IT’S time to dust off those walking boots and prepare to rediscover the natural beauty of the local landscape as the Sperrins and Killeter Walking Festival gets into full swing in September.
A number of exciting new walks for all ages have been planned for the diverse and picturesque Sperrins and Killeter areas, taking place on Saturday September 12 in Glenelly, and Sunday September 13 in Killeter.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Councillor Elisha McCallion, said she was looking forward to finding out more about the hidden secrets of the region, and encouraged everyone to take part.
“The Walking Festival offers the perfect excuse to explore our local natural environment and find out more about the Tyrone and Donegal regions. It’s ideal for all ages as there are fantastic new types of walks on offer, with routes for all abilities, and plenty of beautiful scenery along the way.
“The Walking Festival weekend also coincides with European Heritage Open Days, providing the perfect opportunity to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of our region.
“I would encourage everyone to take part!”
Adventure company Far and Wild is co-ordinating the festival walks and speaking ahead of the event Director Lawrence McBride said: “We have worked with local communities in rural Derry and Strabane to come up with some great routes and new ideas this year.
“This year in Glenelly we have a fascinating ‘Bat-Moth Twilight Walk’ along the Bradkeel Forest trail for families, a ‘Traditions of the Sperrins’ route through the Barnes area for moderate walkers (including a scone-bread making demonstration), and an exploration of the Ulster Appalachian Way for the more experienced.
“In Killeter local guides lead an easy village-based Spiritual Traditions Walk exploring the history of each local religious congregation, while moderate walkers will have the opportunity to capture some of the unique features of the lakes and peatlands of Killeter during the Photographing Ecology Walk. Our big route we are calling the ‘Killeter Camino’, tracing the pilgrim routes and early settlements of the Tyrone and Donegal border.”
It costs £5 per walk to take part in the Festival, and to find out more about the variety of walking routes and to register please go to www.sperrinskilleterwalking.com or Facebook at /sperrinskilleterwalking
