IF YOU are female and would like to get into the challenge of mountaineering, look no further than the Women With Altitude (WWA) event taking place in Donegal this month.
The climbling group started in 2011 as a mountaineering Ireland initiative along with several partners.
Rozanne Bell of Mountaineering Ireland said: "We noticed that although females make up just over 50 per cent of our total membership, there was a comparatively small number of them going through training schemes, generally improving their skills and talking on walk leader roles in our clubs."
The annual WWA event takes place at the Gartan Outdoor Education Centre, Letterkenny, from May 13 to 15 and is open to Mountaineering Ireland members and non-members.
"We aim to create a fun and relaxed atmosphere where women can try new skills, improve existing skills and generally grow in confidence," Rozanne said.
"We also use the event to introduce participants to inspiring female role models from Irish mountaineering and beyond."
Adult registration costs €85. If you are under 25, registration is €50 (some instructed activities carry an additional nominal cost of no more than €30 each).
See womenwithaltitude.ie or contact Mountaineering Ireland on 00353 1625 1115 for details and booking.
BLUEBELL WOODS AWAKEN
BLUEBELLS are emerging in woodland all over the north so get out and enjoy these in the next few weeks as they'll soon be gone.
For a lovely day out, head to Castlerock, Co Derry and the Black Glen where you'll see a lovely display rising up the slopes all around you. It's near Downhill and Mussenden Temple, mausoleum and castle. You get the bluebells, ruins and a walk along one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. For more information on the walk go to www.walkni.com/walks/150/mussenden-estate-walk/.
Other places to view bluebells are Minnowburn, Lagan Valley Regional Park, Carnmoney Hill, Newtownabbey, Colin Glen, west Belfast, Hazelwood on Cave Hill, Belfast (park at zoo).
When you're out bluebell hunting, do look out for lovely white wood anenome and wood sorrell, and yellow lesser cellandine – all native woodland flowers.
