|
N.
|
Visit CAAN'S redesigned Ecotrails web site, now
more visually attractive and user friendly.
EcotrailsNI.com |
Cotswold
are currently getting ready to
open a new Belfast city centre store in a few weeks at Cornmarket. They
are recruiting for Boucher Road store for new members of staff part
time and full time. Anyone interested in joining their team ,email or pop
in the post a CV and covering letter.
Angela Gallagher
Unit 10
Boucher Retail Park
Boucher
BT12 6HU
Belfast
T: +44 28 90 665 003
F: +44 028 90 668 550
|
Carlingford Adventure Centre If
(15 minutes from Newry) offer Mountain Skills Training 1 & 2. Visit website
for dates and details
www.carlingfordadventure.com |
|
The Blackwater Regional partnership
web-site includes information on most of the parks and walking areas in this
border area .
There is a full programme of interesting and varied walks in the area.
www.visitblackwaterregion.com
|
Have a look at
Hill walking in Ireland This site has a lot of interesting and useful
information. |
|
Walking-A Beginner’s Guide
by James Carron
James Carron, based in Scotland,
specializes in active outdoor pursuits
including hill-walking,
mountaineering, mountain biking,
backpacking and camping.
He writes for a number of walking,
outdoor and travel magazines,
books and the Internet.

I received
a copy of this book by James Carron
for review. I found it entertaining, easy to read and
pitched at just the right level for all (young or
old) who have decided to take up walking as a hobby.
The introductory chapters give persuasive reasons
for taking up walking, ideas on getting started and useful hints for those
with health problems. Concise help on boots, clothing, rucksacks, basic
equipment and food and drink is collected together
in an easily read style.
Places to walk, walking with children (I got
a few ideas on walking with my
grandchildren), choosing maps and guidebooks and
estimating walk times are all covered.
A short chapter on responsible walking is filled with useful advice. Access
situations in GB are briefly covered and I might
add that our and antiquated access situation in Northern
Ireland gets a mention.
“There
are very few public rights of way in Northern Ireland and
access to the countryside relies heavily on the goodwill of landowners” .
Countryside
codes, Leave No Trace Ireland, and walking with
dogs are all discussed in this chapter.
The book provides a concise treatment of basic navigation, use of maps in
the hills and how to stay safe while walking.
There is a chapter on “Great Walks in Great Britain”,
including three walks in Northern Ireland, all with basic route information.
Another on ideas for walking holidays abroad, and a final chapter with lots
of information on mountain walking in GB -including our own Slieve Binnian.
The book concludes with a most extensive help list. Around
70 web sites all useful for walking (including
Ulster Federation of Rambling Clubs) are
listed.
I was impressed with this book. It is not designed to get you a
mountain leadership qualification but is nicely written and a goldmine of
useful information. An ideal book for those who have
recently decided to “get into”
walking.
All clubs have minor problems helping “new
recruits” become familiar with walking knowledge and walking rules to observe.
This solves that problem.
“Walking-A Beginner’s Guide” is a book which clubs
could well recommend to new members or perhaps buy
a few club copies for general reading.
Walking-A
Beginner’s Guide is
published by
Need2Know
and is available from
Need2Know
website www.need2knowbooks.co.uk
or
by calling
01733 898103 or emailing
sales@n2kbooks.com . The book is also
available through Amazon and all good book shops ISBN:
978-1-86144-101-0
|
|
The
Marine and Coastal Access Bill
received Royal Assent on Thursday 12 November-an
historic event.
The Bill will ensure the creation of better coastal access, with a new right
to walk along the full 4,345km (2,700 miles) of England’s coastline
providing a permanent right of access to a coastal margin around the coast
(including beaches and cliffs).
The BMC has campaigned for the new access rights to extend from the mean low
water mark to a point inland, and include areas such as beaches, foreshore
and cliffs.
The Bill has received cross –party support and will strike a fair balance
between the needs of landowners and the visitor to the coast. The
Minister for the Environment Huw Irranca-Davies specifically stated that:
“The interests of walkers and climbers, and of the organisations that
represent the interests of those who walk or climb - for example, the
Ramblers Association and the British Mountaineering Council - will be fully
taken into account before any proposals for the route are finalised.” |
|
National Trails Day ~Sunday 3 October 2010
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. CAAN will be leading the organisation and
marketing of National Trails Day for Northern Ireland in partnership with
funders D.of C.A. & L., N.I.E.A., Waterways Ireland and partners National
Trust.
National Trails Day 2009 was very successful in the Republic of Ireland,
Events included “bat walks”, mountain bike cycles, family
orienteering, horse riding, try canoeing, heritage walks and just plain
ordinary walking! Several events were held in Northern Ireland. This year
we hope that in all areas of Northern Ireland we can have a fantastic range
of interesting and exciting things on a trail, be it on land or water.
The next get together of the
Volunteer Rangers will be on Sunday 3rd October, to coincide with
National Trails Day.
A walk from Rathlin Harbour to the
newly designated RSPB Roonivoolin Nature Reserve on the south east tip of
Rathlin Island has been organised in partnership between CAAN and the RSPB.
The walk is testing out a new walking route to the nature reserve and
should last 4-5 hours. The group will meet at Ballycastle Harbour, get the
ferry over to Rathlin and meet with the RSPB who will give a guided walk
down to the reserve. The winter timetable for the ferry crossings has yet to
be published, but current estimates are leaving Ballycastle at 10am and
leaving Rathlin Island harbour at 5.30pm, a 45 minute journey each way. I
will confirm times with you if you would like to attend. The cost of the
ferry travel will be provided by CAAN, but if you are lucky enough to be in
possession of a smart pass, I would be grateful if you could let me know
this when booking your place and if you could bring it with you on the day.
You will also be required to bring suitable clothing, a packed lunch and
enough water for yourself for the walk.
Spaces are limited so please let me
know as soon as you can if you would like to attend!
Diane Patterson
[diane@countrysiderecreation.com]
|
|
CAAN walking website.
Click on this link to view
www.walkni.com .
If you are a walker we guarantee you will enjoy browsing it .
CAAN have introduced another web-site to replace "land,sea,water" ,
this covers all kinds of outdoor activity and although not specifically for
walking is a most useful and interesting site .
click logo to visit |

Events in your area can be promoted on
OutdoorNI.com. ‘Suggest an event’ online by logging on to the
events section
and use
‘click here to suggest an event’.
Submit the events details and image/s. Once approved it will go live on the
website. Please remember all events must be related to an outdoor activity
featured on OutdoorNI.com.
which currently receives approximately 2000 visitors each month with the
events page receiving approximately 500 page views .
|
|
Walking Events 2010 (Thanks to
David Sloan-Wee Binnians, for much info)
|
|
Dates |
Event |
Location and Description |
Contact / Websites |
|
Sat 11th Sept
|
The
Binevenagh Challenge HACK
|
Venue:
North Coast, Northern Ireland
Time: Registration 7am - 8am
Registration closes 27 August 2010 |
You
must register:
Email:
Clare at
hackni@nspcc.org.uk
Website:
Click Here
|
|
|
|
Friday 6th –
Sunday 8th August 2010 |
Sperrins 14th Walking
Festival |
The
festival caters for all abilities including family, moderate and
challenging walks as well as an overnight challenge event. There is
also a range of other activities and events taking place throughout
the weekend. The festival base this year is Plumbridge and
Newtownstewart.
|
Details:
www.sperrinswalkingfestival.com
PDF on Festival.
 |
| |
|
18th & 19th
September |
Castlerock Community Association
First Walking Festival
|
Allowing
walkers to chance to have a guided tour through Binevenagh -an area of
outstanding natural beauty .
Registration for all walks@ 09:00 in the
Peter Thompson Hall, castle rock
|
Contact
numbers:
Coleraine Tourist Information: 028 7034 4723
or visit:
www.coastlinecastlerock.org
More detail:
 |
|
|

|
Waymarked Way
map guide booklets
are available
from Tourist Information Centres or online from Waymarked Ways website-click
on logo below.
Each map and guide booklet is £ 0.50 , a complete set is £4.99.
|
| |
|
|
|
|