Mourne Gullion Strangford Geopark celebrates success of Outdoor Activity Experiences launch

On Friday, April 19, prestigious guests including travel buyers, media, industry leaders and influencers, travelled from far and wide to come and try out the new collection of experiences and engage with the providers who have worked so hard to develop unique and sellable products that will draw visitors to the destination.

The experiences were also designed and are delivered under the Geopark Code of Practice for sustainable tourism under the ‘Leave No Trace’ principles that promotes the safeguarding and respectful engagement with local communities.

Over the course of the day, the guests had an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the destination’s natural land and seascapes through immersive activities such as ‘Wild River Dipping’ in the Mourne Mountains, ‘Foraging and Farming through the Ages’ in the Ring of Gullion, and a ‘Donkey Trail Through Time’ in Strangford & Lecale.

The outdoor activity and adventure experiences were then launched the following day, Saturday 20 April, to the domestic market as part of the new Mourne Gullion Strangford Outdoor Spring Festival. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Valerie Harte said, "We are delighted by the enthusiastic response by both the tourism industry and the general public to the launch of our new outdoor activity experiences. Immersive and authentic activities are a key draw for visitors to our destination.

"They enhance the visitor experience and can increase opportunities for spend and we were excited to showcase the products to invited guests from the tourism industry and create a memorable stay that they will help sell to an international audience.”

Whether seeking adventure, relaxation, or simply a deeper connection with nature, for those who missed the launch event, the Geopark's outdoor activity experiences are now available for booking year-round. From walking, hiking and hill-walking to e-biking, boating, wild river swimming, bushcraft, seaweed foraging and bird-watching, there's something for everyone to enjoy in the Mourne Gullion Strangford Geopark.

For more information and to book your outdoor adventure, visit www.visitmournemountains.co.uk or contact Newcastle Information Centre: 033 0137 4046.