Northern Shores Walk Western Ireland Ireland Discover the enchanting Northern Shores of Ireland on this ingeniously designed trip. This hike is structured to ensure that you get the most of your trip including natural beauty and long standing Irish traditions. Come along for an experience you’ll not soon forget. This hike takes you over the infamous Glens of Antrim, deigned an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, where you’ll find glacial valleys, sandy beaches, vertical cliffs, tundra plateau, boglands, wooded glens, coniferous forests, waterfalls and picturesque villages. We also explore Rathlin Island, an isle of prehistoric volcanic origin that is home to tens of thousands of seabirds. Rathlin Island is also historically important, as it was here that Robert I of Scotland saw the infamous spider that inspired him to keep fighting in 1305. He hid out in a cave among the island’s impressive cliffs that rise to 230 feet (70 m). Along the way we also discover Giant’s Causeway, a group of unique rock formations that have stood for many years against ferocious Atlantic storms. These some 40,000 columns are a result of a volcanic eruption and were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987. Not to be outdone by the outstanding nature, the working man’s history of Ireland will also be addressed in a visit to Bushmill’s Whiskey Distillery. It is believed that the troops of King Henry II drank Bushmills here some 400 years before it officially became a licensed distillery in 1608. Bushmills whiskey is produced, matured, and bottled onsite at this stop along our trek. Another feat of human determination is the Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge we’ll cross. This suspension bridge links the mainland to Carrick Island and is strung 30 metres above the rocks below. Come and explore the beauty and history of the green isle on our Northern Shores Walk!     Tour Highlights - Waterfalls in the Glens - Walking at the Giant's Causeway - Official areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty - A visit to Rathlin Island - Birdwatching at the West Lighthouse - A visit to Bushmills Whiskey Distillery - Crossing the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge - Traditional music in the pubs Walking Tour Meeting: Dublin Airport:   Dublin Transfer: Dublin Trip Brochure (PDF)

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Sample itinerary - subject to changes

The itinerary below is subject to change for varying reasons. Any changes made by the operator and / or the tour leaders will be in the interest and safety of all participants.

Day 1: Arrival
The first part of our journey will take us directly north from Dublin to the coast of County Antrim. We will stop on the way for a visit to Hillsborough the famous and historical village in County Down renowned for its beautiful castle and Georgian houses. For our first two nights we will stay at a lovely guest house with great views of Fair Head and the Antrim Coast. At our evening meal we will run through the details of the week’s itinerary. After dinner there should be time for a short stroll along part of the Causeway Coast.
Terrain: Grassy track, sandy beach
Walking Distance 2 miles (3.2 km)
Overnight: Bushmills, County Antrim
Meals Included: Dinner
 
Day 2: Antrim Coast from Giant's Causeway to Dunseverick
Our walk today will take us along the stunning Antrim coastline, highlighted by the world famous Giants Causeway. The Causeway consists of thousands of hexagonal black basalt columns. Sixty million years ago an undersea explosion resulted in this fascinating geological structure, and it is officially known as one of the great wonders of the Natural World. We break for lunch at the ruin of Dunseverick Castle. The views are spectacular and in fine weather, it is possible to see straight across to the coast of Scotland.
Terrain: well-maintained coast path, beach, cliffs | Elev 600 ft.
Walking Distance 6 miles (9.7 km)
Overnight: Bushmills, County Antrim
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Rathlin Island
Today we take the ferry out to Rathlin Island: the only inhabited offshore island in Northern Ireland. Rathlin is only 15 miles from the Scottish coast at the Mull of Kintyre. We take a trip out to the West Lighthouse: famed for its bird life and home to tens of thousands of seabirds, including kittiwakes, guillemots, puffins and razorbills. Later we will walk down to Rue Point for a fine walk beside lakes and down to see the seals at the southern shore. We return later to the mainland and our guest house to relax and enjoy an excellent meal, perhaps with some locally caught seafood.
Terrain: country lanes, coastal track, rocky shore | Elev 200 ft.
Walking Distance 8 miles (12.9 km)
Overnight: Bushmills, County Antrim
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Antrim to Donegal
This morning, our walk will be at the Ards Forest Park peninsula. This is one of the northernmost peninsulas of County Donegal. This is the longest Ards Forest Park trail, visiting a variety of habitats, with interesting flora and fauna. We switch from level ground at the seashore to more difficult conditions at higher elevations, providing much wonderful hill and coastal scenery. 
We will then make our way to our lovely accommodation in the coastal  village of Dunfanaghy.
Terrain: road, forest, beach / dunes, coast path | Elev 400 ft.
Walking Distance 8 miles (12.9 km)
Overnight: Dunfanaghy, County Donegal
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Glenveagh National Park Hike
We start today with a visit to Glebe Gallery, the former home of artist Derek Hill. Glebe House is in a beautiful setting, beside a lake. We will then make our way to Glenveagh National Park for a walk which begins in the wild country, in the mountains, and finishes at the beautiful Lough Beagh and Glenveagh Castle gardens.
Walk Options: there is a shorter alternative of hiking just one or two miles.
Terrain: lakeside forest path | Elev gain 50 ft. 
Walking Distance 7 miles (11.2 km)
Overnight: Dunfanaghy, County Donegal
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Sheep Dog Demonstration & Hike Foot of Benbulben
This morning we visit a sheep farm for a wonderful sheep dog demonstration with a family who have farmed the hills for generations. We will then hike at Gortarowey, in the foothills of Benbulben.   Our final journey brings us to Strandhill, a few miles outside Sligo Town.
Terrain: woodland paths, lakeside paths, lanes | Elev: 150 ft.
Walking Distance 3-4 miles
Overnight: Strandhill, County Sligo
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7: Departure
Last breakfast together and then we have a two hour drive to Galway City.  It is very straightforward to take a coach from Galway to Dublin City and / or Airport for your return or onward journey.
Meals Included: Breakfast


Note: Many clients come on a tour who wish to do very little hiking. Every day there are alternative options such as sight-seeing, relaxing, reading, painting, listening to Irish traditional music, and generally just soaking up the Irish atmosphere. You can opt out of the hiking on any day! All our accommodations are based in scenic locations, so you are very welcome to just remain “home” for the day.

                                                    Belfast area

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Average High Temperature (°F)	45	46	49	53	58	63	66	65	61	55	50	46
Average Low Temperature (°F)	38	38	40	43	47	52	55	55	51	47	42	39
Average High Temperature (°C)	7	8	10	12	15	17	19	18	16	13	10	8
Average Low Temperature (°C)	4	4	4	6	8	11	13	13	11	8	6	4
Average Precipitation (days of rain)	15	11	12	10	11	10	11	11	11	12	13	13

Source: NOAA


Seasons
From April to October the usual forecast is sunshine and showers. Ireland’s weather is temperate and mild without extremes of temperature. It is rarely too hot for hiking, keeping a comfortable temperature suitable for the hills and valleys and coastal paths. However, sometimes the weather can be changeable and you will encounter four seasons in one day! The Irish sum up their climate this way: "If you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes." It's bound to change!

June is typically the driest month and the winter months of December and January the wettest.

We travel from one location to the next on a comfortable LDV mini-coach with 14 high-backed seats (rarely filled to full capacity so there is plenty of room to spread out). The height of the vehicle allows for excellent views over hedgerows, stone walls, etc. Your luggage is stored inside, not on a roof rack, so there is no risk of it getting wet. We spend from one to three nights in each area and walk the best parts before moving on to our next stop. When we travel between locations we make plenty of allowances for "comfort" stops and coffee / tea breaks. Our vehicles are fitted with stereo systems so you may like to bring along a music tape or two for the driving journeys.

The following items are essential:
- Good strong waterproof hiking boots
- Waterproof jacket
- Comfortable hiking trousers (jeans are not recommended at all as they are too hot in fine weather and too heavy if they get wet)
- Small day rucksack for lunch, drinks, coat etc.
- Water Bottle
- Gloves (even in summer it can get really cool in some hilly and coastal areas)
- Warm Hat
- Personal toiletries and medication
- General warm clothing such as sweaters, track suit bottoms (sweat pants), fleece jacket, etc.
- Sun cream / sun block / after sun cream
- Spending money in Euros (due to the remote nature of our accommodations, it is sometimes difficult to get to banks and cash machines).
- Credit cards are accepted everywhere.

The following items are suggestions:
- Shorts
- Waterproof trousers
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Flask (Thermos)
- Walking pole / stick
- Torch (flashlight)
- Book
- Alarm clock
- Drawing / painting equipment
- Swimsuit
- Insect repellent
- Your favourite remedy for blisters. (I highly recommend a product called “Compeed” which is available in most pharmacists. In the USA and Canada it may be sold under a different brand name. It is manufactured by Johnson and Johnson) 

(Note: Only one suitcase per person please) 

 
Cell phone rental is available and can be pre-booked through www.rentaphone-ireland.com 

If you are travelling from the USA you may wish to check out unlocking your cell phone to use and Irish SIM card. Check out www.unlockitfree.com or  www.bilemo.com/unlock  

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Accommodations
This is a progressive tour so nights will be spent in different locations.

Description
All our accommodations have been carefully selected and are approved by the high standards of the Irish Tourist Board. We have chosen locations of outstanding natural beauty, so that you can enjoy the best of Irish rural life and scenery. You will enjoy top quality accommodation in small, family run guesthouses and hotels whilst being charmed by the hospitable and friendly hosts.
We stay in small hotels, guest houses, farmhouses, B & B's and occasionally castles.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1, 2 & 3: Accommodation in Bushmills
Night 4 & 5: Accommodation in Dunfanaghy
Night 6: Accommodation in Strandhill

Room Occupancy
All rooms are en suite twin, double or single. Singles are available on request for a small supplement.


Meals:
All meals are included in your package.

Each morning, in addition to the famous full Irish breakfast, there are alternative options available. Everybody loves the Irish soda bread, with creamy Irish butter. But for the more health conscious, you can be assured of plenty of fruit, juice, yogurts and cereals.

We take packed lunches for our lunch breaks during our walks. These are provided from our accommodation or from local delis.

Our evenings are a time for reviewing the day's activities and shared experiences on the hills. Evening meals are taken either in the places where we are staying or in local restaurants. You will be pleasantly surprised at the fine quality meals you will enjoy on your tour.

Tack:
Horses:
Pace:		Easy pace. Can skip many of the hikes if preferred. ~5-9 miles per day.
Level:		(2 to 3 out of 5)    Easy
Riders:		Min 5	Max 12

This holiday, guided by someone who really knows and cares for Ireland, is the best way to see this enchanting country; imagine yourself hiking (or walking) over Irish mountains, pausing by Irish lakes, drinking in Irish pubs and listening to traditional Irish music.

These hiking trips show you the best of Ireland, its picturesque scenery, the grandeur of its mountains, the warmth and hospitality of its people and the magic of their music. Call it an Irish walking holiday; a hiking vacation in Ireland; even a sabbatical - maybe you're researching Ireland, perhaps for a thesis or book; or perhaps you want to see the Ireland of your Irish ancestors. Call it any or all of these, but treat yourself to a tour of Erin's Isle anyway.
Our hiking tours of Ireland are fully escorted by experienced, professional guides. We travel through Ireland in groups of no more than twelve people. We will escort you on hikes through Ireland's most scenic trails, walk through undiscovered routes lined with extraordinary vistas.

Ireland has a lot to offer the walker: dramatic sea cliffs, high mountain ridges, quiet green roads, butter roads, fuchsia-lined lanes, heath and moorland, sweeping expanses of beach. And then there are the sleepy villages, oak woods, sky-blue lakes, torrential waterfalls and babbling brooks.
Ireland's climate ideally suits the walker as generally it rarely gets too hot to be uncomfortable. Rain and cloud-formations are what bring the interesting light patterns and rainbows. The Western coast and islands are known for magnificent sunsets.

Don't be surprised at the very few people you will meet whilst walking, after all, the entire population of Ireland is only around four million! Ireland is a birdwatcher's paradise with many rarities such as the corncrake. It is also a great place for botanists, especially the area of the Burren, Co. Clare.

Maybe the best attraction of all is the people, you'll never find another place like it for hospitality, friendliness, warmth, generosity, humor, love of life and love of the land.

Hiking Level
It is important that you are fit and at least a regular hiker / walker. When we do half day walks the distance covered could be from 4 to 9 miles, when we do full day walks the distances covered could be 6 to 13 miles. The pace is relaxed with time to enjoy your surroundings, take pictures, watch the birds, etc. Generally the terrain comprises of combinations of tracks, lanes, moorland, heath, coastal paths, beaches and mountain paths. You may choose not to walk on certain days, it's your holiday, there are always alternatives. You may prefer to relax at our accommodation, draw, paint, read, think...
Generally after a day of walking we can help ourselves to complimentary tea and coffee at our accommodation. We allow for some relaxation time before dinner. We have an official "Diary" which has been kept by previous groups and you may choose to make a contribution at the end of your day. After dinner there is nearly always the option of visiting the local pubs for some traditional music and dancing.

Passports

Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all except:

(a) 1. persons born in the UK travelling direct from the UK (applicable to British passport holders only).

Note: Whilst UK citizens do not require a passport or visa to enter Ireland, most carriers by air or sea now require some form of identification with photograph, usually a passport or driving licence with photo. Visitors should check what form of ID is required with the individual airline, ferry company or travel agent before travelling.

(b) 2. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.

Note: EU nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU Member State. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Either is acceptable. Possession of a return ticket, any length of validity on their document, sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit should not be imposed.

Passport Note

3. Imposition of a return ticket as a condition of entry is at the discretion of the Immigration Officer at point of entry.



Visas

Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for the following durations:

(a) nationals of EU countries for an unlimited period (nationals of EU countries wishing to stay for longer than three months must register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau).

(b) nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA for stays of up to 90 days.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements 

Passport Required?
British	1
Australian	Yes
Canadian	Yes
USA	Yes
Other EU	2
Visa Required?
British	No
Australian	No
Canadian	No
USA	No
Other EU	No
Return Ticket Required?
British	No
Australian	3
Canadian	3
USA	3
Other EU	No