Outdoor Spring Festival launched to promote 15 new outdoor activity and adventure experiences

Visitors hike and forage along the old trail leading up to the booley site, where generations once made local butter by hand.

To expand the visitor portfolio within Mourne Gullion Strangford, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has collaborated closely with the local event and tourism industry to develop a variety of experiences tailored to different interests and abilities that will appeal to both travellers and visitors, as well as local citizens.

Outdoor enthusiasts are now able to book this range of outdoor activities from the Visit Mourne Mountains website: https://www.visitmournemountains.co.uk/whats-on/outdoor-spring-festival. From foraging and yoga to paddle boarding and panning for gold, there will be something for everyone to enjoy this Saturday 20 April.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Valerie Harte said, “We are delighted to introduce these new outdoor experiences through Mourne Gullion Strangford Outdoor Festival. They will highlight the diverse landscapes, vibrant communities and rich culture of our beautiful destination.”

The ‘Sup & Sip’ experience offers the relaxing activity of Paddle Boarding followed by some traditional heartwarming hospitality and local Gin sampling.

Chairperson, Cllr Valerie Harte continued, “Making these experiences available to the general public on the one day also gives the businesses a valuable insight into how to enhance and develop their offering to make the experiences deliverable and profitable products for the future. Whether you are seeking soft adventure or an adrenaline rush, I would encourage you to take this one-off opportunity to try something new in our destination.”

The experiences span across the Mourne Gullion Strangford geopark’s breathtaking landscapes and will promise unforgettable moments for nature enthusiasts, soft adventurers and thrill seekers alike.

Visitors can choose from immersive activities such as ‘Wild River Dipping’ and ‘Foraging and Farming through the Ages’ in the Ring of Gullion, ‘Searching for Gold’ in the Mournes Mountains and a ‘Donkey Trail Through Time’ in Strangford & Lecale.

Nature lovers will love the ‘Flight of the Red Kite’ bird watching tour and ‘The Cloughmore Experience’ guided hike, through visually stunning landscapes above Carlingford Lough with local adventurer and guide, Peter Rafferty.

The ‘Sup & Sip’ experience offers the relaxing activity of Paddle Boarding followed by some traditional heartwarming hospitality and local Gin sampling, and the thrill of electric biking can be found in the tranquil surroundings of Tullymore Forest Park on the ‘Electric Picnic’ guided adventure.

For further information and to book your experience visit: https://www.visitmournemountains.co.uk/whats-on/outdoor-spring-festival