THE MOURNE MOUNTAINS & GIANT’S CAUSEWAY HIKING WEEKEND IN NORTHERN IRELAND

 FOR DETAILED INFORMATION WITH PICTURES OF THE TRIP CLICK HERE  

Join us for a weekend of hiking across some of the most scenic terrains that Northern Ireland has to offer. Climb the Mourne Mountains & visit the world-renowned Giant's Causeway

ITINERARY

OCTOBER 9th, FRIDAY

ARRIVE BELFAST ANYTIME DURING THE DAY – TITANIC MUSEUM

  For those of you that can spare an extra day, then visit Belfast's iconic Titanic Museum

Titanic Museum (Optional activity for those arriving in the morning) https://titanicbelfast.com/ 

DAY 1: OCTOBER 10th, SATURDAY 

GIANT’S CAUSEWAY

On Saturday (Approx 10.00am) we head from Belfast to the picturesque Northern coast castle of Dunluce, Before heading to our starting point for this walk Dunseverik harbour. The walk will take us along the beautiful Irish coastline to the famous Giants Causeway.

Here we can take time to see the sights before ascending past the "organ" to the path at the top of the Cliffs. Taking in the views above Port Moon Boothy we head to Dunseverick Castle and then to our finishing point at Dunluce castle. The walk will take around 5 hours

Distance approx: 13 miles

The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. It is located in County Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles (4.8 km) northeast of the town of Bushmills. 

It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986, and a national nature reserve in 1987 by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. In a 2005 poll of Radio Times readers, the Giant's Causeway was named as the fourth greatest natural wonder in the United Kingdom. The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although there are also some with four, five, seven or eight sides. The tallest are about 12 metres (39 ft) high, and the solidified lava in the cliffs is 28 metres (92 ft) thick in places. 

DAY 3: OCTOBER 11th, SUNDAY  

MOURNE MOUNTAINS

We head from Belfast to Meelmore Lodge, from Meelmore Lodge we follow the Trassey Track steadily upwards to Hare’s Gap where we take a left along the Brandy Pad for a few miles passing below the towering Castles of Commedagh.

The Mourne Mountains also called the Mournes or Mountains of Mourne, are a granite mountain range in County Down in the south-east of Northern Ireland It includes some the highest mountains in Northern Ireland, including Slieve Donard at 850 m (2,790 ft). The Mournes is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and in 2002 the Environment and Heritage Service commissioned a study on the potential benefits of establishing the Mournes as one of the first national parks in Northern Ireland, though this is yet to occur. The name Mourne (historically spelt Morne) is derived from the name of a Gaelic clann or sept called the Múghdhorna.

We will have a short climb to the saddle between Commedagh and Donard, where we should have good views down over Newcastle. We will then climb Slieve Commedagh before descending along Slieve Corragh and Slievenaglogh back to Hare’s Gap and eventually back to the Lodge for tea and cake.

  The walk should take around 5 hours and will be at a brisk pace along good paths for the best part of it. 

Grade: Moderate 

Distance: 11kms (7 miles approximately) 

Time: Approx 5 hours 

Highest point: Slieve Commedagh 767m 

Terrain: mountain paths and open mountains. After the walk, there will be coffee and cake time in Olive's Bazaar. After which we will make our way back to Belfast International Airport

COST: £195

PAYMENT

Bank Account: 41764527

Sort code: 40 09 25

Reference: Your name / Peak District

Includes: 

· 2 nights (Friday & Saturday) accommodation in a Guest House / Hostel in the city centre

· 2 Breakfasts

· All transportation during the week-end:

(a) Belfast (Guest House) - The Mourne Mountains - Belfast (Guest House)

(b) Belfast (Guest House) - The Giant's Causeway - Belfast International Airport

· Services of a Belfast based Hike leader for 2 days

Does not include: 

· Flights to Belfast

· Titanic museum entry

· Dinners / Lunch

Currently, flights on EasyJet are £70-80 London - Belfast International return. So book soon if you want to avail yourself of these rates

BOOK ANY FLIGHT BACK TO LONDON THAT LEAVES AFTER 7:30 PM