From September 13th to 15th, join us for an unforgettable weekend of adventure, nature, and community at the 2024 ​Inishowen Walking Festival. Discover hidden gems along scenic trails, enjoy family-friendly walks, and capture stunning ​photo opportunities.

Connect with fellow nature enthusiasts and participate in special events and workshops. Don’t miss out on this ​incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in the natural splendor of Inishowen!

See Below list of walks ​taking place across the ​peninsula this year with ​more to be added across ​the week.

BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW!

#InishowenWalkingFestival2024

Buncrana

Walk 1: Heritage Walk

When?: Saturday September 14th, 12 noon

Where?: Meet At The Stone Jug, Cahir O'Doherty Ave, Buncrana

Distance?: Approx 2 -3 km. Easy, flat,( mostly pathways).

Duration?: Approx. 90 mins.

Dog friendly?: Well Behaved Dogs welcome on a leash

What to bring?: Rain Jacket, sunscreen, water

Accessibility: Wheelchair and Buggy friendly

Enjoy a walk in the historic and scenic Cahir O Doherty Avenue, Castle Bridge, Swan Park area ​of Buncrana. Enjoy a potted history of the area from early settlement to medieval. Hear ​snippets of history from the building of the modern the of Buncrana in 1718 to Wolfe Tones ​landing at Buncrana in 1798 and the history of the spinning mills in what is now Swan park and ​it’s benefactor Harry Swan.

Buncrana

Walk 2: Wellness wander

When?: Friday September 13th , start 6pm

Where?: Meet At The Exchange, Castle Avenue, Buncrana, F93 FE09

Distance?: Approx 2 - 3km , Easy , Flat / smooth (mostly pathways)

Duration?: Approx 1 hour

Dog friendly?: Well Behaved Dogs welcome on a leash

What to bring?: Rain Jacket, sunscreen, water

Accessibility: Wheelchair and Buggy friendly

Take a gentle evening stroll with us to unwind and de-stress. Slow down, relax and enjoy ​nature for this lovely well-being walk with opportunities to enjoy mindfulness, poetry and ​music along the way. Discover the benefits of walking for mental health. Hosted by Insight ​Inishowen, this walk will start from The Exchange Community Centre at 6pm and end up back ​at the centre after one hour for refreshments. Watch out for some heart-warming surprises ​along the way.

Buncrana

Walk 3: An Amazing Journey

When?: Sunday September 15th , start 3pm

Where?: Amazing Grace Park, Tourist Office, Railway Road, Buncrana

Distance?: Approx 2 - 3km , Easy , Flat / smooth (mostly pathways)

Duration?: Approx 1 hour

Dog friendly?: Well Behaved Dogs welcome on a leash

What to Bring?: Rain Jacket

Accessibility: Wheelchair and Buggy friendly

From pop concerts to civil rights marches and from folk music to funerals, the song Amazing ​Grace is known and loved around the world. Join us for a walk through Amazing Grace Country ​discovering the story behind the song and its connection with Inishowen. Starting at the Amazing ​Grace Park at 3pm on Sunday afternoon, we will walk along the shore to the Amazing Grace ​Viewing Point before ending up at The Exchange Community Centre for a delicious afternoon tea ​(transfers back to the car park available on request). Watch out for a little music and a few ​surprises along the way.

Walk 1: Fox’s Rock & Bulba Way

When?: Saturday September 14th, start 10AM

Where?: Meet At Artlink, Fort Dunree , F93C424

Distance?: 8.5km , Moderately Strenuous, Bog tracks and hill

ground which may be boggy and wet in places.

Duration?: Approx 3-4 hrs

Dog friendly?: No Dogs Please

What to bring? : Rain Jacket, Walking Shoes, Camera, Water

Accessibility: Paths and trails not suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs

This hike is a looped walk which will travel towards and just under the iconic Bulbin Mountain. ​Guided by Sharon Porter of Solas Ireland Walks and Hikes, this is a tranquil and gorgeous walk ​with stunning views of the Urris Hills, Desertegney, Clonmany and Lough Swilly throughout. This ​hike is over mixed terrain including track, bog and hill ground which may be boggy, slippery and ​rocky underfoot. A good level of fitness is required for this walk with up-hill sections and a total ​ascent of 250 metres.

Walk 2: The Whispering Sea

When?: Sunday September 15th, start 2:30pm

Where?: Meet At Artlink, Fort Dunree , F93C424

Distance?: 3km , Easy , tracks and trails

Duration?: Approx 2hrs

Dog friendly?: Well behaved dogs on leads only please

What to bring? : Rain Jacket, Walking Shoes, Camera, Water

Accessibility: wheelchairs and buggies could struggle on the trails

The International Artist in Residence at Artlink at the time of the Inishowen Walking Festival is ​Arijit Bhattacharyya. Born in West Bengal, Arijit is an artist and independent curator currently ​based in Weimar. He will spend one month in the area gathering materials for an exhibition at Fort ​Dunree. He will use the gallery space as his studio. For the 'Walking Festival' he invites you for a ​stroll by the sea for a collective storytelling session.

Drumfries

Barna Mór and Barna Beag

When?: Friday September 13th, start 10am

Where?: Sliabh Sneacht Centre, Drumfries, F93 K6PH

Distance?: 6km , Moderately Strenuous, Loose blue stone path

Duration?: Approx 2 hrs

Dog friendly?: No Dogs Please

What to bring? : Walking Pole if desired as the path is fairly steep in parts, water,

Rainjacket, Camera.

Accessibility: Not suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs

Starting from the Sliabh Sneacht Centre, this 6 km walk ascends the twin hills of Barna Mór and ​Barna Beag, known as the King and Queen of the Mintiaghs. The first half is uphill on a loose blue ​stone path, offering spectacular views of Lough Swilly, Sliabh Sneacht, Lough Min, Lough Fada, ​and the distant Atlantic Ocean. Led by a knowledgeable local guide, you'll explore unique upland ​flora and fauna in this unspoilt natural area, with stops to learn about the region's culture and ​heritage.

Malin Head

Walk 1: To Portmore Pier

When?: Friday September 13th, start 5:30pm

Where?: Malin Head Community Centre

Distance?: 5.4km , Easy, road and beach

Duration?: Approx 1hrs

Dog friendly?: Well behaved dogs on leads only please

What to bring? : Rain Jacket, Walking Shoes, Water and a smile!

Accessibility: wheelchairs and buggies could struggle on the beach

This walk leaves Malin Head Community Centre and goes right to an area known as the Captains ​Road. This walk continues to Sandport and along the beach to the Port Mor Pier. There will be an ​informal chat of the local stories of Stumpy, Smuggling and the weather station formally the ​Coastguard Station. We will then return to the Community Centre, it takes about an hour and is ​suitable for all abilities

Malin Head

Walk 2: To Banbas Crown

When?: Saturday September 14th, start 10am

Where?: Malin Head Community Centre

Distance?: 10.5km , Strenuous

Duration?: Approx 2hrs

Dog friendly?: Well behaved dogs on leads only please

What to bring? : Rain Jacket, Suncream, Walking Shoes, Water and snacks.

Accessibility: Physically demanding walk, hills, may be difficult for wheelchairs and

buggys

Starting from the Community Centre on Saturday Morning 10am, We will embark upon ​Ballyhillion Tower (or Banba’s Crown). This walk returns the same way and has stunning views of ​the Garvin Isles, Instrahull and the Tor's.

Greencastle

Shroove Head Loop

When?: Saturday September 14th, start 11am

Where?: Shroove Head Carpark (NOT the beach carpark)

Distance?: 8km , Moderately Strenuous , Hilly Rough Terrain

Duration?: Approx 2-3 hours

Dog friendly?: Well behaved dogs on leads only please

What to bring? : Rain gear, Walking Shoes, Water and sunscreen

Accessibility: Strenuous hill walk/hike with loose stones underneath, not suitable for wheelchairs ​and buggies

Shroove Head Loop follows bog roads, laneways, rough tracks and minor roads and takes in a ​WWII Lookout Tower on Inishowen Head, the shoulder of Crocknasnug and the point at Portkill ​from where St Columba left for Iona. There is wonderful coastal scenery including, on clear days, ​Scotland. Guided by local historian George Gillespie.

Newtowncunningham

Newtowncunningham Loop

When?: Saturday September 14th, start 2pm

Where?: Newtowncunningham Orange hall , F93 RD79

Distance?: 10km , Moderately Strenuous , Mainly Roads, some paths

Duration?: Approx 2.3-3 hours

Dog friendly?: Well behaved dogs on leads only please

What to bring? : Rain gear, Walking Shoes, Water and sunscreen

Accessibility: Mainly surfaced road some pathway which may be slippy if wet, steep hills may be ​difficult for weelchairs and buggys

Walking a loop starting from Newtowncunningham Orange hall (F93 RD79) taking in the ​following attractions Site of the Castle, Newtowncunningham bridge, old Railway Station, ​Embankments, Grange graveyard, Blanket Nook wildlife sanctuary, Burt Castle, local churches

Muff

Greenway Wander to Wellness

When?: Sunday September 15th, start 10am

Where?: Kilderry/Muff Village,F93E032

Distance?: 2.5km , easy , flat, wheelchair accessable

Duration?: 1.5 hours

Dog friendly?: Well behaved dogs on leads only please

What to bring? : Rain gear, Walking Shoes, Water and sunscreen

Accessibility: Roads/pathways, wheelchair and buggy accessable

A short, walk & talk, on Muff Greenway, as it winds through Kilderry Woodland, delivered through ​English with bi-lingual references.

Facilitated by Michaela Mc Daid-Ecotherapy, the ​conversation will introduce and ​explore the ​benefits of social activity, bio-diversity and interests and the contribution these can make to ​​wellness.

The emphasis is on talk, with the broad themes of environment, traditional cures and practices, ​local placenames and plant life and their origins in the Irish language.

Start point Muff Community Park but the event is designed to be entirely inclusive and can be ​accessed or joined at any point en-route.

Suitable for those with restricted mobility, using their normal support structures.

Moville

Vistas & Villas

When?: Sunday September 15th, start 2:15pm

Where?: St Eugene’s Hall via link minibus to Lafferty’s Lane

Distance?: 2.5km

Duration?: 2 hrs

Dog friendly?: No Dogs Please

What to bring? : Rain gear, Walking Shoes, Water and sunscreen

Accessibility: Minibus not accessible for wheelchair users

Taking in Moville’s historic seaside villas and the panoramic vistas their architects responded to - ​and how they framed key vistas and views - whether they were designing individual buildings or ​designing Moville’s beautiful public spaces.

Discover all kinds of 18th, 19th and 20th century architectural jewels and gems along Moville's ​shore path that, collectively contribute to making this picturesque, planned town a stand out ​place among the litany of Ireland's coastal towns.

Open to all ages and backgrounds we'll wend our way from Glenburnie at the bottom of Lafferty’s ​Lane via the Moville shore path, then meander up to Moville's historic core.