Wee Binnian Walking Festival

WEE BINNIAN WALKING FESTIVAL

Periodicity: annual

Location:  Newry, County Down, Ulster, Northern Ireland, UK

Time of the year: September

Duration:  3 days

Number of Walks:  9 walks (guided)

1st edition:

2010 edition:  10th - 12th September 2010 
2010 edition programme:

2011 edition:  9th - 11th September 2011 
2011 edition programme: http://homepage.eircom.net/~weebinnians2/webpages/Festival_2010/Fest09Walks.htm 

 Friday 9th September
Grade II Slieve Gullion
Approx 8km Height Gain: 574m
Route: Killeavy Old Church >Ballard >North Cairn >South Cairn > Slieve Gullion Car Park
A huge heather clad bulk of mountain overlooking the South Armagh countryside and encircled by a geologically unique ring of hills known as a Ring Dyke.

Saturday 10th September
Grade I Mournes:
Approx 12km Height Gain: 1060m
Route: Happy Valley – Meelmore – Slieve Bernagh – Slievenaglogh – Slieve Carrag – Slieve Commedagh – Shan Slieve – Donard Park 

This is a strenuous Grade I Walk in the high Mournes with beautiful views over all the peaks and into Newcastle and Dundrum Bay.

Grade II Mournes:
Approx 12km Height Gain: 480m
Route: Happy Valley – Col at Meelmore/Meelbeg – Hare’s Gap – Brandy Pad – Col at Donard/ Commedagh – Slieve Commedagh – Shan Slieve – Donard Park

A most enjoyable walk on the western side of the Mournes with tracking into the centre of the Mournes and finishing with spectacular views where the Mournes sweep down to the sea..

Grade II Cooleys:

Approx 12km Height Gain: 500m

Route: Ravensdale Forest – Ben Rock – Clermont Cairn – Cairnawaddy – The Castle – Lumpers Pub.

A Beautiful introduction to the heathery mountains of this area rich in the folklore of Cuchulainn who walked these hills 2000 years ago.

Grade III
Gap of the North History Walk – 5 km

The walk starts at Faughart Graveyard, near site of battle in 1318 in which Edward Bruce was killed. Walk continues past St Brigid’s Shrine through the Gap of the North where O’Neill fought Mountjoy in 1600, and on to Moyra Castle and the Kilnasaggart Stone. Walk ends near Jonesborough at the Carrickdale Hotel

Sunday 11th September
Grade I Mournes:

Approx 14km Height Gain: 950m

Route: Attical – Slivemageogh – Pigeon – Slievemoughanmore – Eagle – Shanlieve – Pierces Castle – Tornamrock – Rocky – Leitrim Lodge.

This is a strenuous grade 1 walk sarting in the East of the Mournes and encompassing some of the better ridge walks in the Mournes.

Grade II Mournes:
Approx 9km Height Gain: 620m

Route: Attical – Eagle – Shanlieve – Pierces Castle – Tornamrock – Leitrim Lodge.

Commencing Eastern side of the Mournes, this walk takes us over one of the most prominent mountains in the Mournes - Eagle mountain and finishes inm the tranquil settings of Leitrim Lodge

Grade II Cooleys:

Approx 12km Height Gain: 589m

Route: Carlingford > Forest Car Park > Eagle Rock > Slieve Foye > Barnavave > Ruined Village>Carlingford

A craggy mountain dominating the Carlingford landscape with a famous ridge stretching 2 kilometres from the head at 589m to the toe at 384m.

Grade III Smuggler’s Walk (South Armagh Border)

Approx  4 km, Height gain: 200 m

The walk starts from Cornamucklagh House (Davey’s Pub). We visit the site of a monastery in the Ferry Wood wiped out by the Vikings in 845, then follow the border stream up through Fathom Wood to Larry Tam’s Loanan where a poet and highwayman came to a bad end. Back by secret lanes and pathways to Cornamucklagh House.


2012 edition:
2012 edition programme:

Number of participants (average):

Notable walks:

Walks for disabled persons?

Price:  Paid


Notes:  Evening Entertainment:
http://homepage.eircom.net/~weebinnians2/webpages/Festival_2010/Fest09Entertainment.htm

Sponsoring: Yes


Organization: The Wee Binnians Walkers

Contact:
Eoghan Baile  
Phone:  086 843 4440
   
Mick O’Driscoll
Phone: 087 827 9413
  
Des McConville
Phone: 077 3042 2617
 
weebinnians@eircom.net


Website:
http://homepage.eircom.net/~weebinnians2/webpages/Festival_2010/Fest2009Homepage.htm

Facebook page:

Logo:

Vídeos:

(see in portuguese)