Fermanagh Walking Festival

FERMANAGH WALKING FESTIVAL

Periodicity: annual

Location:  County Fermanagh, Ulster, Northern Ireland, UK

Time of the year:  October

Duration:  3 days

Number of Walks: 7 walks


1st edition: 2007

2010 edition:  9th - 11th October 2010 
2010 edition  programme: http://www.fermanagh.gov.uk/pubuploads/InformationSheetWalkingFestivalOct2010r2.doc


2011 edition:  8th - 10th October 2011 
2011 edition programme: http://www.fermanagh.gov.uk/pubuploads/Fermanagh%20Walking%20Festival%20Information%20Sheet%202011-1.pdf


2012 edition:
2012 edition programme:

Saturday 8th  October
1. Family Walk 
Location: Pleasure Grounds, Florence Court Gardens and Florence Court Forest
Registration: 1:30a.m. – 2:00p.m. 
(Beginning at 2:00p.m.) at the Stable-Yard within Florence Court Estate
Distance: 2.4km
Approximate Time: 1.5 hours
Route: 

This walk is suitable for most walkers and ideal for those with young children. The walk will proceed at a gentle pace with regular stops. All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. The walk will be lead by Fermanagh District Council's Biodiversity Officer and the National Trust's Conservation Warden. The focus of the walk will be the variety of habitats that can be seen along the walk as well as the species that utilise them. This particular walk celebrates the native Red Squirrel as the walk falls within National Red Squirrel Week. The walk will lead away from the Stableyard and out past the car park following a gravelled track. The walk will take you along grazed pastures with scattered parkland trees, bordered by native woodland. Looping back, we will enter a mixed woodland of hazel, beach and oak where we may see signs of Red

2. Intermediate Walk 
Location: Brookfield/Tullyhona (Florence Court Forest).
Registration: 9:30a.m – 10:00a.m 
(Beginning at 10:15a.m.) at the old Stable-Yard within Florence Court Estate.
Distance: 7.0/8.0km
Approximate time: 4.5 hours
 Route:  

This walk is particularly suitable for persons of moderate level of fitness and for families who have children aged 8 years old plus.  All terrain is moderate and there are pulls on reasonable tracks.  This walk begins at Florence Court House and travels through the townland of Finlane on forest land towards Cobh Rock. The route then traverses across limestone where fossilised corral can be viewed skirting along the southern fringe of Florence Court Forest below the foothills of Trien Mountain following the route of the old Ulster Way. The route then rejoins track through Deerpark and heads north east back towards Deerpark Cottage on the route back towards Florence Court. The walk finishes back in the stable-yard of Florence Court House.  

3. Advanced Walk 
Location: Cuilcagh Way *   
(Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark)
Registration: 9:00a.m – 9:30a.m (Beginning at 10:00a.m.) at the old Cattle Yard within Florence Court Estate. 
Distance: 11/12km
Approximate time: 6.5 hours
Route:

This walk is particularly suitable for the fitter walker with experience of steep terrain and long distances.  This walk is not suitable for persons under 12 years old.  A packed lunch and drinks are essential. 
The walk will begin in the Gortalughany Car Park and transport will be provided to this location from  the National Trust Car Park in Florence Court Estate.  The route progresses for 1.5km along a path which traverses across a variety of rare habitat types including limestone pavement and blanket bog.  At the end of the trackway the walk will continue across upland blanket bog which may at times feel as though you are walking on water! After 6km the steep ascent to the summit plateau begins where panoramic views of the surrounding countryside are spectacular. On the summit plateau (665metres) there is the large stone cairn where magnificent 360° sweeping views can be seen. On a clear day views can encompass counties Tyrone, Donegal, Cavan, Leitrim, Sligo and Roscommon.  If the weather is particularly favourable you might even catch a glimpse of the Nephin Beg Mountain range in County Mayo before we begin the descent back towards the Gortalughany Car Park. 

Sunday 9th  October
1. Family Walk 
Location: Crocknagrally Forest
Registration: 1:30pm-2pm at Cooneen/Coonian Community Hall
(Beginning at 2:15p.m.) at the entrance to Crocknagrally Forest
Distance: 1.5km
Approximate Time: 1.0 hours
 Route:

This walk is suitable for most walkers and ideal for those with young children. The walk will proceed at a gentle pace with regular stops. All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. The walk will be lead by Fermanagh District Council's Biodiversity Officer and the focus of the walk will be the forest's nature conservation value for our native and endangered species, the Red Squirrel. The walk will largely follow a Forest Service track cutting through a conifer plantation of Sitka Spruce, Norway Spruce and Lodgepole Pine. We will follow the track downhill, crossing the Colbrooke, to where the track branches off. From here, we will enter the forest briefly to observe a Red Squirrel drey and its feeding activity of discarded pine cones and hazel nuts. We will need to double-back to make our return to the forest entrance, all the time looking out for an actual sighting of the shy Red Squirrel.

2. Intermediate Walk
Location: Crockacleven/Crocknagrally Forests (Slieve Beagh Mountain  South West)
Registration: 9:30a.m. – 10:00a.m. 
(Beginning at 10:15a.m.) at Cooneen/Coonian Community Hall.
Distance: 10.0km
Approximate Time: 4.0 hours
 Route:
This walk is particularly suitable for persons of moderate level of fitness and for families who have children aged 8 years old plus.  All terrain is moderate with gentle pulls on reasonable slopes. A packed lunch and drinks are essential.    
The walk begins at Coonian/Cooneen Community Hall and traverses along a minor public road for around 2km before turning into Crocknagrally Forest. This forest is largely a conifer plantation of Sitka Spruce, Norway Spruce and Lodgepole Pine. The walk crosses the Colebrooke River and continues along forest track climbing towards Crockacleaven taking in some fine views of the surrounding areas. The walk passes by Crockacleaven Lough before descending through Mullanahaltore and then leaving the track to walk through the forest towards Tattenabuddagh before emerging on the public road. The walk then makes the 2km journey back to the Community Hall, the finishing point of the walk.

3. Advanced Walk
Location: Crocknagrally Forest/Glennoo Mountain (Slieve Beagh Mountain South West)
Registration: 9:00a.m. – 9:30a.m. 
(Beginning at 9:45a.m.) at Cooneen/Coonian Community Hall.
Distance: 13/14km
Approximate Time: 5.5 hours
 Route:

 This walk is particularly suitable for the fitter walker with experience of hills, high levels and long distances.  This walk is not suitable for persons under 12 years old.  A packed lunch and drinks are essential.  Transport will be provided to the start point of the walk.  Walkers will be transported by bus from Cooneen/Coonian Community Hall to the drop off point at entrance to forest track leading to Glennoo Mountain. The route traverses 2km along forest track climbing towards Glennoo Mountain eventually leaving forest plantation to give wide views across blanket bog. On a clear day the town of Fivemiletown can be seen in the distance. The route then crosses a bridge passing a disused fish hatchery before starting the assent towards Lough Natroy. Look out for Hen Harriers and Red Grouse as you take in magnificent views of Sliabh Beagh area. This mountain and the surrounding area is a wildlife haven containing many rare and notable species.  Once past Lough Natroy the route then descends across blanket bog towards Mullaghfad Forest taking in the old Ulster Way route past Brown Hill and back towards Alderwood. The walk traverses back along forest track before emerging on public road for a very short distance before entering Crockacleaven Forest. From here the walk traverses  along forest track towards Crocknagrally Forest taking in some wondering views of the surrounding area. The walk leaves forest track for a short distance across the forest floor until it joins an agricultural lane leading towards the public road at Tattenabuddagh. The walk then progresses along a minor public road for around 2km making the journey back to the Community Hall, the finishing point for the day.

Monday 10th  October 
Inclusive Walk
Location: Castle Coole, Enniskillen
Registration: 10:00 – 10:30a.m. 
(Beginning at 11:00a.m) at the first car park in    
Castle Coole Estate
Distance: 2.0km
Approximate Time: 1 hour
 Route:

This walk is dedicated to and particularly suitable for people with disabilities and is accessible for wheelchair users.  However, wheelchair users will need assistance along lengths of the route.  The walk will proceed at a gentle pace with regular stops and all children under-18 must be accompanied by an adult.  Groups of individuals from organisations should be accompanied by a carer/tutor. This walk will take place within the grounds of Castle Coole which is owned and managed by the National Trust. The route begins at the car park closest to the main entrance and follows the route of the tarmac avenue through spectacular expanses of parkland towards the neo-classical  Georgian building that is Castle Coole itself.  There will also be an option for walkers to explore the newly opened lakeshore walk which encapsulates and offers spectacular panoramic views of Lough Coole and the surrounding countryside. Castle Coole Estate is an area rich in both historical and natural features making it an ideal place for walking.  

Number of participants (average):

Notable walks:

Walks for disabled persons?

Price: Free

Notes: 

Sponsoring: Yes


Organization:  Fermanagh District Council

Contact:
Gráinne O Connor
Environment Officer
Fermanagh District Council
Townhall
Enniskillen
BT74 7BA

Tel: 028 6632 5050
Fax: 028 6632 796

grainne.oconnor@fermanagh.gov.uk
liz.nolan@fermanagh.gov.uk
 

Website:
http://www.fermanagh.gov.uk/index.cfm?website_Key=47&Category_key=133&Page_Key=688

Facebook page:

Logo:



(see in portuguese)