Go Outdoors: An Óige Hillwalkers Club is hiking 18km through Co Wicklow, from Ballinastoe to Oldbridge, on Sunday, February 7th.
It’s one of its monthly introductory walks, which allow non-members to try things out before they join the club. Meet at Burgh Quay in Dublin at 10am, for a private bus to and from the walk.
(It also stops just before Loughlinstown roundabout, in south Dublin.) The cost is €12. Hillwalkersclub.com or 086-3563843.
Annacurra runThe Irish Mountain Running Association's next meet is in Annacurra, near Aughrim in Co Wicklow, next Saturday. Regarded as a not-too-demanding introduction if you're entering the world of hill running, the grade-six route covers 10.5km. Non-members have to pay a one-off annual membership fee of €10, for insurance reasons, and a €7 fee per race. For directions to the event, a map of the route and an astonishing amount of related information visit imra.ie/events, or call Mick Hanney on 086-8539554.
Snowdrop weekSpring is in the air, and Altamont Garden will celebrate its annual snowdrop week from February 8th to 14th. Covering more than 15 hectares of Co Carlow, this jewel of Ireland's gardening world combines a blend of formal and informal gardens with riverside walks. Admission varies from €1.25 for a child to €7 for a family. Booking recommended for groups. Call 059-9159444 or visit heritageireland.ie/en/South-East/Altamont Gardens