The 700s Challenges are a unique set of 18 standalone Irish hillwalking challenges created by The Ireland Walking Guide. These personal outdoor adventure challenges can be undertaken at any time by experienced, well-equipped hillwalkers and mountaineers. The objective of each challenge is to visit every 700m+ summit in a specific mountain range in Ireland.
The Challenges
We have created a 700s challenge for every upland area in Ireland containing a minimum of two mountain summits which have an elevation of at least 700m. Each challenge has been carefully designed to work as a single-day expedition for experienced hillwalkers and mountaineers. For this reason, the Wicklow Mountains range has been split into two separate challenges. Find out more about each challenge by clicking on its marker in the map below or via the alphabetical list further down this page. If a hillwalker completes any of our 700s challenges in a single day during a Sport Hillwalking season and logs all of its summits using the Peakhunter app, they can add points to their score in the Irish Challenge Hillwalker of the Year competition. A certificate can also be claimed for single-day completions.
Always bring a map and compass
A hardcopy map and compass are the preferred navigational tools used by all competent self-navigators in the mountains and hills. Relying exclusively on a GPS device or phone for navigation is strongly discouraged. The person who follows a dot, crosshairs or a GPX route on a tiny screen is not navigating. They are effectively being led by their device. This involves no skill whatsoever and will only increase that person's reliance on technology. We recommend using hardcopy maps and traditional magnetic compass because:
- their use requires and reinforces an elementary outdoor skill.
- the user is the navigator (this is not the case when using a GPS device, especially one with the day's route loaded in).
- they do not require a power source, therefore have less impact on the environment.
- hillwalking and mountaineering should be about having a digital detox in nature, not squinting at yet another screen.
- satellites, phones, GPS devices and their associated networks and systems are vulnerable to potential outages caused by external factors (e.g. hacking, ransomware, terrorism, solar fluctuations, space junk, etc).
In short, you should always have the relevant hardcopy map and a traditional magnetic compass in your pack when venturing off the beaten track. The convenience of a GPS is not a valid reason to go into the uplands or other wild areas without these two basic essentials.
We have listed all relevant maps on each 700s challenge's page. Alternatively, you can browse all maps on our dedicated maps page.
