We are pleased to introduce our first Photo Competition! This is the start of a new monthly feature celebrating the Great Outdoors and we want to tap into the spirit of sharing experiences with like-minded trail enthusiasts.
That spirit of discovery is at the heart of this competition — and to celebrate, this month’s winner will receive a pair of Silva Pocket 10X Binoculars (retail value €60). Compact and lightweight, they’re easy to slip into a backpack and the perfect trail companion for spotting wildlife or taking in sweeping views.
The competition is open to Trailhead Members worldwide, so whether you’re sharing a favourite local trail or a memory from a holiday in Ireland or the UK, your entry is welcome. And with the competition limited to members only, your chances of winning are much higher.
Each month we will set a theme, and over time we hope to build a gallery that reflects how landscapes from across the globe change with the seasons and through the eyes of different hikers.
I took a walk with my son to the Vartry Reservoir in County Wicklow recently. My son is an enthusiastic birdwatcher and using our Silva Pocket Binoculars, we were both thrilled to spot a Glossy Ibis. This is not a native bird to Ireland, so it was quite the find.
We returned the next morning, hopeful to get a look at it in better lighting conditions, but it was gone. On our way home from Dublin later that day, we stopped once more for another look but still no Glossy Ibis. But as the sun dipped, the evening light spilled across the mirror-still lake, and instead we were gifted a beautiful autumnal scene of two mute swans gliding through golden waters.
Sometimes it is the rare encounters we set out to find, and at other times it is the unexpected beauty that greets us instead. That spirit of discovery is at the heart of this competition.
The Prize
The month's winner will receive a pair of Silva Pocket 10X Binoculars, with a retail value of €60. Compact and lightweight, they are easy to slip into a backpack and make a perfect trail companion for enjoying sweeping views, or even spotting a Glossy Ibis or some Mute Swans!
How to Enter
- Theme: Autumn in the Great Outdoors
- Deadline: 22nd October 2025
- Entries to: photo-comp@trailheadnewsletter.com
- Limit: Two photos per person
Each entry should include:
- Photo Title
- Photographer’s Name
- Location: what country and where in the country it was taken
- Short description: (1–2 sentences) of what was happening when the photo was captured
Technical Guidelines
- File size: Between 1MB and 8MB
- File format: JPEG or PNG
- Editing: Minimal adjustments only (cropping, light/dark balance, or colour correction). No heavy filters, composites, or digital alterations that change the original scene — the aim is to keep photos as true to the trail experience as possible.
Terms and Conditions
This competition is restricted to Trailhead Members Only. Do not worry if you are not a member, you can Register Here.
As a Trailhead Member, you will get at least 10% off the Recommended Retail Price of everything across our Trailhead websites and receive a monthly newsletter keeping you up to date on new book and map releases.
Needless to say, each photograph entered must have been taken by the entrant! Checks will be done on the the Internet!
By entering, participants agree that selected entries may be published in our online gallery and featured in next month’s newsletter.
Extra marks will of course be awarded to any photos of a Glossy Ibis. (That's a joke!! 😉 )
Trailhead Special Offer - 20% Discount
Even if you don’t win, you can still equip yourself for trail-spotting adventures. Trailhead Members can enjoy a 20% Discount on the Silva Pocket 10X Binoculars, normally retailing at €60, until the end of October.
Trailhead Members Discount until the 31st October!
Recommended Retail Price: €60.00
Trailhead Member Price: €48.00
Please make sure to log into your account to see the full range of discounts across the website.