Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie, outdoor enthusiast, or simply want to bone up on your survival skills, these are five unusual outdoor experiences in Ireland to check out.
Ireland is a land famous for its Celtic soul, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality. Iconised for its rolling hills and green, generous pastures, the great outdoors play a significant role in life on the Emerald Isle.
While there are the ‘tried and tested’ outdoor activities that everyone knows too well (karting, sky diving, kayaking, zip-lining, and so on), these are five unusual outdoor experiences in Ireland that you need to add to your bucket list.
5. Bog snorkel in Monaghan – an alternative way to explore the world below
When it comes to unusual things to do in your life in Ireland, this one is as Irish as they come. As the name implies, this alternative experience consists of donning a mask and snorkel and driving to muddy depths.
It may not be a very common sport. Still, the Irish Bog Snorkelling Championship is certainly one of the most unique events to take place each year.
Hosted in Alice’s Loft & Cottages in Doohamlet, County Monaghan, this is a sight to be seen and get involved with – if you don’t mind getting a bit muddy.
Address: Devlin, Doohamlat, Co. Monaghan, Ireland
4. Stay at a working farm – for those who want to embrace the simple life
If the idea of a slower pace of life piques your fancy, staying at a working farm may be just the unusual outdoor experience in Ireland for you.
Learn the tricks of farm life first-hand while trading your assistance for room and board. This is a great way to experience farm life on the Emerald Isle while making friends with the locals.
Organisations like WWOOF (WorldWide Opportunities on Organic Farms) pair hosts with those willing to lend a hand.
Before agreeing to a farm stay opportunity, ensure that you can commit to the hours and tasks required. Oh, and you’ll need a good pair of wellies, too!
3. Western Bushcraft Skills – for survivalists
If the sound of learning how to survive, against the odds, in the great outdoors tickles your fancy, then this is the activity for you. Hosted in Corrandulla, County Galway, this is one of the most memorable and unusual outdoor experiences in Ireland.
During your visit, expect to learn everything from fire starting and wilderness cooking to building shelters, rope making, cutting tools, animal tracking, and archery.
Address: Cregg Castle, Corrandulla, Co. Galway, Ireland
2. Tough Mudder – for the love of the great outdoors
Tough Mudder has become a popular feat in the Irish outdoor activities calendar. Taking place each year, Tough Mudder consists of a range of obstacle courses for various levels of athletes, from newbies to professionals.
The concept behind the team endurance event first originated in Brooklyn, New York, and has now spread worldwide. Today, it is one of the most exciting and unusual outdoor experiences in Ireland.
1. Irish National Heritage Park – live like a Viking
Located on Wexford Town’s outskirts is the Irish National Heritage Park – home to one of the most unusual outdoor experiences in Ireland. Here you can find a fully immersive experience, where visitors can step back in time (to 2000 BC, to be specific) and learn to live like a Viking!
Unique and unforgettable, the Irish National Heritage Park offers guided and self-guided tours, and three themed periods: Pre-Historic Ireland, Early Christian Ireland, and the Age of Invasion. Woven together, you have 9,000 years of dynamic history.
With forts, monasteries, castles, and crannógs to discover, this is certain to be an experience to remember.
Address: Ferrycarrig, Co. Wexford, Ireland
