2020 has taught us any number of lessons, not least to grab opportunities and make the most of life!  This New Year if you are setting your annual resolutions, instead of the usual fad diet or get-fit-quick regime, why not take on a challenge or learn a new skill that you can continue long term?! With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of ideas all available in Wicklow, to inspire a New You, this New Year!

ELEVATE YOUR COOKERY SKILLS WITH CELEB CHEF CATERINE FULVIO!

Baking and cooking have undoubtedly been activities that everyone has embraced during 2020, but not all have managed to master them!  Enter … Catherine Fulvio’s Ballyknocken House Cookery School, located close to Wicklow Town.  With Catherine’s knowledge, and her practical and personable approach, you’ll be able to hone those culinary skills once and for all.  Catherine’s  classes will get you cooking with confidence and provide you with an armoury of delicious recipes, perfect for daily life and special occasions.  Find out more – https://bit.ly/BallyknockenCookerySchool

IMMERSE IN THE WICKLOW LANDSCAPE WITH AN AVOCA PAINTING SCHOOL COURSE.

If you are looking to explore your creative side in 2021, try a Painting Workshop with the Avoca Painting School.  Led by artist Rod Coyne and located in areas of natural beauty, like Glendalough, the Vale of Avoca and Kilmacurragh Botanic Gardens, you can take inspiration from the beautiful Wicklow countryside around you. Classes take place in the open air, with Rod giving practical tuition and tips on techniques for painting landscapes outdoors.  More – https://bit.ly/AvocaGalleryPaintingSchool

GET YOUR ADRENALIN FIX ON THE SLOPES OF THE SKI CLUB OF IRELAND.

Many people would have been planning a break away this Winter, perhaps to a ski resort. But did you know you can take to the slopes here in Ireland? On the Dublin & Wicklow border at Kilternan, you’ll find the National Snowsports Centre for Ireland. The Club is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion and development of skiing and snowboarding. Absolute beginners can book in for lessons and training facilities are available for all standards of skier or snowboarder.   More – https://bit.ly/SkiClubIreland

GET BACK TO BASICS WITH WILD FOOD FORAGING IN THE WICKLOW HILLS.

This past year brought with it the desire for many of us to seek out local food and what better way to understand and enjoy wild Wicklow foods than with a foraging Masterclass at Macreddin Village, near Aughrim.  The Wild Food Masterclass is led by with Chefs of the organic Strawberry Tree Restaurant and Evan Doyle, co-author of the best-selling ‘Wild Food’ book.  The Masterclass covers identification as well as instruction on how to gather, cook and preserve foods using traditional methods such as sugar, oil, drying, vinegars and alcohol. After enjoying lunch in The Waterside Lounge, participants will be brought outdoors with The Strawberry Tree’s Wild Food Forager to do some gentle foraging around Macreddin Village. More – http://bit.ly/BrooklodgeMacreddin

UNLEASE YOUR CREATIVITY WITH A POTTERY MASTERCLASS.

Another creative activity, that can be particularly enjoyable to do as a family unit, is pottery.  In the Turning Thistle Studio in Aughrim, Christien Van Bussel provides space and time in a quiet, rural setting, for you to explore your creativity through the medium of clay. Pottery making gives a wonderful sense of achievement; from moulding, to painting, decorating and glazing, to finally using your own hand-made pottery at home. More – https://bit.ly/TurningThistleStudio

BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT IN THE GARDEN AND TAKE A PERMACULTURE COURSE.

Did you get out into the garden to flex your green fingers over lockdown? Is it time to take growing your own vegetables to the next level?  Then consider a Permaculture Design Course at Carraig Dúlra, a family-owned social enterprise farm, near Glenealy, Co Wicklow. You will gain practical hands-on and design skills, with tutors and co-participants guiding you towards building a more sustainable homestead of fresh produce. More – https://bit.ly/CarraigDulra

HEAD FOR A BEACH BREAK AND CATCH A CURL WITH BRITTAS BAY SURF SCHOOL.

If you’d like to try a new outdoor sport in 2021, surfing is one of the most fun and exhilarating activities you could choose! Brittas Bay Surf School, with 26 years of experience, is the first dedicated surf school on the East Coast of Ireland and is situated along the famous sandy stretch at Brittas Bay.  Why not try a some surfing or SUP (stand up paddleboard) lessons, either in a group or solo and experience the thrill of catching a wave for yourself! More – https://bit.ly/BrittasBaySurfSchool

PLAN A ONCE IN A LIFETIME CHALLENGE IN THE WICKLOW OUTDOORS.

The New Year is a perfect time to start planning for a New Challenge.  There are lots of great events that will, hopefully, take place during 2021 or that you can take on in your own time as travel guidelines allow.  You could start planning to Walk the Wicklow Way, a wonderfully scenic 130km linear trail taking you from Marley Park in Dublin, across the Wicklow Mountains all the way to Clonegal at the southern edge of County Wicklow.  Or maybe trail running is your thing?  Sign up for one of the four EcoTrail Wicklow routes of 18km, 29km, 45km or 80km and start training now for the September 2021 event.  Or perhaps you’d like to challenge yourself to a once off hike? How about Leinster’s highest peak, Lugnaquilla standing at 925m. We recommend joining with one of the guided hikes that take place regularly and taking on some practice hikes around Wicklow until you are ready for your challenge. More on all the Wicklow Outdoors has to offer here – http://bit.ly/WicklowOutdoors

Make 2021 the year you took on a new challenge, that stayed with you a lifetime.  For more about activities on offer in Wicklow click here – http://bit.ly/visitwicklow