Esk Mountain

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Esk Mountain 270 acre nature restoration project offering experiences, stays & products that give back to the land.

OCTOBER ON & OFF ESKSat writing this post by a crab apple tree aptly called 'Gorgeous' outside the Nook & the Nest think...
13/10/2026

OCTOBER ON & OFF ESK

Sat writing this post by a crab apple tree aptly called 'Gorgeous' outside the Nook & the Nest thinking we should have kept the space open another few weeks of stays for you to enjoy it & all the other incredible Autumnal colours & smells on the mountain.

With our tours & accommodation now finished up for the season, this month we're a venue/ speaking at a sprinkling of events on & off the mountain >

>> SAT 24th OCT 1-4pm > FIRECIDER WORKSHOP Make the ultimate Winter tonic to blow away the Winter blues & bring the benefits of a bit of 🔥 to your belly with Helen .moonandstars Will include wild botanicals gathered from Esk with our woodland kitchen as the venue complete with a roaring fire to keep you cosy. Info & tickets here https://www.tickettailor.com/events/ofthemoonandstars/2458328

> > SUN 25th OCT 2.30-4pm > FORESTS OF THE FUTURE. A gathering to talk & taste with tree themed drinks as part of a weekend long celebration marking 40 years of Future Forests Info & tickets here https://eskmountain.com/product-category/experiences/?re-product-id=345817&rwstep=product

> > WEDS 28th OCT - SUN 1st NOV > BUSHCRAFT SKILLS WEEK. Escape to Esk for a five day, four night deep dive into bushcrafting led by Nathan Outdoors Ireland Info & tickets here https://www.outdoorsireland.com/activities/bushcraft-skills/

đź“· Photos 1&2 Crab apple magic outside the Nook & the Nest
Photo 3 credit Helen
Photos 4 & 5 credit Future Forests
Photos 6 & 7 credit Nathan





ROWANWhat an incredible year for Rowan fruit! The Sorbus aucuparia trees across Esk are absolutely laden in deep red po...
08/10/2026

ROWAN

What an incredible year for Rowan fruit! The Sorbus aucuparia trees across Esk are absolutely laden in deep red pomes at the moment so made the most of a spell of blue skies yesterday to get out & fill a basket.

Today our final two tour groups of the season are getting a chance to taste these Vitamin C filled fruits served as a warming Rowan punch as well as a sticky Apple & Rowan crumble cake. The pomes must be cooked to render them safe to eat. Learn how with recipes for both our cordial & cake in our October newletter landing in inboxes this Saturday morning in time for some foraging & baking this weekend if the mood takes you.

If you're not already on our mailing list, subscribe via the link below

www.eskmountain.com/subscribe





DEXTERS ON ESKThe mountain is home to six Dexter cattle > three bullocks & three cows that we are using as proxies for ...
30/09/2026

DEXTERS ON ESK

The mountain is home to six Dexter cattle > three bullocks & three cows that we are using as proxies for now extinct bovines called Aurochs.

Dexters originated in the eighteenth century in County Kerry, apparently named after a man named Dexter, who managed the estates of Lord Hawarden on Valentia Island. Their small, stocky size makes them much lighter on the ground & well able for the incredibly rough terrain here in the West of Ireland. They out-Winter, eating a varied diet of vegetation through the seasons, self-medicating as they go. It's almost two years since the first Dexters arrived on Esk & apart from a bad dose of mites, the only visit from the vet has been for their annual TB test.

We use Nofence Ireland collars in place of wolves to ensure the cattle are constantly moving across the site, thus preventing poaching of the ground which can lead to soil erosion as well as cycling nutrients & organic matter. The collars also enable us to radically reduce grazing on specific tracts which show indicators for lost native woodland, in time allowing trees to return.

If you would like to come & learn more about Dexters as proxy ecosystem engineers, our final 'Explore Esk Trail Tour' of the season is coming up next Thursday 8th October > 2-4pm. With a bit of luck we'll catch a glimpse of the Dexters on the mountain! Tickets via the link below

https://eskmountain.com/product-category/experiences/?re-product-id=326091&rwstep=product

EVENINGS> In our woodland kitchen are magic. The fire crackling, smell of woodsmoke, stars starting to appear through t...
13/09/2026

EVENINGS

> In our woodland kitchen are magic. The fire crackling, smell of woodsmoke, stars starting to appear through the inner circle & handmade birch stem downlights.

We were thrilled to welcome guests Helen & Alistair for a private dinner tour last night as part of their wonderfully slow two week break.

If you'd like to join us for an evening. Our next & final public 'Taste of Esk' dinner tour this month will take place this Wednesday 16th September 4.30-8pm.

Info & tickets https://eskmountain.com/product-category/experiences/?re-product-id=311242&rwstep=product





SEPTEMBER ON ESKAfter an epic six weeks bashing ten acres of invasive Rhododendron ponticum we're looking forward to eas...
10/09/2026

SEPTEMBER ON ESK

After an epic six weeks bashing ten acres of invasive Rhododendron ponticum we're looking forward to easing into a slightly slower (& relatively Rhodo free!) few weeks ahead, here's the run through of what's coming to the mountain this month >

GUIDED WALK & FIRESIDE LUNCH WITH GORDON D'ARCY
> > Sat 12th > 10am-12noon/1.30pm
Join award-winning environmental author, artist & educator Gordon D'Arcy for an immersive guided walk across Esk Mountain exploring Irish woodlands through history while identifying a diversity of flora and fauna along the way. Tickets €15pp (walk) €35pp add-on lunch available here https://eskmountain.com/product-category/experiences/?rwstep=product&re-product-id=343465

'TASTE OF ESK' FIRESIDE DINNERS
> > Sat 12th & Weds 16th > 5.30-9pm. Our most immersive tour of the mountain including an overview of our nature restoration work on site with lots of foraging along the way & a three-course fireside dinner to top it off! Full tour info & tickets on the experiences page at eskmountain.com

THE NOOK & THE NEST
> > Next availability Sat 19th
Make the mountain home with a stay in our on-site accommodation made for two. Cosy up under organic wool duvets with blankets & merino curtains too. Enjoy your own private bathroom with hot showers anytime. Finish the days under the stars in the nest swing or around the firepit. Start your days with a breakfast hamper of our favourite treats. Access to all on-site trails also included. Latest availability & bookings here https://eskmountain.com/accommodation/

GUEST CHEF POP-UP > THE SALT PROJECT
> > Saturday 26th August > 11am-2.30pm / 4.30-8pm
The Salt Project, a roaming culinary studio founded by Caomhán de Brí - a chef with a background in botanical cuisine - comes to Esk Mountain on Saturday September 26th to deliver an immersive food experience that promises to connect people with place through fire, storytelling and exceptional local produce. Tickets €135pp available here https://eskmountain.com/product-category/experiences/?rwstep=product&re-product-id=340558

It's mushroom season on the mountain - here's a few found along the trails in recent days 🍄⛰️





AUGUSTA little reel capturing a few of the adventures we shared last month > > > 14 full days bashing Rhododendron ponti...
06/09/2026

AUGUST

A little reel capturing a few of the adventures we shared last month > >

> 14 full days bashing Rhododendron ponticum with the help of 5 incredible WWOOFERS & 10 local volunteers - thank you all so much!
> 5 guided foraging tours & fireside feasts including a couple of special private events for Crafted Ireland & IN-Q
> Witnessed 1 solar eclipse eclipsed by cloud
> Hosted 2 events as part of the Ellen Hutchins 200 Years - an amazing botany walk led by & a walk up Esk celebrating Ellens love of mountains led by &
> Made it to 4 fantastic EH festival events this year - a walk of the Lost Valley with Catherine from Lee Valley Walking , a geology walk with Dr. Ronan Hennessy, a woodland regeneration workshop with Jeremy from Hometree & a water heritage event in Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve with - huge thanks & well done again to organisers Madeline Hutchins & Clare Heardman on yet another wonderful Festival!
> Welcomed 9 couples to make the Nook & the Nest their home
> Picked & processed for some exciting possibilities in the pipeline with Wild Atlantic Wellness &

Thank you all for those four weeks 💚🌿⛰️ Currently working on our September newsletter which will include a full run-through of what's coming up in the next four! If you're not already a subscriber, join our mailing link via the link below

www.eskmountain.com/subscribe





SEPT NATURE SERIES EVENTComing up, two weeks today on Esk> > SAT 12TH SEPT > 10AM-12NOONThrilled to be welcoming award-w...
29/08/2026

SEPT NATURE SERIES EVENT

Coming up, two weeks today on Esk

> > SAT 12TH SEPT > 10AM-12NOON

Thrilled to be welcoming award-winning environmental author, artist & educator Gordon D'Arcy for an immersive guided walk across Esk Mountain exploring Irish woodlands through history while identifying a diversity of flora and fauna along the way.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Freelance environmental artist, author and educator since 1985, Gordon D’Arcy has authored ten books on aspects of natural history, including the best-selling The Birds of Ireland, (1981), as well as Ireland’s Lost Birds (1999) and The Natural History of the Burren (1992), he is currently writing and illustrating a series of environmental themed books for children and has just published his latest book 'Birdstyle' (May 2026) – a coffee table combining science and art – with natural history, stylised art portraits,Tanka poetry and factual information about 112 Irish birds. His short story 'A Colourful Awakening' was shortlisted for the Anthology Nature Writing Awards 2026. In environmental education, he has extensive experience in teaching at third level, at the Universityof Galway, ATU and the Burren College of Art, and at primary level under the Heritage in Schools Scheme and in adult education. A patron of Burren Beo and a former trustee of the Pushkin Trust in Northern Ireland, he has continued his involvement in primary level cross border, cross community education through engendering environmental awareness.

HIGHLIGHTS

> 2hr guided walk & fireside talk with Gordon D'Arcy
> Learn from one of Irelands long-standing, experienced environmental educators
> Selection of products from the land will be on display & available for purchase with 100% of profits returned to support the nature restoration work on Esk
> Optional Add-on: Stay for a special two-course lunch celebrating the flavours of Esk Mountain in September

TICKETS

Guided WALK 10am-12noon > €15pp
ADD-ON fireside lunch 12noon-1.30pm > €35pp
Both now available here https://eskmountain.com/product-category/experiences/?re-product-id=343465&rwstep=product

đź“· Photos 1,3, 4 & 5 credit Gordon D'Arcy




24/08/2026

Come on a quick tour before our next guests check in

Some extras didn't get a chance to mention in the video > >

> Sleeps two
> Breakfast hamper included
> Sprinkling of availability for late Summer escapes
> Located 5kms outside Glengarriff at the foot of Esk Mountain on the Caha Pass
> 100% of profits returned to Esk Mountain Nature Restoration Project

Make it yours on https://eskmountain.com/accommodation/





19/08/2026

PICKING CHAMOMILE

Why!? Two reasons > >

> Firstly for a delicious project in the pipeline with Tara from Wild Atlantic Wellness

> Secondly, for a really special event we're hosting this Friday 21st August as part of the Ellen Hutchins 200 Years & Heritage Week giving you the chance to walk in the footsteps of Irelands first female botanist & explore her love of moutains. The letters she wrote about her adventures into the uplands will be brought to life by Karen Minihan & Finola Finlay & Ellens great great grandniece Madeline Hutchins. This is both the first time this event has been run & the first opportunity for you to explore some of the brand new trails up Esk Mountain created as part of our Rhododendron ponticum removal work. A fireside lunch will follow the walk celebrating the wild flavours of Esk Mountain in August - including Chamomile. A final few tickets are available via the experiences page here https://eskmountain.com/product-category/experiences/?re-product-id=340618&rwstep=product





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