Meghann Mix: Hiking holiday here I come

I’VE been hiking for a few years around Ireland but this is the first time I am venturing on a hiking holiday abroad this week. Mallorca is my destination. It’s the largest of the Balearic Islands. I have been before and I love the islands. There’s so much to do between hiking, swimming, water sports, a great range of hotels and hostels, depending on your budget, amazing food and a relaxed vibe. It’s a great place to chill out or keep active.

Flights: You can fly directly from Shannon, Cork, Dublin and Knock.

Hikes: Mallorca is becoming a very popular destination for outdoor pursuits and a place that is being favoured by hikers. Sóller, Valldemossa and Deiá are three hikes that I have researched. Set in the rugged Spanish terrain, each one offers spectacular views of the coastline, beaches to go for a dip on descent and warm sun on your bones.

Car Hire: Mallorca is a small island. Less than one million people inhabit it and it’s smaller than Mayo for reference. There’s plenty of car hire companies available from the airport as well as campers, should you want to go down that route.

Accommodation: I’ll be basing myself in the mountain region for a few nights so I can hike the various peaks. Soller will be our base and we can drive to each hike and back again. Our hotel is beach side with a pool. For the end of the trip, we will be back in the capital, Palma, to relax and sunbathe.

What I am packing: Hiking boots, hiking socks or GAA socks suffice, shorts, gym tops, fleece top in case the peak is cooler but also for the evenings as it can get chilly after sunset. Cotton and linen clothes for the downtime as Spain is currently experiencing a heatwave and the islands are already at the high 20’s. The crocs are also coming with me as I never go away without them.

In next week's column, I'll have a run down of what else we did on the trip.

Habana: ‘I'm absolutely loving being in Limerick’

THE International Rugby Experience opened its doors last week and held an official grand opening which saw some of the biggest and most renowned names in rugby descend on Limerick city.

Keith Wood, Jonathan Sexton, Bryan Habana, Paul O’Connell, Matt Dawson, Jeremy Guscott, Rory Best, Peter Stringer, Ciara Griffin, Joy Neville, Sean Fitzpatrick, Francois Pienaar, Danielle Waterman and Martin Johnson were all in attendance and toured the state-of-the-art experience.

During the event I chatted to former South African player, Bryan Habana, who enjoyed his time in the newly opened International Rugby Experience where he brought his children along to try out the interactive area.

“I'm absolutely loving being in Limerick, being at the International Rugby Experience. A place that in my opinion, will probably become an institution, not only in O’Connell Street, but for the whole of Limerick, the restoration that is planned through JP McManus and the charity trust that they have formed."

“A brilliant environment of being able to see the fabric, which knits the rugby family together, brings back a lot of memories, the bonds, the camaraderie, the moments of joy, of sadness, but really gives those that potentially love the game but also those that potentially have no idea about the game, how special it truly is. I have to say it is so special”.

WATCH: World Cup winner full of praise for newly-opened International Rugby Experience

“I think the uniqueness that the International Rugby Experience has created in terms of bringing together the five values that is the foundation on which rugby has played, but bringing in elements of diversity, inclusion, theory and practicality,” he added.

The International Rugby Experience is now open to the public.

Rogha na Seachtaine

Event: Sunset Hike of Galtee Mór with Britton Outdoors. This is a guided hike beginning at the Galtyway climb car park on Friday May 12 beginning at 7pm and will take approximately four hours. For more, click here.

Fitness: Pound with Gra is a cardio-jam session, sweat-dripping, drum playing class.
It’s a mix of cardio, strength training and plyometrics. It takes place in Mungret every Thursday at 7pm. You can follow the class on Instagram.

Listen: Walk EP with MuRli, Denise Chaila and God Knows. It’s a collaboration that stemmed from their performance at Electric Picnic last summer. 

Contact Mehghann by email - meghannmix@limerickleader.ie