Ballyhoura International Walking Festival- Review

Walkers Looking across the Golden Vale from the summit of Blackrock on the Ballyhoura Mountains

Another Walking Festival has come and gone, we would like to thank all of our leaders on all of the walks over the weekend which had torrential rain but didn’t dampen the spirits of all that attended. We would like to acknowledge the support of Limerick Local Authority, IPB and Failte Ireland through the Community Diaspora Fund.

Celebrating 21 years & the first Walking Festival in Ireland

Get your boots on for the 2015 Ballyhoura International Walking Festival!

Over a 1,000 walkers are expected at the Ballyhoura International Walking Festival. Together, they will cover a total of 20,000km and burn 40 million calories over the May bank holiday weekend!

The Ballyhoura International Festival isn’t just Ireland’s oldest walking festival – it’s one of the most popular too. Last May bank holiday weekend (May 2-4th), some 1,000 walkers were expected to descend on Ballyhoura Country, covering an average distance of 20km each.

That’s 200 million steps, or more than 40 times the length of Ireland. Not only that, but walkers are set to burn a collective 40 million calories too – not a bad return from the fresh country air.

Walkers enjoying the spring air and clear views on the Ballyhoura Mountains with Caslteoliver in the Background

Now in its 21st year, the festival sees guides from the Ballyhoura Bears Walking club leading a packed programme for all abilities – from the hardy hiker to gentle ramblers enjoying the company of local experts in the fields of heritage, archaeology, history, flora and fauna.

Ballyhoura Country features 1,500km of National Loop Walks & Way Marked Ways, including the historic Ballyhoura Way. Every year, new routes are chosen for the walking festival, attracting walkers from all over Ireland and International visitors from as far afield as South Africa, Germany, the Czech Republic, France and the UK.

 

---

This year will also feature over 30 special Community Walks suitable for all abilities, ages & families  and will cover areas of special interest throughout the whole Ballyhoura region – these are real gems of shorter walks!


Find out more about Ballyhoura Bears Walking club on their website for a list of current walks the club have planned and next years walking festival