Becca on the Dublin and Wicklow Way in Comfort

Adventures, reflections, and stories we brought home from the trails we’ve walked - from the Macs Adventure team 

Becca is a Customer Experience Specialist at Macs Adventure living in Colorado, where she enjoys park hangs, peaceful travel moments, and finding the perfect matcha with her rescue cat nearby.

Dear Trail Diary, 

I knew Ireland would be beautiful. I expected green hills, cosy pubs, and sweeping views. What I didn’t expect was how deeply the people would affect me. 

My boyfriend and I spent the week walking Dublin and the Wicklow Way, moving through forests, glacial valleys, little lakes, rolling farmland, and tiny villages that felt frozen in time. Every day looked completely different. One moment we’d be climbing above Lough Tay - Guinness Lake - with views of the hills nearby and ocean in the distance, and the next we’d be wandering through quiet wooded trails surrounded by sheep and baby lambs. 

And somehow, no matter where we were, the people were just… kind. 

Not in a forced customer service way but genuinely warm and caring. Most of our interactions were with hotel staff, bartenders, and cab drivers, but every conversation felt personal. One cab driver told us something I haven’t stopped thinking about since. We were talking about Ireland and England, and he said: 

“Irish people leave their fathers’ grievances with their fathers.” 

There was something so beautiful about that. It was the feeling of being refreshed in your own life and in the interactions you have. No preconceived judgements, no stereotypes, just human – to – human connection. 

Ireland felt incredibly welcoming, not just to us, but to everyone. I’m naturally a little shy when I travel, especially when asking for directions or help, but I never once felt uncomfortable there. People didn’t treat us like tourists who needed to be rushed. They treated us like humans they genuinely wanted to share their home with. 

Even at places like Powerscourt Hotel and Brook Lodge - where we definitely looked like walkers who had spent a lot of time on the trails - everyone was so warm and welcoming. The hospitality became one of the biggest parts of the trip for me. Cosy dinners after hiking, staff remembering our names, conversations at the bar that turned into new friendships… it all felt so personal. 

One afternoon, while I was at the spa, my boyfriend went down to the hotel bar alone. He came back an hour later, somehow knowing everyone there, including someone from Denver. That sums up Ireland perfectly. 

The trip reminded me how big and beautiful the world is outside of my normal little Colorado routine. Before this, I didn’t even know Wicklow existed. Macs Adventure gave me the chance to experience a place I never would’ve discovered on my own. 

And maybe my favourite part was getting to experience it all with my partner. Being outside of our normal routine - no distractions, no obligations - made us feel closer. It felt like this little world existed just for us for a while. We have these memories now tucked away, just for us to visit or share. 

(He also carried the backpack the entire trip, which deserves recognition.) 

By the end of the trip, I understood why we met someone who’s been returning to Ireland every year for the last 50 years. 

Ireland just makes you feel good. Safe. Welcome. Human. 

I miss it already.