Amber Patton

Dirty Boots Forge New Paths - Dromore’s Woodland Reserve

I have reached more than the half way point in my journey, 56km down from my pledged 80. And today, I braved the rain and wind and drove 49mins north to explore the Dromore Woodland Reserve. 

This 3km trek took me through picturesque forests, lake paths and the callows that define this part of County Clare. The trail wound northeast through native woodlands and past the ruins of Killakee Church, Cahermacrea Castle, as well as two ring forts, remnants of stories long before my own. 

Dromore Woodland is a sanctuary for so much wildlife, including the Pine Marten, once nearly extinct in Ireland. The elusive Lesser Horseshoe Bat also calls this place home, though being nocturnal, they kept their distance from me today. 

Maybe it was nature’s chorus around me, or the steady rhythm of my boots on unfamiliar ground, but I trailed deep in my own thoughts; reflecting on how much my life has changed, overwhelmingly for the better.

It’s easy to forget that alongside the relief and freedom of starting over, there are also wells of grief. 

Grief for the life I thought I was building. 

Grief for who I was before love bent itself into something unrecognisable. 

Grief for the milestones crossed with the wrong person. 

Grief for the version of me I never got to become.

Grief is a curious companion. She settles in moments of solitude. She lingers in the past-tense of what could have been and what will not be now. And she watches me now, patiently, as hope returns to my bones with each new step I take. 

I am learning that grief is not something to outrun or silence. She is a part of rebuilding. A reminder of what was lost, yes, but also of how far I have walked to find myself again. 

#StrengthInStories #HealingInMotion #HiddenIreland #WalkForWomensAid

#SupportHer

Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud

1 in 3 women, 1 in 7 men, and 79% of LGBTQI+ individuals have experienced abuse from a current or former partner. In the first five months of 2025 alone, Gardaí received over 21,000 disclosures.

This is going to get uncomfortable,  but it’s time to say the quiet part out loud.

DV is often seen as only physical, but most abuse doesn’t begin with bruises. Coercive control, emotional and financial manipulation can quietly rewrite a person’s sense of normal. When harm escalates slowly, you adapt to survive. What once felt shocking becomes part of the everyday. Psychological abuse rarely lives in a single moment; it shows up as hundreds of small cuts you explain away as misunderstandings or your fault.

Speaking openly about DV is incredibly difficult. After years of being told you misheard, misremembered, or overreacted, staying silent can feel safer than risking dismissal. Many abusers condition their partners to believe they are the problem, gaslighting them into silence.

Women' s Aid published in 2024 over 32,144 people contacted their support lines, while over 8,682 people contacted Men’s Aid support lines. Reaching out for help is the first and most terrifying step,which is why it is common for someone to open up to a close friend first.

So how do we support someone who opens up?

Listen and believe them.
Judgement shuts people down instantly. Instead of “Are you sure?” or “Why didn’t you leave?”, try:
“I’m here with you.”
“That sounds really difficult.”
“You’re safe here.”

Ask what support they need.
Skip the impulse to fix, try:

“Would you like me to listen, or help brainstorm options?”
“I want to support you as best I can.”

Offer practical help without pressure.
Be a safe contact. Go with them to appointments. Help them rest and document incidents at their pace. Having support numbers on hand can give someone options without overwhelming them:

Womens Aid - 1800 341 900

Men’s Development Network - 1800 816 588

Safe Ireland - 1800 341 900

www.alwayshere.ie

If someone opens up about abuse, it’s because you’ve shown yourself to be a safe person, not because you’re expected to solve the situation. Support can be simple: care, compassion, and respecting a survivor’s timeline.

#EndTheSilence #BraveAndGentle #SolidarityInAction #WomenAidIreland #WalkWithMe

Getting Lost in Clare Glens: My 22km So Far

This weekend I walked the Clare Glens Loop, a stunning 4km trek through thick woodlands and alongside tranquil waterfalls. My path edged along the sheer red sandstone gorge eroded away by the Clare River below. It's the kind of place you can’t help but breathe deeper and get lost in the immersive wilderness. 

I don’t think it's quite hit me yet that I’ve completed 22km of my pledged 80 for Women’s Aid in just six days. If you had asked me this time last year if I’d commit to walking a purposeful 80km, I would have laughed, knowing deep down that was never going to be an option.  

Walking hasn’t always been simple for me. 

I’ve struggled with pain in my feet for years. The kind of pain that made even short walks feel like I was stepping on a thousand needles. The kind of pain that convinced me I wasn’t capable of long distances, or hikes, or adventures, even though my heart craved them. On top of the physical limitation there was an emotional barrier as well.

When you live for  years in a relationship defined by control and chronic negativity, stagnation can start to feel normal. There came a point when I stopped asking for more. I stopped  imagining more. I stopped choosing more. 

It wasn’t until a good friend of mine challenged me to take better care of myself, starting with my feet, that I realised how much I had neglected my needs. Walking shouldn’t feel like I am running over hot coal or leave me limping for hours. Who would have thought all I needed was a simple shoe insert and suddenly adventure was possible again. 

Which is why every kilometre I’ve walked this week has felt like reclaiming something I lost…in my body, in my resilience, and in my curiosity for the world. I’ve grown to trust that my feet can carry me further than I ever believed.

22km down. 58km to go.

#Clareglenwoodlandloop #StrengthInStories #Trailtherapy #HiddenIreland #WorthyAndWhole

Learning to Listen to Myself Again

Soaking up the Rain - Walking Lough Gur

February is a time of awakening. Crusty, frozen grass, slippering paths, early sunrises and deepening sunsets. And, especially in Ireland, the earth is drenched in rain. 

The 1st of this month marks the impending end to our harsh Winter, when the wilds begin to wake to a warming Spring. The word, Imbolc derives from the Old Irish word 

‘i mbolg’ meaning in the belly, a fitting translation for the first of this year’s fire festivals. This is a time to peak our heads out of our cozy, comfort zones and plant intentions like seeds in tilled soil. 

Before the Christianisation of Ireland, Imbolc celebrated the Goddess Brighid, a fiery, passionate entity whose teachings of transformation can be simplified into a single act. Burn away what no longer serves you and make room for growth and self discovery. 

I thought it fitting that my walks would begin on the day of Imbolc. And what better place to start than Lough Gur located in Country Limerick. This place is ancient. With paths that wind between ruins of settlements and tombs, some dating back to the Stone Age. 

Across the lough, is the Grange Stone Circle, a 4,000-year-old enclosure, the largest in Ireland, composed of 113 contiguous standing stones. Walking around this near-perfect circle is like stepping into the past. 

During my 4.5km walk today, I enjoyed the soft rain and crunching gravel beneath each step. When I reached the top of the Lough Gur Walking Trail, I could just make out the Wedge Tomb and Bolin’s Island before the clouds overtook. I chose three of my painted stones to leave along my journey today. I hope they find the people they are meant to. 

I’m walking 80K this February for Women’s Aid. To donate and support my healing, walking journey, follow the link in my bio!

#Irelandoutdoors #SurvivorStories #Imbolc #LochGur #WalkWithMe

Hi, I’m Amber.

I am a writer, coffee enthusiast and devoted cat mom who is rebuilding her life and learning to trust herself again. 

This February, I am walking 80 kilometres to raise funds for Women’s Aid. Their work and dedication supports people in the darkest moments of their lives, and I know how powerful it is to feel seen, believed, and supported when everything feels impossible. 

Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing some personal posts. Some will be understanding domestic violence, from the emotional realities to the quiet forms of control that people rarely talk about. Other posts will be about the beautiful, Irish landscapes I intend to hike this month, from Loch Gur to Canon Sheehan Loop. Healing is messy and complex, and sometimes the simplest act of putting one foot in front of the other, can change your entire perspective.

I am not sharing to dramatise or to relive any of my experiences. I am sharing because for a long time, I felt very alone, and if someone like me had been telling their story, maybe I wouldn’t have felt so lost and isolated. If these words help even one person feel less alone, then that is enough.

This is by no means the beginning of my healing journey, nor will it be the end. 

Thank you for walking with me.