Walking in Northern Ireland

If you’re dusting off your hiking boots and looking for an active holiday then look no further than Northern Ireland. With a vast array of forest parks, coastal paths, mountains, beaches and much more Northern Ireland is home to many beautiful regions for walking, all with their own unique appeal. From the secluded coastal tracks, lush Glens and quaint fishing villages of the north coast and Antrim, to the impressive granite tor capped summits and dramatic views found in the Mourne Mountains there is something for all levels of walkers.

With a range of distances to walk you can tailor your stay around where you want to walk. Travel back in time and follow the footsteps of St Patrick through a host of Christian sites at Bangor, the Ards Peninsula, Downpatrick, Newry and Armagh and uncover just how strong Northern Ireland’s links are with this patron saint.

So if you’re planning a walking holiday in Northern Ireland why not stay in a pub? Pubs are a great alternative to hotels and traditional B&B’s giving visitors a special experience incomparable to your average hotel. Pubs don’t just offer a warm comfortable bed after a long day walking but also offers first class food and drink combined with the chance to converse with locals and other walkers.

With all the modern features such as flat screen TV’s, Freeview, WiFi, comfortable bedding and tea and coffee making facilities you’ll be able to sit back and relax in your room after a long day out. In the evening choose from a range of home cooked dishes, from pub classics to meals with a twist. Meals are prepared by excellent chefs who use only the freshest locally sourced ingredients to give you a real taste of Northern Ireland. You’ll be spoilt for choice!

In the evenings there’s plenty to keep you busy, with pubs offering a warm fire in the winter or a beer garden in the summer you can relax after dinner with a pint of real ale. Staying in a pub in Northern Ireland offers walkers the chance to find their own piece of paradise with many areas untouched and unspoilt.

Here are our top three walks for you to try out in Northern Ireland:

The Mourne Mountains– The highest and most dramatic mountain range in Northern Ireland, the Mournes are dominated by a compact ring of 12 mountains, with many of the summits crowned by impressive granite tors. Criss-crossed by an unrivalled network of paths and tracks, there are incredible opportunities to discover the variety of landscapes and habitats within this compact area.

Rathlin Island- Ireland’s most northerly inhabited island, situated a few miles off the north east coast, Rathlin’s wonder lies in the variety of birdlife that grace its shores. Just 8km east-west and 5.5km north-south, it is home to tens of thousands of seabirds, including common guillemots, kittiwakes, puffins and razorbills.

The Silent Valley- Built to supply water to most of County Down and a large part of Belfast, the Silent Valley reservoir is both practical and stunning. Nestled in between the Mourne uplands, walkers can expect this man made feat to live up to its name, with a peaceful silence creating a sense of solitude

Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash