Irish Ramblers Club Personal Challenge for 2025
Are you looking for a challenge for 2025? If so, then the new Irish Ramblers Club Challenge for 2025 might be of interest to you. This is a personal challenge for you to test your endurance, navigation and leadership skills. The challenge consists of 8 elements and you have until the end of 2025 to complete them all. Some of the challenges will be led (eg the night hikes), but others you will have to organise on your own. Now is the time to start planning and working out what you need to do to complete all the challenges. Everyone who completes all the challenges will receive a voucher for the Great Outdoors at the end of the challenge.
There are three versions of the challenge and you should select which version of the challenge you would like to do.
| Date | Details | Goal |
| June 7th | Mourne challenge walk. You can choose from three challenge walks depending on the grade you normally walk at. Details are below. This walk will be self-led. Mourne Challenge #1 G1, G2 The 7 7s Description: 31K, 2800m Mourne Challenge #2 G3+, G3 Slieve Donard, Slieve Beg, Cove Mountian, Slievelamagan Description: 21K, 1600m Mourne Challenge #3 G4 Slieve Donard Description: 12K, 890m | Test of endurance and stamina |
| July / August | Gap to Gap challenge or Lough Firrib challenge. These walks will be self-led and you can do it anytime that suits during July or August. Gap to Gap Challenge Description: 33K, 1664m Lough Firrib Challenge Description: 16.5K, 460m | This is a test of navigation and stamina |
| September 27th | Night hike #1 (of 4) Lugnaquilla from Fentons. Distance 13km, height gain 730m. Could take 4-5 hours to complete. This will be a led hike. | Test of navigation and how to manage yourself in nighttime conditions |
| October 11th | Night hike #2 Camaderry. Glendalough, Miners Way, Camaderry East Top, Camaderry, Glendalough. Distance 13km, height gain 610m. Could take 4-5 hours to complete. This will be a led hike. | Test of navigation and how to manage yourself in nighttime conditions |
| November 8th | Night hike #3 Derrybawn. Glendalough, Wicklow Way, Mullacor, Derrybawn, Glendalough. Distance 15k, Elevation Gain 620m. Could take up to 5 hours to complete. | Test of navigation and how to manage yourself in nighttime conditions |
| December 6th | Night hike #4 Brockaghs. Laragh, Miners Way, Brockagh, East Top, Laragh. Distance 14k, Elevation Gain 580m. Could take up to 4-5 hours to complete. | Test of navigation and how to manage yourself in nighttime conditions |
| At any time during 2025 | Lead a hike for the club. If you have not led before, then you have plenty of time to find a route you are comfortable leading. Experienced IRC leaders are available to assist you in doing a recce and in developing leadership skills | To encourage more people to lead |
| At any time during 2025 | Organise a weekend / or short holiday in Ireland. This can be on a small or large scale, depending on your experience. Help is available from experienced club members. |
To encourage more people to organize trips for the club |
Summary Table of the IRC Challenge 2025
| Task | Challenge #1 | Challenge #2 | Challenge #3 |
| Mourne Challenge 1 | ☒ | ||
| Mourne Challenge 2 | ☒ | ||
| Mourne Challenge 3 | ☒ | ||
| Gap to Gap Challenge | ☒ | You can choose between the gap to gap or Lough Firrib Challenge | |
| Lough Firrib Challenge | |||
| Night Hike #1 Sep 27th | ☒ | You must do three of the four night hikes | You must do two of the four night hikes |
| Night Hike #2 Oct 11th | ☒ | ||
| Night Hike #3 Nov 8th | ☒ | ||
| Night Hike #4 Dec 6th | ☒ | ||
| Lead a hike for the club | ☒ | ☒ | ☒ |
| Organise an event for the club | ☒ | ☒ | ☒ |
A Challenge Log Book is available to download from the website. Even if you do not wish to complete the full challenge, all club members can take part in as many of the above challenges as they have time available. Please contact myself at ramblerpresident@gmail.com or Niall Ennis at info@hiking.ie with any queries.
Notes:
- All of the night hikes must be completed on the above dates.
- While the club will be organising accommodation in Newcastle for the nights of June 6th and 7th, you can complete this hike during June if you cannot make the official date.
- The Gap to Gap and the Lough Firrib Challenges must be completed at any time during July or August.
- The event that you organize must include a graded hike / walk
- Evidence of completion of all of the components of the challenge should be provided in the log book.
