A walking holiday through the countryside of the North West Passage, is an ideal way to discover the very atmosphere and history of Ireland. Stretching from Dublin through towns and small villages, the lush plains of Meath to the magnificent mountains of the Sperrins in Co Tyrone and rugged coastline of Donegal and Carlingford in Co Louth.
Take your time, there is no rush. Your guides will accompany you on the organised walks and provide local knowledge as you amble your way through the North West Passage, where wonders unfold.
There is time to explore or just relax in luxury accommodation on the route. To compliment the tour we will visit a number of outdoor centres that explore the history of Ireland, from pre-Christian times.
DAY 1:
On arrival, after checking into your hotel, we invite you on a relaxing warm up for your tour and take part in one of the many self guided walking trails in Dublin city. One option is the Georgian Trail, which follows some of the most attractive period streets in the city. The second is the Old City Trail beginning fittingly enough in College Green where the 18th Century Parliament was located. All along the route are centres of power and influence that have shaped the history of Dublin. An excellent starting point for these city walks, is the Dublin Tourism Centre in Suffolk Street, Tel: 00353 (0)1 60240180, where detailed brochures can be found. From a night at the theatre, to a night enjoying the Cráic, in a traditional Irish pub, the choice of entertainment in Dublin knows no bounds, all of which can be arranged to meet your particular preferences.
DAY 2:
We travel to Slane, the home of the Mountbatten family’s Slane Castle. Discover this “Real Irish Village”, which combines breathtaking views with a vibrancy of Irish history. Here, we set off on the “Up the Boyne Parc” walk. This six mile walk follows the tow path of the Boyne River. On the homeward leg of the journey, there is a picnic site overlooking the river where a packed lunch will be much appreciated. We then travel just a few miles to Brun na Boinne Visitor Centre at New Grange. Here the Passage Tombs of Nowth, Dowth and New Grange are explored and explained on a two and a half hour tour. We then travel to Carrickmacross for an overnight stay in the Nuremore Hotel and Country Club, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, Tel: 00353 (0)42 9661438, E-mail: nuremore@eircom.net . Here you can enjoy a relaxing swim and sauna after the exertions of the day.
DAY 3:
Today takes you across to Carlingford Lough and the “Tain Trail Walk” which encircles the Cooley Peninsula and provides spectacular views of the Lough itself, Warren Point and the Mourne Mountains. This walk starts and finishes in Carlingford and offers a wide range of levels in terms of length of walks if your energy levels are not up to the complete 30km. We travel to Armagh, for an overnight in the new Armagh City Hotel, Tel: 028 37518888, E-mail: info@armaghcityhotel.com , with a very high standard of accommodation and all the facilites you would expect from a modern, yet stylish, 4 star hotel. Tonight we are entertained at The Palace Stables Heritage Centre, Tel: 028 37529629, E-mail: stables@armagh.gov.uk , which is a restored Georgian stables block, set in the beautiful Palace Demesne. You will experience 18th century life in every detail, as the interpreters take you through a day in the life of what was the home of the Archbishop of the Church of Ireland, until the 1970’s.
Day 4:
The city of Armagh is known as the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland. On entering the city limits, the skyline speaks for itself, with the twin Cathedrals (both Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland), making an impressive outline on the horizon. Armagh is a city steeped in history and we are lead through this history on a guided tour called the "Pilgrims Trail", which starts and finishes at Saint Patrick's Trian Visitors Complex, Tel: 028 37521801, E-mail: info@saintpatrickstrian.com and provides an absorbing insight into a city with a very colourful history and yet one which naturally embraces modern times. After lunch in the excellent De Averell House, right in the centre of town, we travel toward Dungannon, which is an area of outstanding beauty and incorporates many potential walks including elements of the Ulster Way and the “Carleton Country Trail”. Your guide will establish your preferences and suggest options accordingly.
Overnight in the Mellon Country Inn, 134 Beltany Road, Omagh, BT78 5RA, Tel: 028 661224, E-mail: melloncountryinn@utvinternet.com , which has a beautiful setting and provides high standards in accommodation whilst achieving a very homely atmosphere.
DAY 5:
The Sperrin mountains, interspersed by numerous glens and rivers, provide the visitor with a sense of space and solitude. The Western Sperrins make up a major part of the Sperrin area, which is designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty and covers an area of over 1000 square kilometres. This unique landscape is rich in natural and archaeological heritage and folklore.
There is a very wide range of potential walks in this area, but an excellent option is the “Gortin Loop” walk, which is 12km long and takes approximately 3½ hours to complete. Starting and finishing in Gortin village, which is set just north of the Gortin Glen Forest Park, which is incorporated into the walk, there are genuinely few more beautiful areas in the Island of Ireland than the Gortin Glens and this walk incorporates all the best elements of the area, such as the Boorin Wood Nature Reserve, the Forest Park itself together with spectacular views of Donegal from Ballynatubbrit Mountain.
For the more adventurous walkers, there is a superb option along what is known as the “Sperrin Ridge”, which takes you from 500 to 670 mtrs and there are options between 10 and 16km over blanket bog and moor land. This option, although more taxing has been walked by people of all ages and offer views which make the effort pale into insignificance. Whatever your preference your guide can tailor make your day walking in the Sperrins region.
We move on in late afternoon, through into Donegal and a stay in the Ostán Na Rosann Hotel, Dungloe Co Donegal, Tel: 00353 (0)75 22444, E-mail: ostnarosann@iol.ie . This well appointed, family owned hotel, overlooks Dungloe Bay and boasts 48 very comfortable rooms and first class dining facilities. Their leisure centre has a 22 mtr swimming pool and a state of the art gym. The hotel provides the perfect location as a base for walking breaks, and will ensure that you experience the very best of Irish Cráic in the evening.
DAY 6:
Today takes us into the beautiful expanses of Glenveagh National Park. Situated to the east of Sli Ulaidh, Glenveagh attracts visitors for its romantic castle, built by George Adair in 1857. Its beautiful gardens and the glorious naturally wild setting round Lough Veagh, where the largest red deer population in Europe is contained, make it an ideal location for walkers of all abilities, as there are a wide range of well signposted nature trails round the park as well as more challenging longer treks. Overnight in the Ostan Na Rosann Hotel.
DAY 7:
From here, we travel toward either Belfast or Dublin for our transfers home.
For further information on this tour, contact The North West Passage, 1 Market Street, Omagh, Co Tyrone, N. Ireland BT78 1EE, Tel:028 82250033, E-mail: info@northwestpassage.org
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