My passion is the mountains, but my second love is books.
Before I had the means, knowledge, or even the want to explore the hills, I was escaping into the worlds found between two pages. Books have been with me all my life, and have taken me from lofty peaks on a dragons back, the whole way through a winding research masters exploring how long distance walking affects our understanding of connection and sense of place.
I think some of this love has seeped into Tough Soles in small ways - there are always books mentioned in my Gift Guides, and on my monthly round ups on instagram I have a book of the month. But I have so much more to share on books on the outdoors - be it the inspiration found in novels of personal outdoor experiences; the enabling power of guides and books on the practical skills of outdoor exploration; or the educational layers in books on how something as seemingly innocuous as walking has informed our cultures and modern infrastructure.
So this is episode one of that series, and we’re starting easy with some guidebooks for Ireland and practical books that I’ve used a lot in recent years.
Irish Guides & Practical Books
These books have helped me learn more about the natural world around me, and how to explore it better
Guidebooks
1. Wanderlust: British And Irish Isles by Gestalten
If you are looking for something truly beautiful, this is the book for you. This is a beautifully curated book of trails across Ireland and the UK, and features several of the classic Irish long distance hikes. It fits perfectly into the coffee table book genre, being large format and printed only in hardback (a paperback couldn’t support the weight of it all).
Alex Roddie is the writer hired by Gestalten for this project, and from my experience he’s a great authority and researcher on trails.
Find this book in Irish bookshops:
Kennys | Easons | Dubray
Gestalten’s own online store
2. Irish Peaks by Mountaineering Ireland
If Wanderlust was a book of beauty, then this is the brains. A 256-page hardcover guidebook featuring 71 hillwalking routes across the island of Ireland, this book is the most comprehensive guide you will find for the Irish hills. Based on the MountainViews list of Ireland’s Highest Hundred Mountains, the routes recommended are ones that have been tried and tested by walking clubs all over Ireland.
This book is currently in its second edition, and I know that it is almost sold out, so if it’s something you’ve been interested in, I’d recommend getting it sooner rather than later.
Find this book in Irish bookshops:
Charlie Byne | Great Outdoors
From the Irish Peaks website
3. The Hike Life: My Favourite 50 Hikes in Ireland by Rozanna Purcell
& 4. The Hike Life: 50 More to Explore by Rozanna Purcell
These two books might be the most interesting guidebooks I’ve seen post-covid. If you’re not Irish, you won’t necessarily know this - but covid was the catalyst for a really big shift in the Irish population’s engagement with the outdoors. Going hiking shifted from something of a niche activity, to something that everyone was trying. And with that came a slew of guidebooks and online lists.
As I read more and more of these “1000 hidden gems” books, it sometimes felt like the creators were including as much information as possible, in hope that quantity would be the main selling point. However, in The Hike Life books, the list of trails is very well curated, and the balance of imagery to info is very readable. As someone who is known for knowing every trail around the country, it was cool for me to find quite a few that I’d never heard of, that still looked like quality walking.
Find book one in Irish bookshops:
Kennys | Easons | Dubray
Find book two in Irish bookshops:
Kennys | Easons | Dubray
5. Ireland's county high points by Kieron Gribbon
What really makes this book stand out is that it’s the only one! The County High Points of Ireland is a really popular hiking list to take on, which means that if you’re looking for something in print, this book is what you’ll find.
I like that it’s small, light and easy to carry. The paper is somewhat glossy, meaning it’s less susceptible to the elements than just standard paper. It often focused on the quickest route, which for many people might be what they want (as well as these are often access roads, which means that access issues are less likely to occur). I think there’s room for another book that expands a bit on the history and potential other routes.
Find this book in Irish bookshops:
Kennys | Gill Books
Information books
1. The Wildflowers of Ireland: A Field Guide by Zoe Devlin
This has to be one of my favourite little guidebooks. As someone who knows some plants, but was otherwise completely lost, this has been a game changer. It’s really easy to use - all the pages are organised by flower colour, and then petal shape. It’s great for any level of outdoor connection: whether you’re like me, and need to broaden your flora knowledge as you train to become an outdoor leader; or this might be perfect for your granny who just wants to know more about what she sees wild in the field beside her house. I’ve given this book as a gift to many people, and will continue to.
Find this book in Irish bookshops:
Kennys | Easons | Dubray
2. Rock Climbing by Libby Peter
Carl and I recently did some outdoor climbing training, and bought this book off the back of a recommendation from a climbing friend. It is really comprehensive with easy to read language, and as we’ve learnt new skills we’ve been adding tabs to the relevant pages. This book covers everything from gym climbing, techniques, abseiling, trad climbing, and all of the rope work associated with it all.
Find this book in Irish bookshops:
Easons | Dubray
3. Loughcrew: The Cairns by Jean McMann
Back in March I went to Loughcrew for the Equinox, as the tomb there lines up with the sunrise each year. Down in the Megalithic Centre they have a host of books on the area and ancient Ireland, and that is where I picked up this little book. I love the feeling it gives of an old academic journal - the page margins and diagrams are all aligned as such. Something that I appreciate is that it’s short. While I wanted to learn more about the history of the area, I know myself well enough that I’m not going to finish something long and technical. This was the perfect length for me.
I bought this book at the Loughcrew Megalithic Centre
4. The Mountain Leader by Mike Raine
If you’re getting into the Mountain Leader world, this is a really easy book to read - you’re not going to have a headache after half an hour of technical language. It covers many of the topics in a relaxed manor, helping you build up knowledge and ideas for a future of guiding.
Find this book in Irish bookshops:
River Deep Mountain High (IE) | Mike Raine (UK)
5. The Complete Walker IV by Colin Fletcher & Chip Rawlins
This book is on the list less as a specific recommendation, and more as a genre recommendation. Originally published in 1968 (with my edition printed in 2002), this book is an in-depth guide to backpacking. Throughout this tomb you’ll learn about kinds of tents, stoves, backpack frames, weight distribution - the list goes on. The reason I include it is that much of the basic information is still relevant to the outdoor world today. While much of the equipment has moved on to more waterproof, lighter, or durable technologies, the basics are the same, and it’s really interesting to learn about what came before. It gives me a deeper appreciation for the equipment I have today, and why equipment now looks the way it does.
Find this book out in the wilds of a second hand bookshop or gear swap