Red on the Road Part 1: Driving Off-Grid for Autumn/Winter ’26

End of the Road, Beginning of the Wild

After journeying across the country from Dublin, our first major outpost was at the literal end of the track: BigStyle Lodge in Killadoon, County Mayo. Nestled against the freezing Atlantic, surrounded by dark coastal lakes, rolling fields, and towering peaks, it offers the ultimate "quietcation", a place to disconnect from modern stress and lean into the coast’s elemental rhythm.

As night fell, a vivid sea scent greeted us at the edge of the dark water. Waiting on the porch was Kris Goodbody, founder of BigStyle, radiating the relaxed energy of a man who has spent his entire life following the tide.

Kris’s story is rooted in the water. Starting out as a kite-surfing instructor in Dublin back in 2013, he spent years chasing the sun across Kenya, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania like a migratory bird. But the wild west coast of Ireland eventually called him home.

"I'm a water boy," Kris laughs, showing us around the lodge's massive outdoor pizza oven, fire pits, and open-plan kitchen. "I'm a kite surfer, a surfer, a swimmer, and a diver. I just love being in the water and teaching others to experience it. It’s who I am."

The Power of Unplugging

The next morning, under a moody sky with an autumn storm brewing on the horizon, we explored the headland with Kris, his wife Yuka, and their young family. To combat the biting Atlantic wind, we kitted them all out in our new AW '26 Elements Collection, built specifically for this kind of raw, unpredictable weather.

During the quiet months of the pandemic lockdown, Kris and Yuka rebuilt the lodge around a fresh vision: a sanctuary for people seeking authentic, off-grid adventure. Central to this was building the Big Dipper, a wood-fired sauna and outdoor hot tub setup overlooking the ocean, lakes, and mountains.

"Sometimes removing choices benefits people," Kris explains as his kids play with pebbles on the beach. "We set the activities, serve communal meals, and bring people together to share the experience. You just unwind, switch off your phone, and let the water do the work."

The location is a water-lover’s paradise. A sheltered coastal lake offers a safe haven for learning to paddleboard or kite-surf, while the nearby beach and point breaks provide world-class surfing.

When asked about the notorious Irish rain, Kris smiles from under the hood of his waterproof parka. "For some, the weather may feel like a challenge, but you’re going to get wet anyway."

For Kris, caring for this coastal paradise is as important as enjoying it. Confronted with increasingly severe Atlantic storms, he focuses on sustainable practices and offers his guests simple advice: "I try to do a little better every day. If we can all reduce our impact by just 20%, the world and our waters will be a much better place."

Cold Water, Healing, and Community

To wrap a very wet and cold day shooting, the Red team made a mandatory pit stop at the Big Dipper sauna. 

The contrast was absolute. Steaming in the sauna, staring out at the freezing waves, we felt the true antidote to modern life. Behind the scenes videographer and extreme cold-water swimmer Becca Harvey wasted no time challenging the crew to a cold plunge. Wearing a Red beanie and a huge grin, I lowered myself into the icy water, staying just long enough to feel the electric shock of the plunge before scrambling back into the heat, to the sound of the team's roaring laughter.

In those shared, shivering moments, the true power of water becomes clear. It isn't just about sport or adrenaline; it’s about recovery, connection, and perspective.

Yuka, who previously worked in intense conflict zones with Médecins Sans Frontières, shared how moving to this water-bound haven transformed her life. "It was so therapeutic," she recalls, looking out over the bay. "It truly helped me heal and recover."

Now, surrounded by sea and mountain air, their family lives the daily reality of our core ethos. Water strips away the unnecessary, resets the mind, and brings people together in a way nothing else can.

As the sun began to dip behind the storm clouds, we packed up our kit, zipped up our waterproof EVO Pro jackets, and prepared for the next leg of the journey. Mayo had delivered the perfect mix of wild weather, quiet space, and genuine human connection.

Next Stop on Red on the Road

We drive further along the coast to Old Head Beach in Louisburgh, County Mayo, to meet Mná na Mara, a local women's sea-swimming group, to jump into the dawn tide and discover what community by the water really means.