Guided walk to visit ‘ghost tree’

AS part of this year’s National Trails Day which takes place on Sunday 2 October, Banbridge District Council has organised a free guided walk that takes in the most breathtaking scenery that the district has to offer.

The district has ‘one of the finest undiscovered landscapes in Ireland’ and by coming along to this walk, you can experience the charm and beauty of the Dromara Hills, hear the story of the ghost tree which once stood near Peter Morgan’s Cottage, have a chat with a friendly local guide about ancient traditions such as Blaeberry Sunday and see where the River Lagan rises.

Starting out at 11am from Peter Morgan’s Cottage, Finnis/Massford you will begin the 6.5 miles walk that follows roads, farm lane and open country to the summit of Slieve Croob (534 m/1755 ft) where on a clear day you can see panoramic views of Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and Scotland.

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Slieve Croob, locally known as ‘The Twelve Cairns’, is at the heart and is the highest point of a very scenic area of hill, moor and farmland between Dromara and Castlewellan, known as the Dromara Hills.

It’s important that you wear suitable footwear and outdoor clothing as the route takes in some open mountain terrain with rough, wet and uneven ground. It is also recommended also that you bring along a packed lunch and a drink.

Numbers will be limited. To book your place, contact the Council’s Countryside Officer on 4066 0617 or email [email protected].

National Trails Day is a celebration of Ireland’s wonderful variety of trails and a chance for everyone to enjoy some of our most beautiful countryside, forests, mountains and lakes. This celebratory day has been funded by Waterways Ireland, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and SportNI with support from the Northern Ireland Forest Service, British Horse Society and the National Trust.

There are over 40 free activity events planned on trails throughout Northern Ireland as part of National Trails Day 2011. To find out about these, visit www.nationaltrailsday.co.uk