Ballyhoura Walking Festival heads for hills

The Ballyhoura Walking Festival is set to bring a week of adventure, community, and celebration to the Ballyhoura region from Friday, October 4 to Sunday, October 6.

The region covers north county Cork and south and east County Limerick, deriving its name from the Ballyhoura Mountain range straddling the Cork/Limerick border.

It overlaps with the Munster Vales, a marketing region promoting trails, attractions, and experiences across five mountain ranges through Cork, Tipperary, Limerick, and Waterford.

The festival, which was recently launched by Ballyhoura Bears Walking Club, Ballyhoura Fáilte, and Ballyhoura Heritage & Environment, invites outdoor enthusiasts to experience a weekend of exploration through breathtaking landscapes, led by seasoned members of the walking club.

It will feature a range of guided walks for all abilities, from challenging hikes to more relaxed rambles, ensuring an inclusive and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Celebrating its 28th year, the festival is Ireland’s longest-established walking festival.

For the fourth year in a row, the festival is collaborating with the Joyce Brothers Music Festival which complements the walking schedule with its own exciting lineup of music, song, history, and workshops.

The walking festival highlights include a sounds and landscapes walk with renowned radio documentary maker Diarmuid McIntyre; a moonlight walk to Carrighenry on Friday evening; a dawn chorus sunrise walk to Seefin on Saturday morning; a half marathon across Ballyhoura’s highest peaks; the Slievereagh Walk through native woodlands and forest clearings with ancient standing stones; and Mitchelstown food and heritage Tour, offering a taste of local award- winning produce and a dive into the area’s rich history.

Sunday offers unique experiences such as the relaxing yoga walk and a forest bathing walk, as well as heritage tours of medieval Kilmallock, Lough Gur, Doneraile and Anne’s Grove Gardens.

Families can enjoy the family-friendly bug safari at Griston Bog.

See https://visitballyhoura.com/