“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost,
to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences”
Join me on my Travels
Highways Byways & Beyond is a collection of personal travel experiences enjoyed by Photographer, Author and Travel Blogger, John Ironside. These experiences are regularly presented as articles in which he highlights areas, activities and services of his experience.
Experiences to Challenge the Body and Mind
John’s interest in conservation, nature and our environment, local cultures and traditions are the basis for his travels and subsequent articles. Over the years he has travelled to many parts of the world and experienced many different kinds’ of conditions and adventures. These articles are written to encourage you to explore travel, sometimes beyond the ordinary, but always an experience to look back on.
Home or Far Away
Whether you are driving, caravaning, camping or backpacking, traveling at home or far away, the blog will be a source of encouragement and first-hand information on personally tried travel experiences that will contribute to you achieving your own travel goals.
A World Of Experience
John has travelled to many parts of our beautiful world, experiencing different climates and natural environments in all sorts of conditions. This Blog is an on-going project and my experiences will be updated regularly.
The effect of travel on you will vary because of personality and personal travel goals. Some people like to travel in the security of a group for support whilst others like to travel on their own. One thing for sure, a broad, wholesome and generous view of man and our environment cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth for all of one’s lifetime.
Moving out of the comfort zone, away from what you imagine is your secure zone, is difficult for most. Even a walk in the rain can pose a challenge.
By not taking these challenges, you never really discover yourself. Is it always about what is safe or easy or what’s uncomfortable or momentarily unpleasant or the task of planning and preparation that limits you travel goals? How can you discover what makes you tick if you don’t move these boundaries outward and try something new; like speaking to new people, experience a completely different lifestyle, experience new cultures or navigate your way around a mountain.
“Ever changing horizons and new experiences,
within those we truly live in the moment,
we are gifted with the present”
Latest Articles
Loop Head 4/2023
LOOP HEAD - an area of striking Geological spectacles Loop Head (The Leap) is a Peninsula in south County Clare, Ireland. The south shore marks the beginning of the Shannon River whilst the west [...]
Colclough Walled Garden, July 2022
COLCLOUGH WALLED GARDEN Historic Tintern Abbey was founded by the Cistercian Monks in c1203 under the patronage of William Marshal, first Earl of Pembroke. In 1562, the Abbey was granted [...]
Glenavon Japanese Gardens
Glenavon Japanese Garden Glen Richards, Gorey, Co. Wexford, Ireland Iris Checkett, after completing a gardening course, began work on the designing of her “dream garden”. In 2001, at the age of 65 [...]
Huntington Castle and Gardens
Huntington Castle & Garden 17th Century Wilderness Woodland Garden Huntington Castle is the ancient seat of the Esmonde family. The Esmonde's moved over to Ireland in 1192 and were involved in other castles [...]
Coolaught Garden and Garden Center
Coolaught Garden and Garden Center Coolaught Garden and Garden Center is located near Clonroche in County Wexford in Ireland. It’s described as a Country Cottage Garden and developed from a flat field to [...]