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Gift ideas for walkers and hikers

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Gift ideas for walkers


 
​Not sure what gift to choose for the recreational walker in your life? Let us offer some helpful suggestions.
 

Guide books


Flicking through the pages of a good walking guide book is probably the most satisfying way to find inspiration for future walks. Whether it's a regional or all-Ireland guide book, the routes described within will have been carefully selected, researched, walked, written up, photographed and illustrated by leading experts. Before buying, ask the person what their upcoming walking ambitions are. Then browse their bookshelf if you get a chance to see what guide books they already have. You can find a list of all the most recommended Irish walking guide books here. While you're at it, you might as well get them a local map too (see below).
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Maps


A map can be one of the most vital pieces of equipment you carry on a walk. Thankfully, there is a good selection of Irish walking maps to choose from. High-quality maps published by a variety of trusted public and private map makers cover the whole of Ireland in great detail. For walkers we recommend a range of medium-scale paper map products printed at 1:25,000, 1:30,000 and 1:50,000. For your convenience, we have marked the areas covered by these recommended maps all together in a handy interactive overview map (click here to view). Before buying, ask the person what their upcoming walking ambitions are. Then browse their map collection if you get a chance to see if they already have maps for that area. While you're at it, you might as well get them a local guide book too (see above).
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Clothing & equipment


Clothing and equipment for recreational walking can be quite technical and the person you are buying for could be very fussy about their gear. It can, therefore, be very easy to make a wrong choice when choosing clothing and equipment as gifts. Avoid extravagance unless you've been given some very clear and specific hints. Otherwise, keep things simple. A quality pair of walking socks is always a safe bet.

We have compiled links to the online stores of all the very best outdoor brands to help you purchase the right clothing and equipment for your walking adventures in Ireland. From footwear to headwear, and everything in between, as well as all the other bits and pieces you're likely to need in your backpack, you'll find it all via the handy links we've created. You are just a few clicks away from your next kit purchase.
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Experiences


If you are choosing a gift for a walker whose expertise has some room for improvement, you may wish to consider booking a guided walks package or a skills training course. Chat to them beforehand to find out if there is a specific area they would like to visit and what outdoor skills they currently have. We list walking guide and skills training services on our Community pages.
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Accommodation


Recreational walkers love to explore new places. Treat yours to a walking break in that part of Ireland they've always been talking about. If they haven't mentioned anywhere in particular, ask them what their upcoming walking ambitions are, and if there's a specific place they would like to walk. Get the ball rolling by booking some accommodation in the area. Some accommodation providers offer vouchers so you don't have to commit to a specific date. Give them something special to look forward to.
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Our free calendar


As a special gift from us to the Irish walking community, we have created our own Monthly Themes walking calendar. Each month has a different walk-related theme for the whole community to get involved in. This free-to-download calendar features our own specially-designed graphics and is available in three layouts. ​The grid and 1-column layouts are perfect for individual users to mark upcoming events, while the 5-column layout is an excellent group organiser for home or office where each person gets their own column. Alternatively, the 5-column layout is a great solution for busy individuals who may need to assign columns to different parts of their day (e.g. morning, afternoon, evening, etc). Please consider donating to a charity of your choice any money saved from choosing our calendar.
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Please note that we are currently developing new formats for our free downloadable 2023 calendars. Unfortunately, due to time constraints and our own self-imposed high quality standards, these will not be available before Christmas.
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The Ireland Walking Guide - Gift ideas for walkers

Shortcuts & bookmarks

If you find yourself returning to any particular page on this website, we recommend creating a shortcut on your device and a bookmark in your internet browser. These will give you much quicker access to the Irish walk-related information you need. For full details, including step-by-step instructions, please visit our "Shortcuts & bookmarks" page.
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Walking initiatives

We have developed the widest possible selection of meaningful initiatives to promote recreational walking in Ireland. These are delivered across The Ireland Walking Guide and High Point Ireland websites and range from monthly walking themes right through to the official All-Ireland Hillwalking Championships. We aim to deliver a consistent programme of initiatives every year on a recurring basis rather than a series of standalone one-off campaigns. Our "predictable" approach to participation initiatives means walkers always know what's coming up and have ample time to plan ahead. But why should you take part? Click here to find out...
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​The Ireland Walking Guide is the best and most user-friendly Irish walking and hiking information website. If you are planning a day walk, a weekend of walking, a holiday or vacation in Ireland, make us the first stop for all your on-foot Irish adventures. 

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Disclaimer

Please be aware that recreational walking in the great outdoors can be a risk activity. The Ireland Walking Guide and Donard Media (the website's publisher) accept no responsibility for any injury, loss or inconvenience sustained by anyone using this website. Personal safety is entirely the participant's own responsibility.

The inclusion of walking routes, locations and geographical areas on this website is not an indication that access is permitted. It should not be assumed that access is permitted to any any specific piece of land in Ireland. Please note that upland areas and coastal areas indicated on this website are based purely on their geographical characteristics. It should not be assumed that access is permitted to any of the upland areas and coastal areas illustrated on this website. Where local access restrictions exist (e.g. those indicated by "Private Property" signs, "No Trespassing" signs, etc), we strongly advise that you comply with the relevant landowner's wishes. The Ireland Walking Guide and Donard Media recommend that anyone planning to go walking in Ireland should check for potential access restrictions and to request permission from the relevant landowner(s) in advance.

Copyright © Donard Media 2012 – 2023
  • Where to walk
  • Initiatives
  • Community
  • Walking Kit
  • Extra
    • About >
      • Contact us
      • Follow us
      • Terms & conditions >
        • Terms & conditions for advertisers
    • Our news
    • General Information >
      • Clothing & equipment
      • Knowledge & skills
      • Countryside etiquette
      • Walking holidays in Ireland
      • Gift ideas for walkers
    • Shortcuts & bookmarks
    • Reasons to take part in our initiatives
    • Downloads >
      • Wall calendars
    • Our other websites >
      • The Ireland Travel Guide
      • The Ireland Sightseeing Guide
      • High Point Ireland