‘When I became a mum, it side-swiped me — walking was the only way to get out of the house’

AOIFE HUGHES, Founder of familywalksireland.com

After having her first child, Aoife Hughes found getting back to the exercise she had enjoyed before becoming a mother challenging.

“I would have always been active before I became a ‘Mammy’, but when I transitioned into the role of motherhood, it completely side-swiped me. All these ideas of being able to maintain my fitness level just went out the window. By default, walking was the only way to get out of the house and get that headspace. I was never a huge fan of just walking around, but that attitude completely changed,” says Aoife.

Visiting family in Sligo not long after her first child was born, Aoife struggled to find information about nearby walks that were accessible to buggies. This kicked off an interest that grew into a website, familywalksireland.com, an information database of nationwide childfriendly walking routes, which now has over 150 walks across 25 counties.

“Walking is a huge outlet for me, but also for the family. It’s become something that we do together most weekends where possible,” explains Aoife, who with husband Diarmaid has two children; five-year-old Aedin, and Senan, threeand-a-half. “Setting up the website was a creative outlet as well. I would have struggled a lot with anxiety and this gave me an outlet mentally and physically, but also creatively. Creativity is the opposite of anxiety.”

Aoife also notices that the family dynamic changes once everyone gets outside. “There’s just this natural tendency to hold hands, to climb, to scramble, to explore together. Being in nature is therapeutic for me; it calms me. And I’m really conscious of modelling it for the children. So if we’re having a tough day, we need to get outside.”

As the children got too big for the buggy and began to walk, there has been a slowdown in pace, something Aoife initially struggled with. She has now invested in a bike buggy which has bought the family more time to still enjoy longer, faster-paced walks.

“Choosing a favourite walk is really hard,” says Aoife, explaining that the family has moved several times since the children were born. “We’re in Skerries now, so obviously the coastal path beside the sea, the Red Island Walk, would be a favourite. In Connacht, Barna Woods and the Salthill prom were huge favourites of ours. And then in Sligo it would be Rosses Point and Hazelwood.”