Short Break : Walking in the Cooleys and the Mournes.

Friday March 26th - Sunday March 28th.

Recession Busting Price : €250

Payment in Full

Deposit of €50 required to hold your place

Included in Price :

• Transport to and from Carlingford and the Mournes.
• 2 nights accommodation in wonderfully furnished and comfortable self catering accommodation, “Rampark Farhouse”.
• Guided walks.
• Evening meal in restaurant in Carlingford.

Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula (Irish Times article Why Carlingford is Ireland’s best Kept secret)
If ever there was a place designed for the hillwalker Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula must be it. Carlingford lies on the south side of Carlingford Lough with Slieve Foy as a spectacular backdrop. The mountains of Mourne sit on the other side of the Lough altogether giving Carlingford a very unique blend of natural beauty.
As well as it’s splendid panoramic views Carlingford also hosts 7 very cosy pubs, 9 wonderful restaurants, craft shops, antique shops and much more. The medieval streets of Carlingford are wonderful with many of the original buildings still intact. It has more historical buildings than any other similar sized town in the whole of Ireland.
The area is also a land steeped in myth and legend with The Cattle-Raid of Cooley (Táin Bó Cúalnge). Queen Medb of Connaught gathers an army in order to gain possession of the most famous bull in Ireland, which is the property of Daire, a chieftain of Ulster. Because the men of Ulster are afflicted by a debilitating curse, the seventeen-year-old Cuchulain must defend Ulster single-handedly.

Slieve Foy is said to be the resting place of the great giant, Fionn Machuil. The shape of his body is said to be seen in the shape of the Mountain.

Itinerary of tour:
Fri March 26th
Day 1: Meeting St Stephen’s Green @ 10:00 for here we will drive onto Carlingford Approx 1.5hrs drive.
After we get settled into our accommodation we will then start our 1st walk of the weekend @12:30.
Slieve Foye Loop Walk

Ascent	670m
Distance	10km
Estimated Time	3hrs – 5hrs
Grade	moderate
Start and Finish	Carlingford Tourist Information Office
Terrain	minor roads, tracks, mountain path and open mountain

Slieve Foye

Moderate walk taken at an easy pace for group.

Panoramic views over the Cooley Mountains, Dundalk Bay and even the Isle of Man on a clear day are definitely worth the effort.
After our walk we can freshen up and go into Carlingford and enjoy an evening meal in one of it’s fine restaurants.

 

Sat March 27th
Day 2 : A Walk in the Mournes: Slieve Donard 825m (Highest mountain in Ulster)

After a good healthy breakfast we will leave the accommodation and drive to Newcastle in Co Down.
This is a walk suitable for most walkers offering gentle pace at the start. We will follow a forested track starting at the seaside resort of Newcastle along side a river and out into open mountainside with Slieve Donard to our right. The trail starts to steepen until to reach the famous wall of the Ulster Waterworks that surrounds the whole of the Mourne mountain range. Walking alongside this wall to our right we will eventually reach the peak of Slieve Donard. This is a wonderful walk with views over the entire range of the Mournes and the surounding coastline of Northern Ireland. We will descend down the other side and come out at the Bloody bridge and follow the road back to Newcastle.

Distance: Approximately 14 kms   5 hrs

We will be back in time to have something to eat in Carlingford village and relax for the rest of the evening. Enjoy some live music in one Carlingford’s cosy pubs.

Sun March 28th
Day 3 : Coastal Walk
A walk suitable for most walkers offering gentle pace with regular stops but walking boots and appropriate clothing are essential
Distance approximately 8 kms   3 hrs
Route:
Greenore-Ballagan - Cooley Point - Shelling Hill

16:00 we will say goodbye to Carlingford and journey back to Dublin.

Not Included in the Price: any extra activies, personal drinks, entrance fees to theatres, parks or museums etc. or gratuities.

Guidebook/Map: OSI Discovery Series Sheet 36.
The Táin Way Map Guide EastWest Mapping

What to bring: (as the weather is getting a bit chillier hat and gloves would be essential and plenty of water)

• Hillwalking Boots
• Wind / waterproof jacket
• Socks Leggings / tracksuit bottoms ( not Jeans )
• Thermal top / T-shirt
• Fleece & spare fleece
• Hat &gloves
• Overtrousers
• Food & drink
• Rucksack with liner
• Reflective armband
• Spare socks
• Sun Cream

An alternative route may be taken depending on group and weather. Walking boots and appropriate clothing are essential.

 

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