Heritage Walks Festival Downpatrick and beyond
Connect with our local heritage and environment in this exciting range of themed walks
Monday 12th to Saturday 17th
June 2023
Monday 12 June
Saint Patrick and the Pagan Hills
Join guide Duane Fitzsimons and walk through the byways of Saint Patrick’s Country exploring a landscape of ancient monuments and saintly connections.
Time: 9am (meet at the St Patrick Visitor Centre)
Length: 10km
Grade: Easy/Moderate
Cost: £50 (pre-booking required)
Tobar Mhuire Estate and Woods
Join Killyleagh Walking Group for a morning walk through the beautiful and historic Tobar Mhuire woods.
Time: 10:30am (meet outside Reception at Tobar Mhuire)
Grade: Easy/moderate
Cost: Free (pre-booking required)
Explore the Quoile
Join guide Mairead Sweeney to explore the history of the Quoile river and pondage, from its site as the earliest settlements in Downpatrick, through its heyday as a bustling port and centre of industry.
Time: 7:00pm (meet at the Quoile Countryside Centre car park)
Grade: Easy/moderate
Cost: Free (pre-booking required)
Booking details and more information:
W: www.visitmournemountains.co.uk
W: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/saint-patricks-countryinternational-walking-festival-tickets-626112578577
www.facebook.com/nmdcouncil
www.twitter.com/nmdcouncil
Tuesday 13 June
Tobar Mhuire
Join the Crossgar ladies walking group on a short (3km) walk through the beautiful grounds of Tobar Mhuire monastery. Following a short ascent we will take a moment to enjoy the views of the spectacular Mourne mountains before descending back into Crossgar. Refreshments afterwards at Cafe Q, kindly sponsored by Clanmil Housing.
All who identify as female and are over 18 years of age are very welcome to join us.
Time: 6.45pm (meet at The Square in Crossgar)
Grade: Easy/moderate
Cost: Free (pre-booking required) at: W: forms.gle/Tx8yMnANxjMcXjBv7 or email: crossgarladywalkers@gmail.com
Wednesday 14 June
Downpatrick and the 1798 Rebellion
Join Linda McKenna who will lead this walk exploring the role of the County town in the history of the Society of United Irishmen and the 1798 and 1803 rebellions.
Time: 10:30am (meet at Down County Museum)
Grade: Easy/moderate
Cost: Free (pre-booking required)
Booking details and more information:
W: www.visitmournemountains.co.uk
W: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/saint-patricks-countryinternational-walking-festival-tickets-626112578577
www.facebook.com/nmdcouncil
www.twitter.com/nmdcouncil
Thursday 15 June
Explore Downpatrick’s Archaeology and Early Settlements
Join Dr Colm Donnelly of Queen’s University Belfast who will lead this walk exploring some of the most important archaeological and historical sites in Downpatrick.
Time: 6.30pm
(meet outside Down County Museum)
Grade: Easy/moderate
Cost: Free (pre-booking required)
Booking details and more information:
W: www.visitmournemountains.co.uk
W: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/saint-patrickscountry-international-walking-festivaltickets-626112578577
Friday 16 June
Saint Patrick’s Way, Camino and Canoe Adventure
Enjoy a fully guided camino walk with the added bonus of canoeing the Quoile Pondage to Inch Abbey, taking in the stunning views of wildlife and ancient monuments. Also includes a visit to Saul Church, the Saint Patrick Centre and Saint Patrick’s Grave at Down Cathedral.
Time: 9:00am (meet at the St Patrick Visitor Centre)
Length: 10km Grade: Easy/moderate
Cost: £50 (pre-booking required)
Meelmore Lodge (Over 50’s walk)
Join Kilbroney Ramblers in this walk around Meelmore Lodge. Kilbroney Ramblers is aimed primarily at the 50+ age group. Choose from two graded walks: T Grade: for those who want a low level easy walk (2 hours). C Grade: For those who are ready to take to the hills but not too strenuous (3 hours). Please note dogs are not permitted on these walks.
Time: 10am
Length: 5/10km Grade: Easy and Moderate
Cost: Free (pre-booking required)
Incorrigibles and Unfortunates:
Gaols in Downpatrick
Join Linda McKenna to explore Downpatrick’s four seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth century gaol sites and the stories of their prisoners. The walk will finish at the Gallows Hill, the traditional execution site in Downpatrick where many ‘incorrigibles and unfortunates’ ended their days.
Time: 7:00pm (meet outside Down County Museum)
Length: 5km
Grade: Easy/moderate (but please note there is a climb to the Gallows Hill)
Cost: Free (pre-booking required)
Booking details and more information:
W: www.visitmournemountains.co.uk
W: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/saintpatricks-country-internationalwalking-festival-tickets626112578577
www.facebook.com/nmdcouncil
www.twitter.com/nmdcouncil
Saturday 17 June
Saint Patrick Coastal Camino
Travel by coach to Ballyhornan Beach for a spectacular coastal walk along sandy trails and cliff tops en-route to Saint Patrick’s Well by the sea. Includes a walk to the historic Ardtole church, the charming medieval port of Ardglass and lunch at the oldest golf club in the world.
Time: 9:00am
Length: 10km
Grade: Moderate
Cost: £50 (pre-booking required)
Valhalla - The Walk of the Vikings
Dress up and follow in the footsteps of Viking raiders to the Medieval Settlement at Ballydugan. Starting at the Saint Patrick Centre Vikings will march to their settlement in Ballydugan where a straw man will be set on fire.
Time: 2:00-5:00pm
Length: 5km
Grade: Easy/moderate
Cost:£5 (pre-booking required)