Irish Hospitality:

Information:
Walkers Welcome B&Bs have been approved by the Tourism Standards Approval Board and are recognised as providing specialist services for walkers. Your hosts have an interest in walking and hiking themselves. Hosts will be on hand to talk about the different walking routes in their locality and will provide valuable tips on the terrain, length of hikes and what fitness level would be required.  They have the contact details for local walking guides, maps and information about transfer pick up points.  B&B owners have also been known to drop guests to the location themselves!

Facilities:
Walkers Welcome B&Bs provide excellent facilities for their walking guests. There will be no more worries about where you are going to store your walking gear when travelling. Walkers Welcome B&Bs are prepared for you and you equipment! Homes will provide shelving, hangers and wall hooks for your outdoor clothing and equipment in a separate location from your bedroom. They will also provide drying facilities and emergency
rain gear if required. This can only make for a more relaxing holiday environment.

Locations:
Walkers Welcome B&Bs are located in every city, town, village and countryside location throughout Ireland. Unlike hotels, which tend to be located in main areas, you will never be too far away from a welcoming Bed and Breakfast. You will find Walkers Welcome B&Bs in close proximity to all the well known walking routes, but most importantly, you will find them close to the walking ‘gems’ that aren’t so well known and are just waiting to be explored. Remember, you hosts will know those hidden treasure trails and will guide you straight to them.

Personal Touch:
The ‘personal touch’ is one of the most important reasons for staying in a Walkers Welcome B&B.   If you want a unique holiday experience and to immerse yourself in Irish traditions and culture, then bed and breakfast accommodation is for you. Who wants to be just a room number on vacation? When you stay in an Irish B&B you are not a room number, but a special guest, who will be welcomed in and made to feel like a long lost family friend. Hosts will immediately put you at ease and make you feel at home. There is a saying amongst Irish B&Bs: ‘Arrive as a guest, leave as a friend.’

Cork City Council have created Cork Walks, four self guided walking trails taking you to various parts of the city so you can discover the heritage of Cork at your own pace. Brochures and maps are provided and colour coded information points throughout the city are available. Here is just a small insight into where these trails take you.

The City Centre Island Walk

Cork City is enclosed by the north and south of the River Lee and this trail is a one hour long walk of the city centre island. Throughout the walk you will witness some of Cork’s stunning buildings including City Hall. This walk takes in the diverse bridges that were built to accommodate shipping and rail services. The walk also visits the iconic English Market which has gained an international reputation as a food emporium. The English Market is a must see for any food enthusiast and is a perfect end to this walk.

University Walk

The University walk again has many pit stops each with fascinating architecture and unique stories. The Trail begins at Christ Church which continues through to the Courthouse and enters the college campus of University College Cork (UCC). The campus has some beautiful limestone buildings and an equally impressive University Quadrangle. This trail is rich in political and industrial heritage and documents the development of Cork City as a medieval marshland right through to its modern glory.

The South Parish Walk

The South Parish Walk concentrates on the southern side of Cork and features the development of mills to breweries. This walk also highlights the religious diversity celebrated in Cork with St. Finn Barre’s Cathedral and the Synagogue on South Terrace both visible along the trail. The South Parish Walk reveals some telling tales and is worth every step.

The Shandon Walk

The Shandon Walk is another window into the past of Cork City with a journey to Cork’s most successful enterprise, The Butter Exchange Complex. The Journey then continues through many Anglican and Catholic Churches and also informs the walker of the political changes that occurred in Cork from the renaming of streets.

Cork City Walks is a definite must when visiting the Rebel City. Not only is it extremely informative and free, it allows you to view the City at your own leisure. Make sure to check out the many Cork Bed and Breakfast’s on offer also. We’re sure our hosts could add some fascinating stories to the history of Cork City!

This walking festival is open to all levels of fitness and skill and is a great way to meet individuals from all over the world. The festival invites you to walk and talk while providing some of the most scenic views Ireland has to offer.

From Thursday to Sunday walkers have the choice of undertaking a 10km or 20km road walk, or opt for the popular ramble, a 5 hour trek which takes the walker through bog and heather moorland and provides panoramic views of the Mayo Mountains and valleys. These walks are led by guides with an extensive knowledge of the area. The Ramble is a great chance for walkers to converse while taking in Mayo’s natural beauty. It is essential to bring suitable equipment as the Rambles are in remote areas. Waterproofs, spare socks, walking boots and walking poles are a must as the bog lands can be quite wet. While the Ramble is a very popular event, the road walk is equally enjoyable with route maps provided.

This festival is more than just a walking weekend however. There will be entertainment throughout with an Irish Night with the Rolling Waves and Cresham School of Dancing on Thursday while the closing ceremony features live music with Brown Sugar at the Welcome Inn Hotel. It is sure to be a fun-filled weekend from start to finish. Registration is required for the Walking Festival and people are advised to book in advance as this is a popular festival among walking enthusiasts.

There are many Bed and Breakfasts available in Castlebar that have been approved as Walkers Welcome by the Tourism Standard Approvals Board. These B&B’s provide ample storage space and drying facilities for outdoor clothing and also hosts acquire an extensive knowledge of walking trails in the surrounding areas.

So whether your a casual, intermediate or very experienced walker, the Castlebar Walking Festival is a great choice for anyone who appreciates fun, exercise and beautiful surroundings. Visitors can always expect a warm welcome from locals. More info can be found by contacting the following address: info@castlebar4dayswalks.com

Killarney National Park has some great walking routes that take you around some of the most idyllic locations beneath the backdrop of the rugged mountain summits of McGillycuddy’s Reeks. The park was established in 1932 to protect one of Ireland’s most precious and impressive natural settings. Walks can vary in length from two hours to a full day and will take you through ancient woodlands, around beautiful lakes and across various terrains.

A great way to experience the delights of Killarney National Park is to take a guided walking tour. The walking guide knows the region like no other and will be able to take you on walking routes best suited to your walking skill levels and will make sure you get the most enjoyment from your hiking adventure. On your walks you can visit places like the old copper mines, the 6^th century monastery ruins on Innisfallen Island or the 15^th Century Ross Castle.

The park is home to the native red deer and also the Japanese Sika deer which was introduced to the park in the 19^th Century. You will get the chance to see wonderful sights such as the Torc Waterfall and have the opportunity to climb up along its side, right up to the summit and see out across the outstanding scenic landscapes. Across the various trails you see delightful fauna and various types of wildlife.

B&Bs in Ireland now have the opportunity to be approved as Walkers Welcome and there are ample Killarney B&Bs that have availed of this. They provide secure storage and drying facilities for your walking equipment. Hosts have a specific interest in walking and are able to provide comprehensive information on walks in their area including lists of times; distances and what walks will be best suited for your walking ability. They provide contact details for walking guides and will be able to give you details of pick up locations. They can even provide emergency rain gear. As everyone is aware, the weather in Ireland is changeable, so make sure to bring suitable outdoor clothing.

Thanks to Ireland’s changeable climate, the Emerald Isle enjoys lush green landscapes and a beautiful clean environment, which is just one of the reasons why it such a wonderful walking holiday destination.

This is a fantastic walking festival that is inclusive of all walking skills and fitness levels. Walking groups, clubs and individuals are encouraged to come along and be part of this wonderful festival.

There are three different guided walks scheduled for each day of the weekend and all hikes will be led by experienced members of the Galtee Walking Clubs. One walk will cater for the very experienced walker, one for the experienced walker and there will be one for casual walkers, it will be less taxing, but just as exciting. Every walk will bring its own unique delight with spectacular landscapes and scenic views, ancient ruins, wildlife and fauna definitely on the agenda. Just make sure you have your camera at the ready as you’ll want to take loads of memorable photos.

This festival is not only a walking weekend, but it is also a chance to meet and mingle with fellow hikers and generally have fun and enjoy the craic with like minded people in a relaxing and friendly environment. There will be a great evening of music and entertainment on the Saturday night in the local Coach Road Pub. A courtesy bus has been organised to collect and drop you back at the end of the evening from your chosen accommodation. This will leave you with only one task to complete and that’s to have a great evening!

There is plenty of excellent, yet affordable accommodation available in the Glen of Aherlow region, with a choice of hotel and bed and breakfast properties. B&Bs in the area have been approved as Walkers Welcome by the Tourism Standard Approvals Board. They will have shelving, storage and drying facilities for outdoor clothing and also detailed knowledge and information regarding walks and trails in Glen of Aherlow.

Suitable clothing and equipment is very important and will help you get the most out of your Tipperary walking experience.  Make sure you have your mountain boots, waterproofs, tracksuit, cap and whistle with you. No jeans are permitted and if you haven’t got the correct footwear, unfortunatley you won’t be allowed on the trek as safety is paramount. The cost of the guided walks range from €15 to €20 and this includes bus transfers and refreshments.

So, if you have always thought about taking a walking break, but have never followed through, then the Glen of Aherlow walking festival is a good choice for you. Visitors to the region will receive a very big “Cead Mile Failte”.  So this June, no excuses, pack your rucksack and head for Tipperary.

This well organised festival is not only a chance to hike over the most stunning and scenic landscapes in Ireland, but it is an opportunity to explore the other delights this area of natural beauty has to offer, including delicious local cuisine, comfortable and welcoming accommodation and local pubs that will be a hive of activity over the festivities. The atmosphere will be mighty with great traditional music and lively entertainment provided in the bars. It is a chance to mix will fellow walkers and meet the locals, who are known for their friendliness. The social highlight of the weekend will be the ‘Blister Ball’ which will be a casual dance, with great live music and a hot supper provided.

Over the course of the three day walking festival there will be a variety of self-guided lowland walks, rambles and hikes that will be fully way-marked. There will also be mountain rambles, which are more challenging than the lowland walks, so you will need a reasonable level of fitness. These walks are guided by experienced local club members. The high level mountain routes are very strenuous and require a high level of fitness. Again, an experienced local club member will lead these walks

The Mourne Mountains offer some of the best walking experiences in Ireland  and the scenery is spectacular. You will be able to see various types of fauna and flora along routes and the Mournes are also home to Peregrine Falcons, wrens, buzzards and red kites. Interestingly, the region can lay claim to over three hundred and fifty ancient monuments!

So, if you are looking for weekends that will tick all the boxes, then put the Mourne International Walking Festival into your diary, dust off your hiking boots, pack your camera and prepare for a wonderful weekend. Because this is such a popular event it is advisable to pre-book in advance. You can contact the orgainiser on the following email address: info@mournewalking.co.uk

Whether you are on holiday or living in Ireland, it is a great day out for all the family and it doesn’t cost a penny. Walking is good for you and releases feel good endorphins, putting everyone in a good mood. It is a win, win situation.

I know if you suggested walking to the youngsters, there might be a few moans and groans initially. But once they are out and about, they will realise there is so much more to this outing. It’s all about picking the right walks and if you do, you’ll see fabulous scenery, plenty of wildlife and interesting historic ruins. It’ll be fun exploring the area and sure, why not stop for a picnic en route?

Drewstown Woods – Girly Bog Loop in Co Meath is graded as an easy walk and is 6km in length. The loop covers a variety of landscape of forest and bogland and has been developed as an Eco walk with interpretive panels throughout. Completing the trail should take about two hours and you will see a wonderful array of bird-life, plants and animals along the trek. Important archaeological finds were made in years gone by including swords, jewellery, trumpets and human bodies. Interestingly, these artefacts would have been preserved by the acid nature of the bog.

Jenkinstown Wood Loop is just a ten minute drive from Kilkenny City and was once part of a large estate. The house has long gone, but there are remnants of the 1870 parkland that have survived, including trees called Chinese Necklace Poplars. This is another great family friendly walk which is graded as easy. It will only take an hour and a half to complete and is about 4km long. Relax and enjoy the beauty of this wonderful parkland. The youngsters will have the opportunity to feed deer in the enclosed park. Wildlife  includes foxes, badger, stoats and both red and grey squirrels.  The woods are also home to pheasants, ravens, long-eared owls and bats that reside in the old church. There are picnic tables within the park so that you can sit down, have a bite to eat and marvel at your picturesque surroundings.

Oak Park Loop in Carlow is another walking trail that is not too taxing. Graded as easy, it is 4km in length and will take about an hour and half to complete. This walk takes you around the scenic location of the lake, where you will see swans and ducks in their natural habitat.  Stroll amongst beech, ash, Scots pine and larch trees and enjoy the extensive range of ferns, mosses and woodland flora. Oak Park is a lovely location with a range of  wooded beauty spots.

Clare Island– Fawnglass Loop is located on Clare Island off the coast of Mayo. This walk lies at the entrance of Clew Bay and is 3km in length. It is graded as easy and will take about an hour and fifteen minutes to complete. The scenery is outstanding with a spectacular backdrop of the Clare Island clifftops. The island is rich in archaeological remains of the Neolithic and the Bronze Ages. Rare medieval wall-paintings can be viewed in the 14^th century Cistercian Abbey, which is well known for its rare medieval roof paintings. A ferry crossing to the island takes twenty minutes and runs at regular intervals.

So, if you are looking for a perfect day out that won’t break the bank, and that all the family will enjoy, then look no further than a leisurely walk around some of the most scenic locations in Ireland. Why not stay in the area a bit longer and book yourself into a Walkers Welcome B&B?

South Donegal has some fantastic walking routes that are suitable for every level of walking fitness. Hiking routes take in historic ruins, wildlife, fauna and unbelievable scenery. Donegal’s secret weapon is that it has escaped the riggers of modern construction and is truly an idyllic location that offers visitors beauty and tranquility.

Lough Eske Loop Walk  is 6km long and will take approximately two hours to complete. This walk is graded easy to moderate, so would be suitable for most walking levels. The walk is well-sign posted and will take you along the shore of Lough Eske River, incorporating stunning views of The Bluestack Mountains and surrounding countryside. Ard na Mona Nature Reserve is along the route and is home to red deer, red squirrels, foxes and many bird species. Look out for the Famine Pot which dates back to the 1840’s and is allegedly the largest in Ireland.

Cashelard Loop Walk is about a five minute drive from Ballyshannon Town on the N15. Follow the signs for Cashelard Village. The walk commences at the car park next to the Traveller’s Rest Pub, Cashelard. This walk is 6.5km long and will take about two hours to complete. It is graded as easy, so it is suitable for all fitness levels and the terrain is along country roads. Along the route you will see the derelict ancestral home of ex British Prime Minister Tony Blair, which was the birth place of his mother, Hazel Corscadden. The area is rich in flora and fauna and is also home to the Hen Harrier, which is a rare bird of prey.

Creevy Pier Coastal walk takes you for a hike along the dramatic Donegal coastline. The walk commences next to Creevy Pier Hotel, which is well signposted out of Ballyshannon Town. This hike is 6km in length and will take about an hour and a half to complete. The terrain is grassy track, stiles and country roads, so caution is required. The hike is graded as moderate and walking boots are advised. You will enjoy fantastic views of cliff-tops and rocky coastline as well as the spectacular Donegal coast, Dartry Mountains and Ben Bulben Mountain.

There is also a delightful coastal walk  in the picturesque seaside resort of Bundoran, fast becoming the surfing capital of Ireland! The Roughey walk is approximately 4km in length and is graded as a moderate walk, due to its hilly incline. This is a lovely family walk, but caution is required with youngsters, as there are steep drops in many places along the path. The terrain is made up of a concrete path that meanders its way adjacent to the spectacular North Atlantic Ocean. The views are truly spectacular and there are benches placed intermittently along the scenic route so walkers can sit and admire the beautiful and dramatic landscapes. On a clear day you can see as far as Sliabh Liag, which is the highest sea-cliffs in Europe.

As you can see there are some lovely walking trails in South Donegal, each one as spectacular as the next . There are plenty of Walkers Welcome B&Bs available in Donegal. They will have signs outside their home to say they welcome walkers and when you book your accommodation online it will specify which homes are approved as Walkers Welcome.

With a rich history which has inspired some of the world’s greatest writers, poets and musicians, Ireland has a unique culture too. Walkers have a variety of terrains to choose from, but Ireland is not a country of natural extremes, so almost everyone can find their perfect patch of this island heaven.

Ireland’s longest hiking trail The Kerry Way in the country’s south west is popular with walkers seeking a variety of walking conditions amidst world-famous mountains and Ireland’s oldest national park.

The wonderfully named MacGillycuddy Reeks – also known as the Black Stacks – are Ireland’s highest range, but while the more adventurous will want to tackle the Hewitt’s (peaks over 2,000 feet), the Kerry Way sticks to the lower slopes, offering spectacular views and wild splendour without the need for a full blown expedition.

Killarney town is the start and end of the trail and a wonderful place to visit in its own right. It is one of Irelands’ top tourist towns and has been attracting visitors since the 18^th century. The nearby Killarney Lakes, remote and mountain-ringed in the Black Valley, will have photographers in raptures. Innisfallen, the monastic island in Lough Leane; was occupied by early Christians in the 7^th century and is reputed to be where Brian Boru, the great Irish king was educated.

The Killarney National Park was gifted to the Republic in the 1930s and is now home to the nation’s last herd of native red deer.

Mountains, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, the ocean, archaeology and lively towns, the Kerry Way has it all. With trails to suit the beginner or more adventurous hill walkers, this is a wonderful way to discover some archetypal Irish landscapes, cuisine and hospitality.

There are a great selection of Walkers Welcome B&B accommodation in Killarney. Homes that have been approved by Failte Ireland that specifically cater for the avid walker. These B&Bs provide suitable secure drying and storage facilities for outdoor walking gear along with shelves, hangers and wall hooks. Emergency rain gear is also provided. Your hosts  have an interest in walking and therefore are able to provide you with information on the best hiking routes, times, distances and suitability of walks.

This year the festival has linked up with Croi, which is a heart and stroke charity, to encourage people, young and old, to get out and exercise. The festival hopes to create awareness of the importance of being active and walking is one of the best low-impact forms of aerobic exercise readily available to everyone.

The 61km walking trail will be staged over three days and an average of 20km is expected to be covered each day. The walk will commence in Balla which is just outside Claremorris in Co Mayo and will finish in the picturesque village of Murrisk. The village lies at the foot of the famous Croagh Patrick Mountain on the shores of Clew Bay.

Refreshments and transport will be provided each day and walks will be led by experienced guides. There will be different levels of walks including moderate to hard, gentle local loop walks, heritage site visits and local myths and legends walks. This is a stunning national way-marked trail and you will be able to enjoy the wild and magical Mayo landscapes along with stunning and fabulous views of Croagh Patrick.

If you are thinking about visiting Co Mayo, then why not book a break around the time of this three day festival? It’s an ideal opportunity to immerse yourself in the local community and enjoy a stunningly beautiful and an unspoilt environment. There is so much to do in this attractive county and is an ideal destination for any outdoor enthusiasts. There is also a great selection of B&B accommodation that specifically cater for activity holiday breaks and provide facilities for guests that includes shelves, hangers, storage and drying facilities for outdoor gear.