donegal. The Donegal Camino 2025 programme of walks Donegal Camino. Pictures: Colm Canny Camino Sunday, August 31 Delightful 10 kilometre loop walk beginning and ending at Shrove Beach, Inishowen, while taking in magnificent Malin Head and offering views over Loughs Foyle and Swilly. Monday, September 1 Still on the Inishowen Peninsula, it is a relatively strenuous but rewarding walk from Leenankeel Beach across the remote Urris Hills to historic Fort Dunree, whose guns once protected the naval anchorage here. Tuesday, September 2 Starting from Strabane Bridge, this low-level trek combines roads with tracks. It leads through the fertile East Donegal farmlands to picturesque Oakfield Park, Raphoe. Wednesday September 3 Starting at 4.30am, a starlit hike presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view a magical sunrise from Errigal's summit. Alternative walk for inclement weather is the Bridle Path in Glenveagh National Park. Thursday, September 4 The tradition of visiting an island on the Donegal Camino continues today with a hike around Irish-speaking Arranmore Island. On offer is an easy 16 km circuit along the wild grandeur of the Arranmore Loop. Friday, September 5 Today, it is a 13 kilometre section of the 'Appalachian Trail' from Glenties to Ardara. The route follows a quiet road before diving left to join the meandering waters of the Owenea River. Later, it leaves the waterside for Ardara and a complimentary dram at Sliabh Liag Distillery. Saturday, September 6 Finale hike to Bun Glas, the viewing point for the magnificent Slieve Liag Cliffs. Alternative: an opportunity to view the same cliffs from an ocean cruise. Register here for the Donegal Camino
RTÉ News
03-06-2025
- RTÉ News
Ballintubber Abbey to build heritage and cultural centre
The 800-year-old Ballintubber Abbey in Co Mayo is aiming to become a centre of pilgrimage, with the addition of a heritage and cultural centre. Construction is due to begin next year on the new section which will compliment the existing church building and incorporate preserved ruins at the site. Speaking to RTÉ news Abbey Manager Suellen McKenna said the heritage centre will be a three-story extension. "The ground floor will be depicting the 800 years of the abbey. The second story will be dedicated to the Tóchar Phádraig and pilgrimage walks, and the third story will be a journey through mankind." Money for the renovation was sanctioned last year. Ballintubber Abbey Trust received €5.8 million from the Government's Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. Ballintubber Abbey is the starting point for pilgrims who walk the Tóchar Phádraig, or Patrick's Causeway. This is a 35km pilgrim route from Ballintubber to the top of Croagh Patrick. St Patrick is said to have fasted and prayed along the route as he spread the Christian message in Ireland in the fifth century. In the 1980s, the path was revitalised as a pilgrimage walk with the help of Ballintubber's Fr Frank Fahey. Fr Fahey still meets pilgrims and advises them to light a candle before they depart. He urges pilgrims to talk to fellow walkers about their lives and to offer up their sore feet as an act of penance. "Pilgrimage is always associated with penance. So, the penance is that during the day when walking the 22 miles, there is to be no complaining," he said. "For the things that you could complain about, you say thanks be to God." Ballintubber Abbey organises several walks a year on the Tóchar Phádraig. "You can see Croagh Patrick in the background. You come across every kind of terrain, and nature, and animal along the route." said Ms McKenna. Pilgrim path expert and guidebook author John G O'Dwyer said the Tóchar Phádraig goes back even further than St Patrick. "This would have been a pagan trail, and Croagh Patrick was a pagan mountain." He said the route to the mountain was once travelled by royalty in horse-drawn chariots, and some of the ancient stones from that road are visible in the ground. "It's older than the Spanish Camino," he said, adding that the trail is at least 2,000 years old. "The Camino is only a little bit over 1,000 years." Pilgrim paths are growing in popularity, according to Mr O'Dwyer. His latest guidebook details journeys that can be made on foot in a day or in stages over several days. "For example, you have St Finbarr's pilgrim path in Cork, Cnoc na DTobar, Cosán na Naomh on the Dingle Peninsula." Mr O'Dwyer also notes a rise in foreign visitors coming to Ireland specifically to walk a pilgrim path. Some, he said, walk for the challenge and scenery, others walk as an act of faith. So, what level of walking is involved for Patrick's Causeway? "It's not the same as training for a marathon," said Mr O'Dwyer. "But you do need to be reasonably fit. If you want to smell the flowers and hear the sheep, I'd suggest you walk to the abbey at Aughagower, then on the second day you do Croagh Patrick." Mr O'Dwyer said the benefits of walking in the footsteps of our ancestors and the saints are many.
The Advertiser
03-06-2025
- The Advertiser
Meet Carolyn, the oldest woman ever to reach Everest base camp
The self-described 'unadventurous' octogenarian decided she could reach Mt Everest base camp after looking at Youtube videos. Carolyn Robinson, 80, was intrigued when her rotary club in Berry, NSW, put out a call for anyone interested to go to Nepal and trek to base camp to raise money to eradicate polio. Motivated by the charity aspect of the climb, Carolyn turned to online videos. "I thought 'I can do that'. So that's what I did," she said. The club had 13 members volunteer for the April trip, with the youngest at 42 and the average age 67. "It was very, very tough because it was all uphill, and it was very rocky," she said. "We had to cross glaciers, which was a little bit nerve-wracking. But I just thought, if somebody else has done it, well, I can do it too." And it was that attitude that ensured the grandmother-of-four made it to base camp after 11 days, when four others in her Rotarian group didn't, due to altitude sickness. Ironically, Carolyn admits her age was her advantage. "Because I was so slow, I think that's what helped me acclimatise to the altitude," she said. Carolyn admits she didn't do as much training 'as I should have', but also believes that helped her because she didn't try and 'bound ahead' The successful trekker's main piece of advice to people of any age wanting to go to base camp is to not rush the climb. "Take it very slowly. You'll get there in the end," she said. Group organiser and guide Ken Hutt said he researched The Himalayan Database before the trip and discovered if Carolyn was successful, she would be the oldest woman in the world to have reached base camp. "No one came close to walking into Everest base camp at 80 years of age. She was hands down going to get the record if she made it," he said. Ken said when Carolyn arrived at base camp, it was "fantastic". "Jubilation everywhere. It was like it was party atmosphere," he said. But for Carolyn, the moment was more matter-of-fact. "I wasn't shouting out. I just thought, I've done it. I got here," she said. Ken said everyone in the group was inspirational and ended up raising over $50,000. But it was Carolyn who kept everyone focused on their goal. "The trip wasn't really designed for senior citizens, but they just excelled," he said. "Carolyn certainly inspired them to keep going and do those high-altitude paths. "They thought 'if she can do it and she's 80, we can do it.'" Carolyn believes anyone can have a go at getting out of their comfort zone. "I'm not an adrenaline junkie and I'm not an adventure seeker. I've never done anything like this before, ever," she said But after her record-breaking climb, Carolyn is up for some new adventures. "Kilimanjaro and the Camino. I've always wanted to do the Camino," she said. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. The self-described 'unadventurous' octogenarian decided she could reach Mt Everest base camp after looking at Youtube videos. Carolyn Robinson, 80, was intrigued when her rotary club in Berry, NSW, put out a call for anyone interested to go to Nepal and trek to base camp to raise money to eradicate polio. Motivated by the charity aspect of the climb, Carolyn turned to online videos. "I thought 'I can do that'. So that's what I did," she said. The club had 13 members volunteer for the April trip, with the youngest at 42 and the average age 67. "It was very, very tough because it was all uphill, and it was very rocky," she said. "We had to cross glaciers, which was a little bit nerve-wracking. But I just thought, if somebody else has done it, well, I can do it too." And it was that attitude that ensured the grandmother-of-four made it to base camp after 11 days, when four others in her Rotarian group didn't, due to altitude sickness. Ironically, Carolyn admits her age was her advantage. "Because I was so slow, I think that's what helped me acclimatise to the altitude," she said. Carolyn admits she didn't do as much training 'as I should have', but also believes that helped her because she didn't try and 'bound ahead' The successful trekker's main piece of advice to people of any age wanting to go to base camp is to not rush the climb. "Take it very slowly. You'll get there in the end," she said. Group organiser and guide Ken Hutt said he researched The Himalayan Database before the trip and discovered if Carolyn was successful, she would be the oldest woman in the world to have reached base camp. "No one came close to walking into Everest base camp at 80 years of age. She was hands down going to get the record if she made it," he said. Ken said when Carolyn arrived at base camp, it was "fantastic". "Jubilation everywhere. It was like it was party atmosphere," he said. But for Carolyn, the moment was more matter-of-fact. "I wasn't shouting out. I just thought, I've done it. I got here," she said. Ken said everyone in the group was inspirational and ended up raising over $50,000. But it was Carolyn who kept everyone focused on their goal. "The trip wasn't really designed for senior citizens, but they just excelled," he said. "Carolyn certainly inspired them to keep going and do those high-altitude paths. "They thought 'if she can do it and she's 80, we can do it.'" Carolyn believes anyone can have a go at getting out of their comfort zone. "I'm not an adrenaline junkie and I'm not an adventure seeker. I've never done anything like this before, ever," she said But after her record-breaking climb, Carolyn is up for some new adventures. "Kilimanjaro and the Camino. I've always wanted to do the Camino," she said. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. The self-described 'unadventurous' octogenarian decided she could reach Mt Everest base camp after looking at Youtube videos. Carolyn Robinson, 80, was intrigued when her rotary club in Berry, NSW, put out a call for anyone interested to go to Nepal and trek to base camp to raise money to eradicate polio. Motivated by the charity aspect of the climb, Carolyn turned to online videos. "I thought 'I can do that'. So that's what I did," she said. The club had 13 members volunteer for the April trip, with the youngest at 42 and the average age 67. "It was very, very tough because it was all uphill, and it was very rocky," she said. "We had to cross glaciers, which was a little bit nerve-wracking. But I just thought, if somebody else has done it, well, I can do it too." And it was that attitude that ensured the grandmother-of-four made it to base camp after 11 days, when four others in her Rotarian group didn't, due to altitude sickness. Ironically, Carolyn admits her age was her advantage. "Because I was so slow, I think that's what helped me acclimatise to the altitude," she said. Carolyn admits she didn't do as much training 'as I should have', but also believes that helped her because she didn't try and 'bound ahead' The successful trekker's main piece of advice to people of any age wanting to go to base camp is to not rush the climb. "Take it very slowly. You'll get there in the end," she said. Group organiser and guide Ken Hutt said he researched The Himalayan Database before the trip and discovered if Carolyn was successful, she would be the oldest woman in the world to have reached base camp. "No one came close to walking into Everest base camp at 80 years of age. She was hands down going to get the record if she made it," he said. Ken said when Carolyn arrived at base camp, it was "fantastic". "Jubilation everywhere. It was like it was party atmosphere," he said. But for Carolyn, the moment was more matter-of-fact. "I wasn't shouting out. I just thought, I've done it. I got here," she said. Ken said everyone in the group was inspirational and ended up raising over $50,000. But it was Carolyn who kept everyone focused on their goal. "The trip wasn't really designed for senior citizens, but they just excelled," he said. "Carolyn certainly inspired them to keep going and do those high-altitude paths. "They thought 'if she can do it and she's 80, we can do it.'" Carolyn believes anyone can have a go at getting out of their comfort zone. "I'm not an adrenaline junkie and I'm not an adventure seeker. I've never done anything like this before, ever," she said But after her record-breaking climb, Carolyn is up for some new adventures. "Kilimanjaro and the Camino. I've always wanted to do the Camino," she said. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. The self-described 'unadventurous' octogenarian decided she could reach Mt Everest base camp after looking at Youtube videos. Carolyn Robinson, 80, was intrigued when her rotary club in Berry, NSW, put out a call for anyone interested to go to Nepal and trek to base camp to raise money to eradicate polio. Motivated by the charity aspect of the climb, Carolyn turned to online videos. "I thought 'I can do that'. So that's what I did," she said. The club had 13 members volunteer for the April trip, with the youngest at 42 and the average age 67. "It was very, very tough because it was all uphill, and it was very rocky," she said. "We had to cross glaciers, which was a little bit nerve-wracking. But I just thought, if somebody else has done it, well, I can do it too." And it was that attitude that ensured the grandmother-of-four made it to base camp after 11 days, when four others in her Rotarian group didn't, due to altitude sickness. Ironically, Carolyn admits her age was her advantage. "Because I was so slow, I think that's what helped me acclimatise to the altitude," she said. Carolyn admits she didn't do as much training 'as I should have', but also believes that helped her because she didn't try and 'bound ahead' The successful trekker's main piece of advice to people of any age wanting to go to base camp is to not rush the climb. "Take it very slowly. You'll get there in the end," she said. Group organiser and guide Ken Hutt said he researched The Himalayan Database before the trip and discovered if Carolyn was successful, she would be the oldest woman in the world to have reached base camp. "No one came close to walking into Everest base camp at 80 years of age. She was hands down going to get the record if she made it," he said. Ken said when Carolyn arrived at base camp, it was "fantastic". "Jubilation everywhere. It was like it was party atmosphere," he said. But for Carolyn, the moment was more matter-of-fact. "I wasn't shouting out. I just thought, I've done it. I got here," she said. Ken said everyone in the group was inspirational and ended up raising over $50,000. But it was Carolyn who kept everyone focused on their goal. "The trip wasn't really designed for senior citizens, but they just excelled," he said. "Carolyn certainly inspired them to keep going and do those high-altitude paths. "They thought 'if she can do it and she's 80, we can do it.'" Carolyn believes anyone can have a go at getting out of their comfort zone. "I'm not an adrenaline junkie and I'm not an adventure seeker. I've never done anything like this before, ever," she said But after her record-breaking climb, Carolyn is up for some new adventures. "Kilimanjaro and the Camino. I've always wanted to do the Camino," she said. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
