Phoenix Park Loop, Dublin - walk

Where: Dublin

Why: Good news. The OPW has bumped up the space available to cyclists and walkers in the Phoenix Park - testament to its place in the hearts of Dubliners, and its heavy use in lockdown. Paths on either side of the main Chesterfield Avenue are now pedestrian-only, doubling walking space to facilitate social distancing. The hard shoulder is a new cycleway "25pc wider than the existing inside cycle lane", giving an extra 7km of recreational space either side of the avenue. There's a new shared recreation space on Furze Avenue for walkers and cyclists, too. We all know about the wild fallow deer, Farmleigh and the zoo, but did you know Beyoncé once raved about a cycle in Phoenix Park, too?

Trip notes: Phoenix Park Bikes (phoenixparkbikes.com) does bike hire and tours. Head in an anticlockwise direction from the entrance and slopes will be in your favour. The walled garden is reserved from 10am-1pm for people who are cocooning. See phoenixpark.ie for more.

If you like this, try: Local families can also take to trails in the grounds around Malahide Castle (irishcentreforcycling.ie) and Ardgillan Castle (ardgillancastle.ie), and there is a 3km cycle lane along the prom at Clontarf - but check websites for Covid-19 restrictions beforehand.