MEET THE EXPERTS

ROISIN FINLAY, editor of Outsider (outsider.ie) magazine for the last decade, loves walking, nature and just being outdoors. She is also passionate about encouraging others to experience the power of what is outside our front door. Roisin is convinced that being ‘coerced’ by her parents to go on family walks to the beach or up the mountains sowed the seed for a lifelong love of all things al fresco. Now she tries to encourage the young people in her life, including her four brilliant stepchildren, to join her. She reckons the best kind of family walk is one where the kids will find things that interest them, whether that is poking dead jellyfish on the shore, finding frog spawn or a walk that ends with a hot chocolate.

As the mother of two children, hiking book author HELEN FAIRBAIRN is well aware of the pleasures and challenges of walking with kids. Outdoor activity is so important for children, providing a healthy counter-balance to time spent on phones or computers. Time spent walking is a great opportunity for family bonding too, says Helen, with experiences shared in the outdoors developing into family stories that will be recounted for years. Helen’s children often accompany her on walks and other activities, and her most recent book, Ireland’s Adventure Bucket List: Great Outdoor Experiences, has a chapter dedicated to family adventures including hiking, cycling, canoeing and snorkelling.