Walking Vacation in Northern Ireland
This 8-day guided walking tour of Northern Ireland will take you to the Irish Lake District of Fermanagh, the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark, through the Mid-Ulster heartland of Northern Ireland, to Seamus Heaney Country and the Sperrin Mountains.
Travelling further north, we will then visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Giant’s Causeway as we explore the majestic Causeway Coast. We will then travel south via Belfast to St. Patrick’s Country on the shores of Strangford Lough.
Finally, we will travel to the Kingdom of Mourne and the fabled Mountains of Mourne where the mountains rise from sea to sky. This walking holiday covers the extraordinary landscapes and legends of Northern Ireland. Come join us!
If you’re considering other routes or destinations, take a look at our many self-guided walking tours of Ireland. Alternatively, you could join one of our small-group guided walking tours of Ireland for camaraderie and leave every detail to your guides.
Do feel free to get in touch with any queries at all. We’re always quite happy to chat about our many walking routes to help you choose the right one for you
Your Northern Ireland Guided Walking Holiday
Prices / Dates
Price: €1,449 per person sharing
Single Supplement: +€450
Tour Dates 2023:
Saturday, 15th to Saturday, 22th July
Saturday, 2nd – Saturday, 9th September (Fully Booked)
Tour Dates 2024:
Saturday, 31st August to Saturday, 7th September
Tour Grade: Easy to Moderate
Accommodation: 3 Nights Hotel, 2 Nights Country Inn & 2 Nights Guesthouse Accommodation
Included / Excluded
- All accommodation is approved and all rooms will be en-suite.
- All transport to include: Pickup and return to Dublin Airport.
- All transport to and from walks.
- Meals to include: 7 breakfasts, 4 evening meals
- Admission to Seamus Heaney Homeplace.
- City Walking Tour of Derry
- Entry to the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
- Entry to Gobbins Path Tour
- Evening Meals on day 2, 4, & 5
- Picnic Lunches.
- Entry fees to Titanic Centre or Black Taxi Tour.
Guided Walking Itinerary for Northern Ireland
Departing Dublin Airport at 1 pm, we will travel north, stopping at the historical site of the Loughcrew Cairns, a neolithic network of burial chambers dating back to 3500 BC. We’ll then continue on our way to the Irish Lake District of Fermanagh, where we will spend the first two nights of our walking holiday.
Today's guided walk is a scenic isolated trail meandering along farmland tracks, across a boardwalk over ancient bog lands, and on to a wild plateau trail and the mountain summit at 666 metres above sea level. On the summit stands an ancient burial cairn dating to somewhere around 2500-500 BC. You will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the countryside below. Distance: 14 km/9 miles, Ascent: 550 m/1804 ft.
In the morning, we will visit the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark, one of the finest show caves in Europe. You will be guided by a local guide through a fascinating natural wonderland of rivers, waterfalls, and the beautiful cave formations. The caves may be closed during periods of heavy rains.
In the afternoon we will travel to the City of Londonderry in the North-West, where you will have a guided walking tour of the Walled City before resting for the night.
Today we will travel to Bellaghy where we will visit the Seamus Heaney Homeplace Centre in the morning. In the afternoon, we will travel to the Causeway Coast and the world famous Giant’s Causeway.
The Causeway was declared Ireland’s first UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986. Some of the 40,000 polygonal basalt columns are over 6 feet tall, neatly standing side-by-side. The formation is over 55 million years old.
Our walk takes us along the beautiful shore to the astonishing Causeway where we will explore the landmark. The area is home to over 200 varieties of plant species and birds, including the Chough and Peregrine Falcon.
Distance: 10 km/6 miles, Ascent: 80 m/262 ft
Today we start the day in Ballintoy where you will have the opportunity, if you dare, to cross the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge. The bridge links the mainland to the tiny island of Carrick-A-Rede. It spans 20 metres and is 30 metres above the rocks below.
Mid-morning, we will travel south along the Causeway Coastal Route to Island Magee and the iconic Gobbins Cliff Path. There, we will take you along a narrow path hugging the dramatic cliff face, across spectacular bridges amid the crashing waves of the North Channel, traversing hidden tunnels under the Irish Sea, up and down rugged staircases carved into the cliff face, and into caves that were once home to smugglers and privateers. This is a true adventure!
Distance: 5 km/3 miles, Ascent: 250 m/820 ft
Today we begin our journey in Belfast. You will have some free time where you can choose to visit the award-winning Titanic Centre, take one of the famous black taxi tours of the city's cultural murals, visit the Ulster Museum, or relax and enjoy the city's many shopping opportunities.
In the afternoon, we will travel to Downpatrick and visit the Downpatrick Centre and St. Patrick's grave before finishing with a relaxing walk along the shores of Murlough Beach.
Distance: 5 km/3 miles, Ascent: 50 m/164 ft
We will begin our guided tour today in the seaside village of Dundrum with its 13th-Century castle. You’ll enjoy majestic views of Dundrum Bay and the Mourne Mountains before taking a short drive to our walk in the Mourne Mountains. Our walk will follow the old smugglers path of the Brandy Pad to the famous Mourne Wall at the saddle of Slieve Donard. From there, we will descend along the Glen River to the seaside town of Newcastle. Distance: 12 km/7miles, Ascent: 550 m/1804 ft
Your guided tour of Northern Ireland now comes to an end and we must depart after breakfast to arrive at approximately 12 pm to Dublin Airport.
