Nature, landscape & environment hikes, fossil walks, nature connection, and more

Nature & geology walks and hikes

Discover Ireland's nature and lansdcape on a walk or a hike. While outside admiring the views, we will learn about landscape, geological history, biodiversity and conservation, flora and fauna along the way.

From forest trails full of birdsong, to scenic glacial valleys, no walk or hike is the same.

The pace of these walks is generally relaxed to ensure we notice nature and be mindful of our surroundings along the way.

Bespoke walks and locations can be arranged. Led by a qualified Mountain Leader and geologist, hikes and walks can be tailored to suit your group's ability and interests.

Stuck for ideas? Here are some beautiful hiking areas in Co. Wicklow which we can guide you through: Derrybawn and Glendalough; Vale of Clara; Scarr and Kanturk, with views of Glenmacnass Waterfall; contact us for more hidden gems in the Wicklow Mountains National Park.

‘Geology and environment’ for hike leaders, clubs, scouts, mountain leader trainees, and mountain training providers

On this course led by a geologist, you will learn about what shaped the Irish landscape, from oceans, to volcanoes to glaciers, as well as fossils and elements of flora and fauna. Come away with knowledge that you can bring to your clients or group members or prepare for your leadership assessments, and change how you see the landscape.

Fossil walks, Dublin coastline and Dublin city

A walk through millions of years along Dublin's coastline or in the city centre's buildings! On our fossil walks, we look for the unique organisms hidden in Ireland's rocks. Ireland's Carboniferous rocks are home to ancient ammonoids, sea lilies, corals, molluscs, and bryozoans, among other fossils. Come away with a whole new world opened up. Suitable for children and adults.

University, school, scout, and corporate groups welcome, send us an email to enquire: info@naturetalesandtrails.ie

What people are saying

“Anthea is a wonderful leader, navigating the glorious Wicklow Mountains with consumate ease while sharing her extensive knowledge of the geology and ecology of the area. The pace of trek and of delivery was perfect. I cannot recommend this experience highly enough and have already begun arrangements to join Anthea again soon.” — Martina Clancy, Trustpilot

“I have hiked with Anthea on lots of occasions. Every single time she planned everything meticulously and organised everything, from trails to accommodation. All I needed to do was show up. Anthea possesses a wealth of knowledge about the natural world, always teaching and disseminating insights on plants, birds and of course, geology. The paces of her hikes are tailored to the needs and ability of the group she is guiding. Always proactive, her ability to replan in no time at all due to changes in weather adds to her already fantastic attributes as a guide. She even had extra waterproof pants for all of us! I cannot recommend Anthea highly enough. Book with her for an experience of a lifetime.” — Halleluya Ekandjo

“We had a wonderful hike today with Kamila and Anthea, on a less trodden path from Laragh to Glendalough. What a great way to spend a Sunday morning. A workout for your heart and soul.” — David D. August 2023

“An unforgettable adventure is waiting for you - book a nature walk or a geology walk with Anthea. She is an excellent guide!” — Maja Es

“[…] OMG what an amazing day. Thank you so much Kamila and Anthea. It was a mindful, forest/nature bathing hike. Just amazing and so beautiful. I loved every minute of it. I highly recommend this experience to everyone to do. Thank you again Kamila and Anthea. You will see me again. Ann x" — Ann F. October 2023”

“We joined Anthea and Koen on 10th Nov 2024 in Portmarnock for the Fossil Walk. It was an eye opener, hundreds of millions of years of history for us to discover. My 10yr old son loved it, mostly because once he built up the courage to ask questions Anthea and Koen were very engaging and generous with their time. I was amazed that after a couple of minutes of guidance the group could go and find fossils on our own. Once you found one, you then couldn't stop finding them! Highly recommend this for young and old.” — David Power, Facebook Review

“Joined Nature Trails for a fossil tour in Portmarnock. It was very interesting with 2 very knowledgeable people leading it, putting information into context replying all questions and suggesting material about the topic. Suitable for everyone that likes to know about fossils. Very interesting and highly recommend!" — Carmen Loureiro, Trustpilot

“I joined the Geology peer-to-peer session in the Wicklow Mountains organized by Nature Tales & Trails, which proved to be an enlightening experience, blending adventure and education in a unique way. Our knowledgeable guide, Anthea, led us on a hike, unraveling the geological formations and mysteries hidden within the landscape. The session was highly interactive, fostering plenty of discussion and theoretical exploration. Anthea broadened my understanding of stunning rock formations, and hiking through the land felt like a journey of discovery into the world of geology. I highly recommend this experience to anyone with a passion for geology or a thirst for outdoor exploration!” — Marzena Rosiak, Mountain Leader

Teacher feedback

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude for such an excellently run workshop with my 4th class, we thoroughly enjoyed it. I know it was hard to really see the true enthusiasm of the class but they have been spending their lunchtimes and evenings at home really getting involved and searching for fossils and I even had a parent comment on how much her children loved this. How the workshop was run, your patience, time and information and knowledge provided to each of the children was just fantastic and I can’t thank you enough.”

— Alanna, Nurney National School, Co. Kildare

Testimonials

  • “Anthea was a fantastic hike leader, enthusiastic and very knowledgeable on a diverse range of Irish wildlife and nature - I got to learn a lot from hiking with Anthea. As a novice hiker my mind was set at ease immediately with our trip tailored to suit the entire group's ability! A rewarding and enriching experience - for certain I can easily recommend Anthea to anyone looking for a refreshing and memorable experience!" - Jesse

  • “I have hiked with Anthea on lots of occasions. Every single time she planned everything meticulously and organised everything, from trails to accommodation. All I needed to do was show up. Anthea possesses a wealth of knowledge about the natural world, always teaching and disseminating insights on plants, birds and of course, geology. The paces of her hikes are tailored to the needs and ability of the group she is guiding. Always proactive, her ability to replan in no time at all due to changes in weather adds to her already fantastic attributes as a guide. She even had extra waterproof pants for all of us! I cannot recommend Anthea highly enough. Book with her for an experience of a lifetime.” -Halleluya Ekandjo

  • “An unforgettable adventure is waiting for you - book a nature walk or a geology walk with Anthea. She is an excellent guide!” -Maja Es

  • "Anthea was great at adapting the hike to suit our group and was very knowledgeable on the surrounding geology and beautiful scenery." - Julia Jackson

Get in touch about bespoke events.

Chat to us about a variety of experiences, such as mindful hikes combined with journaling, fossil walks and talks, Italian-language hikes and walks, and more.

Email us