Walk with Confidence

Posted on May 16, 2011 @ 2:41 PM in

Northern Ireland is full of great walking opportunities over varied terrain. For those looking to walk 'off the beaten track', there are some great routes and trails available in mountainous regions such as the Sperrins and the Mourne Mountains. Check out our Walking Areas page for more information, route descriptions, images and maps for the most popular hill walking destinations in Northern Ireland.

This summer there are a number of hill walking courses available designed to equip walkers with all the necessary preparation and navigation skills needed to walk with confidence in the hills. Below, WalkNI.com have outlined a few hill walking courses available in the Mourne Mountains during the next few months.

 

2 Day Hill Walking Skills - £173 per person
Sat 21 May

This 2 day overnight course is suitable for complete beginners or those who want to improve and/or refresh established hill walking skills. The courses will teach the basics of planning and preparing for walks, including route choice, fitness and equipment choice. Participants will learn the basics of hill walking skills and methods of mountain navigation including map interpretation and compass techniques. The course will also cover the basics of mountain safety such as hazard awareness, avoidance and emergency procedures as well how to enjoy the natural environment responsibly using the principles of ‘Leave No Trace'.

 

Show Me The Way To Go Home - £30 per person
Fri 3rd June (Evening Course)

This evening course is suitable for anyone wanting to learn or boost their navigation skills for walking in mountainous terrain. Course ratios are small and tailored to the individual needs of participants. Topics covered will include grid system and references, map orientation, feature identification, understanding contours, what to do when lost, planning a safe walk and use of a compass.

 

Hill Walking Emergencies - £76 per person
Sun 19th June

Ideal for either complete beginners or those who have tried hill walking before and wish to move to the next level. This course will cover the basics of planning and preparing for your walking trip including route choice, fitness and equipment choice as well as the basics of mountain safety such as hazard awareness, avoidance and emergency procedures.

 

Introduction to Mountain Skills & Navigation - £45 per person
Sat 2nd July or Sun 3rd July

This course is for those who are interested in walking around Northern Ireland's beautiful mountains but have never felt comfortable using a map. This course will teach you how to navigate safely along with the skills needed to have an enjoyable day in the hills.

Night Navigation Introduction Evening - £30 per person
Sat 2nd July or Sun 3rd July

If you are interested in walking around our beautiful mountains but have never felt comfortable about reading the map at night then this is the course for you. Have a go at practicing those navigation skills in the dark or low visibility, under the safe watchful eye of a qualified instructor.

 

It is recommended that anybody walking in the hills has a basic knowledge of map reading and navigation and is aware of the basics of mountain safety. All the courses above will enable walkers to set off into the hills with complete confidence.

14 German women walk the Causeway Coast

Posted on April 12, 2011 @ 1:21 PM in

Jim, my Irish brother-in-law had been waiting for us at the train station in Derry just to say Hello to us. He was right to shrug his shoulders when we told him we wanted to go to Castlerock. It wasn't the most beautiful place on earth in spite of the pretty name, we were aware of that the minute we got off that train, after what was said to be the most scenic train drive in Ireland.

The restaurant at the train station was not the most inviting one, either. The landladies had recommended it saying it didn't look very good but that the food would be ok. However we didn't want to have food that was ok, we wanted to have good food, and we were all very disappointed about the outside and the interior design. Nevertheless I booked a table for fourteen women and asked for the way to Mussenden Temple, while the other thirteen couldn't wait to start exploring the area.

And a good thing too, that they didn`t wait. Because they found a golf club with a restaurant, directly by the sea, in the dunes, but with a beautiful view. That was exactly what we wanted. The only problem was, they didn't want to let us in, because we had to be members of a golf club or at least family members of a member. So I went in and Paul, another brother-in-law became my husband for a very short while. I told them he played golf in the South though I didn't know the name of the club. This was ok, what they didn't like were my clothes and they showed me a big sign with the dress code, at the same time looking me up and down. “We are walkers, fourteen women,” I said proudly. “They all look the same, they all look like me.”  I didn't want to give in, it was either or. “Come at seven,” they replied. “We will prepare a table for you.” We had made it, great.

The next step took us a little longer. We walked up a path alongside a new caravan park which was very tidy but also very awful and surprisingly empty. ”They are all the same”, I said, kind of apologising, I don't know why. Then there was a fence along the side of the sea and I wanted to apologise again. But after a while we had left both eye sores behind and we saw my Ireland, green meadows, cliffs, the sea, heather, stone walls, name it. And after another little while we actually saw Mussenden Temple, our destination for that day, right in front of us.

But the worst was yet to come, because Mussenden Temple was standing on another cliff, and in order to get there we had to climb down and up which at that moment we didn't have a clue how to manage.

While some of us were discussing what we could do and that we didn't actually have to touch the temple, some of us had already climbed down, found a bridge over a little stream, even discovered a nice little lake and we saw the red and blue and green anoraks on the other side of the cliff before we had even come to any decision. That spurred us on, of course. We tried as well to climb down and we got there, too, although it was quite difficult at least for me to climb all the steps on the other side. We were rewarded though, looking down at the rails of our scenic train, which disappeared in two tunnels underneath the cliffs we were climbing, the picture postcard image we had seen so often. And then we approached Mussenden Temple, which really was as magnificent as Beate, my sister had been telling me in all these years.

It was much bigger than we had expected looking at all the photographs, not like Pulnabroune which is much smaller in reality than in the pictures. The cliff and the window to the North was one vertical line, it was even more dramatic, looking down out of it after we had gone in. We wondered why this hadn't been washed into the sea like the nearby Dunluce Castle, though we were happy to still have the full impact.

We would have liked it had it been built just for us, not after our death, but while we were still alive. Now we had it, almost all to ourselves. Then we walked southwards to the road, just to come back walking towards the temple and the sea at the same time. It was sheer bliss, pure happiness, one of these moments in life you never forget. It was the start of our wonderful walking tour on the Giant's Causeway Route and it was more than worth the little detour via Castlerock on the train.

 

From Castlerock to Portrush

We are sitting on the train from Castlerock to Portrush, we have heard that this is one of the most beautiful train drives all along the North coast of Ireland. We are 14 women from Germany and we mainly want to walk this North coast, but now we have to get to our starting point which we chose to be Portrush because from Portstewart it would have taken too long to get to the Giant's Causeway in one day.

We are all very happy and relaxed, enjoying the wonderful scenery and talking a lot about the beautiful breakfasts we have had in two different B&Bs. Petra and I got a little flower again, we seem to get that every day now, we put it into our hair and photos and more photos are being taken.

Petra and myself are not the official guides but we have planned the trip and in situations like this I can fully relax. We have to change in Coleraine, it is a wonderful old station, and over a very nice bridge we are getting to the other platform. There are quite a lot of people waiting for the next train at this relatively small train station, the reason being that there are two trains leaving from that one platform and an official is trying to get the people to the right train shouting and running back and forth at the same time. We almost missed that because we were talking so much among ourselves, not paying attention, but when I understand what is going on we move through the crowds in single file and I am happy we made it.

At last we are on the right train; at least I am convinced about that until one of the women asks me why there was one sign saying "from" Portrush and another one "to" Portrush, that was very confusing. I get a shock. Which direction are we going, where is the sun? I feel my usual panic. But there is help, immediately, the conductor is coming to ask for the tickets and we ask him directly are we on the right train and he tells us of course we are.

 “What are you doing here and where are you from and what have you done so far”, he asks us in return. He is genuinely interested, really curious and eager to help. Everybody wants to answer at the same time because he is

so nice. “To Portrush, to the beach to the Giant's Causeway, we want to walk to the Giant's Causeway”. He is really amazed because he had done that himself and he must have liked it showing it with a smile on his face. “How far is it from the station to the beach, is it difficult to find?”

“No, it isn’t far just a bit tricky to find, how shall I explain, oh, I have 6 minutes I will show you, the train can't leave without me.”

Unbelievable, that can't be possible! Have we understood it properly, is he really going with us? After getting off the train we tell everybody again to just follow that man quickly. It is not easy rushing 14 women through a town and a pretty one as we can see now just trotting behind him, with no time to have a look at anything, that is really hard. Not everybody has fully understood what we are doing but we all follow, no complaints.

But I am totally stressed again because I think we are walking into the wrong direction. Wasn't the sea on the other side? Hadn't I seen it from the window on the train? Why are we walking into the town? Thank God we are in Ireland and nobody is taken hostage here, but it is really strange. He should know where the beach is, why are there more and more houses, and why is the sun on the wrong side? I am totally frustrated. But then there is a gap in between all the houses, there are steps down to the most beautiful beach and the nice conductor stops and indicates with both his arms that this is our way. It is like being on the Bahamas only here it is much nicer. We all want to thank him but he is already rushing back otherwise he would miss his train.

With all the excitement I had completely forgotten that Portrush lies on a headland and that there are two beaches. So now we are all standing there amazed and astonished looking into the glaring sun and we happily start our walk into the East, Giant's Causeway here we come.

 

The Giant’s Causeway

We have been walking through the rain for almost one and a half hours now, the worst rain we have had so far. The plan was to take the bus from the car park at the Giant’s Causeway to Ballintoy and then walk back along the coast for as long as we could. But the women wanted to walk this way, the Cliff Top Path in spite of the rain. And it feels great although it is raining or simply because it is raining. Because when the rain suddenly stops, when the sun comes out we do not only have the view over the sea, Rathlin Island and Scotland but also over half of Ireland, well a third, maybe, but that is more than enough, and more than we had imagined.

If you walk the path at the bottom of the cliff you can see the columns directly in front of you, you can touch them, you can stand in front of them and measure them, you can put your hand into the little bit of water in the concaves or you can stroke over the convexes, you can run, walk or climb over the columns and it is like being at a giant playground. You can also try to understand how these wonders got their shape by reading all the information displayed there on big charts. If, on the other hand, you walk the top path, you have the full drama below you, behind every curve, behind every bay you can see new, different giant columns, newly placed, newly put together in different colours, in different light.

We often stop, stand still, look back, we are wet to the bone but we don’t mind, taking in the sight of this constantly changing performance of nature. There are more and more columns, more and more beautiful and more dramatic. Or is that only our imagination because we hadn’t expected that.

In mid August the peak holiday season we only meet one young couple who come walking towards us, apart from that nobody is walking the whole Cliff Top Path today.

Then some hours later we descend and the green blue brown dream becomes the golden dream of Whitepark Bay, another highlight we really deserve after climbing over and through the white rocks at Portbradden. We are able to do this because the water is still out far enough. We have the feeling we are walking through Heaven’s door although we have just come from paradise.

We sit down at the beach, some take off their shoes and socks and try the water, we are more than exhausted but very happy.

A little bag with nuts and raisins is handed around from one woman to the other and there are a few biscuits left as well. Nobody mentions the word coffee, but everybody knows that we are all thinking of that. At this time we don’t know yet how very pretty the little harbour of Portbradden is and that there is a tiny little coffee shop just waiting for us. But that will be the next story.

 

The End of the Giant’s Causeway.

We have booked a beautiful B&B for all fourteen women between Ballintoy and Ballycastle, like a dream, everything, the location, the big garden which is a like a nature reserve, the house itself, the view over the sea to Rathlin Island and to Scotland, even the full moon at night, a little hazy but that is just right and intensifies the mystic atmosphere we all had hoped for in Ireland.

We are lucky that it is not directly on the road, and also very happy that it is a bit outside the town of Ballycastle. Twenty minutes on foot we were told and that was ok. for us even after a long day’s walk.

At the moment we are the only two women who have to walk to town for the evening meal, the others are taking the bus from Carrig-a-rede to Ballycastle, we  were too exhausted,  so we didn’t walk to the bridge after the lovely coffee break and delicious cake in the romantic, sun drenched harbour of Portballintoy. A nice family gave us a lift in their car to our B&B, like paradise, how lucky can one be. And instead of being sea-sick on the bridge high above the water we are having a shower, feeling the warm water running over us, and that is also very good. We feel relaxed and refreshed and we think that it is no problem to walk the twenty minutes into town. Unfortunately that was terribly wrong.

First we realise that there is no kind of path or anything similar along the road. There are sharp bends, rises and dips, so that the car drivers can’t even see us nor can we see the cars early enough to step into the ditch or cling to the hedge. We had assumed that there would only be a few cars on this road and that they would drive slowly enough because of the condition, but even that is a mistake, the cars are speeding even overtaking in spite of the bends. We haven’t experienced anything like this before, we are really afraid and don’t know what to do. We would have gladly gone back to the bridge just to sit safely on the bus now like the other women.

It takes us one and a half hours to get to the edge of the town. Fortunately the last bit is past a little wood on a path, and  when we get to a caravan park, we are totally exhausted. We are lucky again because a couple driving out of the caravan park offer us lift and after another ten minutes we reach the restaurant in town still in one piece. Big hellos there, we haven’t seen the others for such a long time.

“Carrick-a-rede was stunning, breath taking, really, you should have come, it was great to walk over the bridge, no problem at all, it was super.

How is the B&B? How is the road, how long is it to walk, is there a footpath? The bus driver drove so fast, we were really afraid.”

We hardly dare to tell them our story, we are still under a little bit of a shock.

We tell them instead about the great location of the B&B, the friendly people who gave us a lift, but after a while we can’t hold back this very negative feeling, we tell them about the distance, the dangerous road, and worst of all the speeding cars.

I can’t remember anything like that in Ireland. In the seventeen years I have lived in Ireland I have only seen and met drivers who take care, who give way, who take their time, who do not speed like mad, this is a completely new experience for me.

But now we would like to eat and it is wonderful. We get real Irish food, simple food, excellent food. We all decide to take the cod, and it is a big piece of good tasty fish and champ, the fish just done in butter, the champ homemade with cream and scallions, no frills just natural and delicious, not even too much salt and pepper. Great, the often mentioned paradise is back again, and on top of that we have good wine, a cosy pub atmosphere and later live music - we are in Ireland.

Much later we all decide to all splash out on taxis but we explicitly ask the taxi drivers not to run over any walkers, neither German nor Irish ones.   

Northern Ireland Walking

Posted on February 25, 2011 @ 10:38 AM in

I’ve been writing about Northern Ireland for the UK newspapers for the past 20 years, urging mainlanders to come and see for themselves, and travelling over regularly to get my fill of fabulous landscape, unspoilt coast and countryside, small town life, Seamus Heaney, mighty traditional sessions, salty people and the general magic and madness of the place.

As someone who loves walking, and revels in his freedom to do so on the public footpaths and open access uplands of England, Scotland and Wales, I just couldn’t help but be struck by Ireland’s Big Problem, both north and south of the border – the almost total lack of public rights of way, and the consequent dearth of public footpaths on the Ordnance Survey maps. True, there was the Ulster Way, that unwieldy, half-dead, 500-mile snake of a path with its tottering signs and swathes of boggy morasses. But what about the kind of country walk that people actually want to do? – the circuit of 6 or 7 miles through lovely countryside, chatting to folk you meet on the way, getting a peek into local lives and a sniff of the farming year, up hill and down dale, circling back to the pub where you left the car for a nice pint and a plate of pie and mash. Nothing doing on this side of the water for a stranger who didn’t know the locals. “Ah, sure, you’ll be grand, no-one’ll have a word to say, go ahead and welcome,’ said everyone. Two bulls, four intolerant farmers with their eight fists a-shaking, several miles of barbed wire and uncountable quagmires later, I’m here to report that ‘welcome’ was not exactly the word I’d have chosen.

Until now, that is. All one can say about the Quality Walks developed by CAAN and partners is – about bloody time, and thank you very much! How brilliant it is to be able to find a walk of the right length and in the right place, download those maps and instructions at the stab of a keyboard, and go to the spot to find that, yes, it really is there, properly waymarked, well maintained, and laid out as the map says.

 

I’ve done quite a few now. In Fermanagh the circuits around Castle Archdale on Lower Lough Erne and the fantastic country house of Florence Court; in Armagh the legend-laden walk across Slieve Gullion and a saunter through the wildflower meadows around Oxford Island; in Tyrone’s Sperrin Hills the haunting loop round the abandoned farming valleys of Vinegar Hill. In County Down the Mourne Mountains, of course, up the Hare’s Gap, and along the skirts of the mountains in Tollymore Park; but also a great walk round the eccentrically wonderful gardens of Mount Stewart and a mud slide out across Strangford Lough to Chapel Island.  In Belfast, three contrasting walks – the Bog Meadows, the Lagan towpath and Cave Hill. In Antrim: Ballycastle to Ballintoy along the spectacular Causeway Coast, the crashing waterfalls and forest paths in Glenariff, and two great mountains – the tiny bump of Croaghan and the great big lump of Slemish. And in Derry, so often overlooked by walkers, the long and beautiful strand at Benone, the tanglewood of Drumlamph and the thundering falls in Ness Wood, and the incredible views from the peak of Carntogher.  

My favourite? Oh, lordy. OK, if I have to choose, let it be that mindblowing sunset on Strangford Lough smearing the low-tide mud with crimson and gold, the babble of brent geese on the tideline, and the Mournes outlined in furious crimson as if a sky god had thrown open a furnace door behind them.

Newcastle - Gateway to the Mournes

Posted on January 12, 2011 @ 3:04 PM in

Newcastle: Gateway to the Mournes

Lying where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea, the small coastal resort of Newcastle has long been a popular base for walkers visiting this picturesque area of southern County Down. With the seafront promenade recently receiving an award wining, multi-million pound makeover, Newcastle now boasts a modern, exciting atmosphere rich in natural and built heritage. This rejuvenation has firmly placed Newcastle back on the map as the ‘Gateway to the Mournes’.  

Newcastle is located at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, 31 miles (50km) south of Belfast and 87 miles (140km) north of Dublin.  The town itself nestles quite dramatically beneath the domineering backdrop of Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland’s highest peak (853m). Its name originally derives from a castle which was built at the mouth of the Shimna River by Felix Magennis in the late 16th century. Sadly, this castle has long since been demolished. In the 17^th Century, the area grew as a port and was famously used as a landing point for smugglers who docked their ships full of illicit cargoes of alcohol and tobacco. These illegal goods were then transported through the Mournes to be sold in the bustling market village of Hilltown. This route was used so much that the hooves of the smuggler’s horses defined a distinct track which still exists today and is a popular walking route through the high Mournes known as ‘The Brandy Pad’.

With the proliferation of granite mining during the early 19^th Century, Newcastle Harbour was constructed to load cargo ships full of giant granite blocks which were used to build the famous docks in Belfast and Liverpool, as well as the Albert memorial in London. The harbour still stands today at the southern end of the town and is still used for small fishing boats and leisure cruisers

Nowadays, packed full of quaint cafes, fine restaurants and lively pubs, Newcastle is probably best renowned as an ideal base for activity enthusiasts on a short break and day trippers visiting the Mournes Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). There are a whole host of high quality accommodation providers for visitors on all budgets. For those after a bit of luxury, the Slieve Donard Hotel provides a 4 star service with a high quality spa where you can relax and unwind after an invigorating day in the mountains. Whereas for those on a tighter budget, Newcastle HI Youth Hostel is a traditional hostel which sleeps 13 and SOAK offer unique seaweed bath treatments for affordable prices. There are also a large number of B&Bs and guesthouses dotted throughout this coastal town offering warm hospitality with a personal touch. The Tourist Information Centre, located along Newcastle’s central promenade, has information on and contact details for all accommodations, restaurants, attractions and seasonal events taking place in the town throughout the year. 

Newcastle earns its name as the ‘Gateway to the Mournes’ by being the start point for a large variety of walks in the high Mournes, surrounding forests and nature reserves. From Donard car park, walkers can follow the Glen River on a reasonably steep ascent through Donard Forest to meet the Mourne Wall (GR: J 350,279), where the mountains really open up and offer spectacular walking in every direction. Turning east, walkers can follow the Mourne Wall up to the summit of Slieve Donard with this ascent offering uninterrupted views out over the Irish Sea and down towards Murlough Bay and Newcastle itself.

Heading west, walkers can also follow the Mourne Wall in the opposite direction, summiting Slieve Commedagh and Slievenaglogh before descending to Hare’s Gap (GR: J 323,287). From here there is either the option to take the The Brandy Pad traversing back towards The Castles with views down towards Ben Crom Reservoir or opt for the longer route home along Trassey Track, joining the Mourne Way which leads back to Newcastle via Tollymore Forest Park.

Alternatively, for those looking to enjoy more low level walking, there are options to either follow the Ulster Way from the town centre across parkland and minor roads to Tollymore Forest Park or follow the Lecale Way along the strand towards Murlough National Nature Reserve where there is a 2.5 mile (4 km) circular walk across an ancient sand dune system with panoramic views of the breath taking Mournes mountainscape. 

With access to such a rich variety of walks at both high and low level, it’s no wonder Newcastle plays host to the Mourne International Walking Festival every other year. This festival generally takes place towards the end of June and alternates each year between Newcastle and Warrenpoint on Carlingford Lough. The festival attracts walkers from all over Ireland and beyond offering 3 days of fantastic walking balanced with a vibrant social scene. However walkers can be sure to expect excellent facilities, a lively atmosphere and warm hospitality in this small seaside resort all year round.

Such is the compact nature of the Mournes that there are a number of other smaller ‘gateway’ villages within easy driving distance of Newcastle. Bryansford is a quaint, sleepy village located next to Tollymore Forest Park with great access to the mountains and is a popular spot for walkers looking for a bit more peace and tranquillity. Along the coast are the smaller towns and villages of Annalong, Kilkeel, Warrenpoint and Rostrevor with Hilltown being the main access point to a number of walks in the western ‘low’ Mournes. To find out more information about the vast array of walker-friendly accommodation available, walking routes and other useful information designed to help you plan a walking trip to the Mournes visit www.WalkNI.com.

WalkNI Winter Warmers!

Posted on November 26, 2010 @ 12:19 PM in

Winter Warmers 2010/2011

Take a walk this Dec/Jan and explore Northern Ireland’s stunning landscape as it wraps itself up for winter. There is no better time of year to get out walking, breathing in the brisk, frosty air, reveling in the almost perfect silence unique to this season. Whether you want to just take a short dander along the banks of a frozen river or fancy embarking on a more adventurous snow-capped mountain ramble, Northern Ireland’s landscape is full of great walking opportunities just waiting to be discovered.

Below is a list of ‘Winter Warmer’ walks, so why not head out and explore these natural gems for yourself. With local pubs offering mulled wine around an open fire on your return, what better way is there to earn your seasonal indulgences?!

Glenariff Forest Park, Co. Antrim – 5.9 miles (http://www.walkni.com/Walk.aspx?ID=234)

Winter creates the perfect backdrop to explore this mature woodland, along the edges of steep sided river gorges with freezing waterfalls and open, frosted moorland. The trail first takes you down the Inver River gorge, to the edge of the Ess-na-Crub Waterfall. Once you cross the river at the bottom of the trail, you begin a long and winding climb offering views of the Glens and of the Mull of Kintyre across the sea. You cross over the upper reaches of the Glenariff river at the top of the trail. At this point you are on the frozen peat moorland. Your way back gives spectacular views straight down the misty Glen to the coast and the sea beyond.

 

Slieve Donard, Commedagh and Bernagh, The Mourne Mountains, County Down - 10.9 miles (http://www.walkni.com/Walk.aspx?ID=575)

  

This is a challenging hill walk with some strenuous ascents, but it is certainly well worth it. The walk takes in 3 of the 4 highest peaks in the Mourne Mountains (Slieve Donard 853m, Slieve Commedagh 765m, Slieve Bearnagh 739m) and also the Brandy Pad, a well-trodden and infamous smugglers track. A highlight of this walk is discovering the almost ‘alien-like’ granite tors (pictured above) on the summit of Slieve Bearnagh. This walk also offers wonderful views out to the Irish Sea and inward to the heart of the High Mournes and is a great winter warmer for experienced hill walkers.

 

Castle Archdale Country Park, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland – 5 miles (http://www.walkni.com/Walk.aspx?ID=213)

There is a whole host of history and wildlife on show as you walk around this winter wonderland. There are a variety of walks along the lough shore passing the deer park enclosure, wildfowl ponds, wildflower meadow and butterfly garden. There are also old flying-boat docks, ammunition dumps and slit trenches from World War II. Lough Erne played an important role as the most westerly flying-boat station, from which aircraft protected the allied convoys from the U-Boat threat in the North Atlantic. Winter is a great time of the year to explore this unique setting.

 

Roe Valley Country Park, Co. Londonderry – 7 miles (http://www.walkni.com/Walk.aspx?ID=165)

The Roe Valley Country Park offers a variety of routes along the River Roe or Red River (from the Irish ‘Abhain Ruadh’). This 7 mile walking trail circles both banks of Red River, which originates amidst the peat bogs of the Sperrins Mountains, offering an explanation for its red colour. With the path running through an enchanting oak forest, combining legend with industrial and natural heritage, the park has great appeal. Winter sees the snow settle on the river’s banks and as walkers pass through the forest it is only the call of mallard ducks that breaks the silence. In winter, Roe Valley is a truly special place.

 

Slieve Gullion, Co. Armagh – 9.5 miles (http://www.walkni.com/Walk.aspx?ID=63)

This walk is located within the Ring of Gullion Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Slieve Gullion rises to 573m and is the centrepiece of the volcanic landscape and is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The purples of the heather contrast with the yellow of dwarf gorse and orange of the bracken to create rich mosaics of colours which contrast with the many greens of the agricultural farming landscape. The Ring of Gullion and Slieve Gullion, in particular, have rich associations with Irish legends and myths. In one tale, Finn McCool was bewitched by Miluchra on the summit of Slieve Gullion at the Lough of the Calliagh Bhirra. To this day the superstition survives that if you bathe in the lough your hair will turn white, apt then for a winter walk.

 

Croaghan, Co Antrim – 6.5 miles (http://www.walkni.com/Walk.aspx?ID=57)

Croaghan provides an ideal circular winter stroll rewarding walkers with stunning panoramic views over to Rathlin Island, just off the Antrim coast. At this time of year the walk cuts through blanketed hillsides and crisp forest tracks that hug the perimeter of the snow-coned Breen Forest.

Once you’ve completed the walk why not reward yourself with a hot drink in the nearby picturesque port of Cushendun, where you might be lucky enough to catch a traditional Irish music night in one of the local pubs.

 

Minnowburn & Giant’s Ring, Belfast, Co. Antrim – 2.1 miles (http://www.walkni.com/Walk.aspx?ID=387)

The best time to walk around Minnowburn and Giant’s Ring is on a crisp winter’s morning as the mist hovers just above the River Lagan. When sampling this mysterious scenery it’s easy to see why C.S Lewis drew so much inspiration from this special place.

This trail explores the old Terrace Hill estate lands and remarkable Beech trees of this area of South Belfast. Farmland, river bank, wetlands, woodlands and a formal garden make up this lovely path. It is steeped in history, and is part of the Lagan Valley Regional Park system. As you leave National Trust lands and enter Ballynahatty you pass through the famous Giants Ring, a Neolithic earthwork circle set in the middle of beautiful farmland.

 

Robbers Table, Co. Tyrone – 9 miles (http://www.walkni.com/Walk.aspx?ID=116)

This is an excellent off-road, winter hill walk across rolling hills and frosty moorland. The highest point of this route opens up superb views of the Bluestack and Derryveagh Mounatins of Donegal to the west and the High Sperrins to the north east. As the route climbs south over Ballynatubbrit Mountain it passes Robbers Table, the site where supposed local seventeenth century Highwaymen (Rapparees as they were known) met up to divide their spoils after raiding the postal carriages that traversed this upland landscape.

 

Where to Now? - A New Year, A New You!

Getting out on a ‘Winter Warmer’ walk is a great way to step out into Northern Ireland’s countryside and get back to nature. With turn of the New Year why not set yourself the challenging of discovering more of the great walks across rolling hills, around lakes, through forests and down hidden trails in Northern Ireland.

Walking is a great way to keep fit and is certainly one of the more enjoyable New Year’s resolutions - Nobody really wants to give up chocolate!! For a full list of over 200 quality walks in Northern Ireland just awaiting your discovery visit WalKNI.com (http://www.walkni.com).