Ballyhoura International Walking Festival 2017 – “All roads lead to Ballyhoura this May Bank Holiday weekend”
Event Dates: May Bank holiday weekend 28th April to May 1st 2017
(Lough Gur Mystical Walk – April 30th)
Throngs of walkers are expected to descend on the many towns and villages of Ballyhoura Country over this coming May Bank Holiday weekend. The festival, now in its 24th year is expecting to attract walkers throughout the weekend from all over Ireland and appealing to many of our overseas visitors and friends.
The festival provides an opportunity to explore some of Ballyhoura Country’s stunning countryside in the company of guides from the Ballyhoura Bears walking club. The Festival features a packed programme of walks for all abilities, from the enthusiastic well-equipped walker who relishes the challenge of the A & B walks on the Saturday and Sunday morning, to the gentle ramblers who are out to enjoy pleasant guided walks in the company of local experts in the fields of heritage, archaeology, history, flora and fauna. This year our big A walk will be as a fundraising event for Carebright Dementia Hub, a led Galty Mountain Climb. Sponsorship cards are available through Carebright for this event and we are looking for lots of walkers to come out and support this fantastic cause.
Registration for Saturday & Sunday A walks take place at the Kings Yard outside Mitchelstown and Murroe N.S from 9.30am with both walks starting at 10:00am. The nature walk registration starts at 11.30am and this will be at the Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Park giving people the opportunity to explore the tracks and trails of the Ballyhouras. The facilities at the trailhead provide secure parking, toilets and shower facilities and also provide an opportunity for walkers to see the array of bike routes, trim trail and nature trail located here. Post the Galty Mountain Climb there will be a restorative yoga class held in Kilbehenny Community centre to ease weary muscles starting at 2pm!
This year the Festival line up on will include a range of walks including a new and exciting singles walk along the Keale River from Darragh to Ballyorgan, this is an over 18’s walk as a drink or 2 may be consumed at the bars located at the start and end point, this walks will also involve a bus transfer from Kilfinane , also a Film screening at the Church of Ireland Kilfinane, Moon walk on the Friday night and a induction to Geocaching. Find out about the history, folklore and archaeological walks at Lough Gur, a heritage walk at Doneraile park, historical walks in Kilfinane. All walks should prove hugely popular and provide great insights into some of the areas finest historical, heritage and archaeological attractions.
Pre registration is very important so please contact Reception at the Ballyhoura Offices, Kilfinane on 063-91300 or email reception@ballyhoura.org today.