Mountaineering Ireland’s Happy Hiking Hills Skills Programme returns in Summer 2026 for its fifth year. These Hill Skills Days are a great opportunity for anyone new to the hills or those who want to learn the basics of navigation to join a qualified instructor for a full day’s training and to gain useful information and skills that will help keep you safe on the hills.
This programme is subsidised by Mountaineering Ireland. The registration fee for each Hill Skills Day is €25. This programme is for adults only, and both members and non-members of Mountaineering Ireland are welcome.
This Hill Skills day will be based in Tipperary. Meet at Glengarra forest car park.
We will spend some time looking at the map and features and then head in to the mountains from Cruagh Wood Car Park where we will have a few options of routes looking at different features and navigational techniques.
Throughout the day you will learn about movement skills, basic navigation, map reading, equipment, and safety considerations.
What gear do I need?
- Hiking boots / walking shoes with woolly or synthetic socks (not cotton)
- Comfortable clothing, e.g. leggings / tracksuit bottoms, breathable T-Shirt and fleece & an extra warm layer (try to avoid cotton)
- Small backpack
- Waterproof jacket and pants
- Hat and gloves
- An extra warm layer or two in your backpack
- Water (minimum 1.5 litres), lunch and snacks
- Sunscreen, personal medicine (e.g. inhaler, EpiPen, etc.)
- OSI, Harvey or EastWest map of the area and a compass if you have one – maps and compasses may be supplied by the instructor.
- Mobile phone (fully charged)