A fantastic bike & hike challenge on the beautiful Island of Mull. All of the information can be found at www.mullgrandtraverse.com

23/24August

Teams of 3-6 will tackle some of the most beautiful and challenging terrain Scotland has to offer, there are 4 finish points on the route to suit people of all abilities.  We will finish the event with a storming party on Saturday night before returning to the main land on Sunday.
 

  Cross Border Walking Festival

Blackwater Regional Partnership

Three Estates
Caledon , Castle Leslie , Tynan Abbey

Saturday 10 , Sunday 11 May 2008

details

Mourne International Walking Festival                27-29 June 2008

Mourne International Walking Festival will be taking place over the weekend of the 27-29 June 2008, based in Newcastle, Co Down. This is the tenth anniversary of the festival now a well established part of the walking festival calendar in Northern Ireland.
Over the three days of the event there will be walks on offer to suit all levels of ability, experience and fitness with lowland routes ranging from 10-40 km in length. For those who prefer to walk the higher Mournes there will be a hike and a ramble available on the Saturday and Sunday.
Walking in glorious countryside is not the only thing offered. As walkers return to the venue on Saturday and Sunday there will be a chance to listen to traditional music and have a pint or two. The highlight of the weekend is the ‘Blister Ball’ on Saturday night with a hot buffet and entertainment and lots of dancing! 
 To make things easier for walkers it is possible to pre-book walking and Blister Ball tickets ,by pre-booking your place you will also save some money on the registration fee! There is a range of accommodation available in the Mourne area, again booking in advance is a good idea. Please contact Newcastle Tourist Information Centre on Tel: 028 437 22222 or email: newcastle.tic@downdc.gov.uk and the staff there can book accommodation for you.
For further information on any aspect of the festival, please contact Down District Council, Recreation Department, 24 Strangford Road, Downpatrick, Co Down, BT30 6SR, Tel 028 44 610800, or email: info@mournewalking.co.uk

Proposed Cycling Veladrome in Donard Park Newcastle.
Mourne Rambling Club has drawn our attention to the above. They have written a letter of protest to The Down Recorder.  Donard Park is one of the main gateways to the higher Mournes.  It is also a recreational area. To build such an edifice with all its accompanying flood lights , ancillary facilities and parking seems to be an insult to the backdrop of the Mournes.  Surely there is an area of less environmental and recreational value than this ?  UFRC agree totally with Mourne Rambling Club that this would appear to be an ill-considered decision .

The Blackwater Regional partnership
has a new web-site.It includes information on most of the parks and walking areas in this border area .   
There is a full programme of interesting and varied walks in the area during the spring and summer of 2008 .  Why not have a look  www.visitblackwaterregion.com
 

  Waymarked Ways Volunteer Ranger Scheme is now underway

Over 90 people registered to help with the scheme

Application forms can be obtained by contacting:
Eszter Ballo,
Countryside Access & Activities Network, Barnett's Demense, Malone Road, Belfast  BT9 5PB.  Tel: 9030 3935 or e-mail: eszter@countrysiderecreation.com  
Application forms are  also available on the  walkni  web-site.

Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
would be keen for experienced walkers to help assess D of E participants ( people who might, occasionally, check on  a group undertaking Bronze, Silver or Gold Award outdoor activity ) No formal walking qualification required. Contact scheme via its website if you are keen to help.

W.A.I.Update 01st Feb 2008

Sperrins Challenge Walk Saturday 7th June
 Mourne Challenge Walk Saturday 6th September
 

Carlingford Adventure Centre
(15 minutes from Newry) offer Mountain Skills Training 1 & 2. Visit website for dates and details   www.carlingfordadventure.com

CAAN have revamped their walking website.
 The new one is much easier navigated than the previous one
Click on this  link to view  www.walkni.com .      
If you are a walker we guarantee you will enjoy  browsing it . 

CAAN have introduced another new web site to replace "land,sea,water" .   this covers all kinds of outdoor activity and although not specifically for walking is a most useful and interesting site . 
click logo to visit 
  


 

CAAN are working in partnership with the Environment and Heritage Service to develop a new website for the revised Ulster way to be known as ulsterway.co.uk .  This 585 miles circular route is being divided up into "Quality "and "Link " sections .  The web site will include comprehensive information on the Ulster way including signage , interactive maps , descriptions and facilities for each section and transport links .  The new revised Ulster Way is considerably behind the initial timetable and no doubt all those with a keen interest will be glad to know that there appears to be some forward motion . 

Launch of Mourne Way - a 25 miles/ 41km Walking Trail: 
On Tuesday 22nd January 2008, Newry and Mourne D.C. launched the Mourne Way in cooperation with Down District Council, Banbridge District Council and Mourne Heritage Trust. The Mourne Way is a 26ml/41km walking trail, between Newcastle and Rostrevor. It is suitable for most walkers, is a scenic walk between Rostrevor and Newcastle. It is almost entirely off-road and traverses the foothills of the high Mournes in the north and along the western Mournes to reach the foot of Slieve Martin at Rostrevor in the south. The entire route is located within the Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and, along the route, walkers can avail of some wonderful views of the Mournes. The Walking NI website has the full route on-line with maps.
 Click Here for More information.

 Have a look at  
Hill walking in Ireland   This site has a lot of interesting and useful information. 

Would you like to walk or cycle on a traffic free route?

The Comber Greenway is a traffic-free route being developed by Sustrans, www.sustrans.org.uk , the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity, as part of the National Cycle Network along the old Belfast to Comber railway line. The path will provide, when developed, a surprisingly green corridor all the way from the heart of East Belfast to Comber.
For more detail  and latest news visit  http://www.combergreenway.org.uk
There are views of Stormont Buildings, Stormont Castle and of Scrabo Tower but the most remarkable feature is a feeling of escape from the urban bustle of East Belfast. Beginning at Dee Street and passing by the C S Lewis statue at the Holywood Arches, a safe crossing has been put in place to take walkers and cyclists to the 8 miles of traffic-free path.
The path will provide local people with a safe environment for leisure walking and cycling while at the same time offering the commuting cyclist a direct traffic-free route. It will open in stages.