Put on your walking shoes this weekend

Co Tyrone

Blessingbourne Country Estate: Vibrant autumnal colours are in store on a visit to Blessingbourne and now is the perfect time to explore the woods and breathe in some fresh air. With over 550 acres of grounds to walk, cycle and explore, choose your method, whether on foot, two wheels or on horseback. While you’re there, also learn about their 5* luxury pet friendly self-catering accommodation and give your pup a treat on your next holiday adventure.

Gortin Glen Forest Park: Gortin Glen Forest Park is located just six miles from Omagh at the western gateway to the Sperrin mountains. The park is made up of a network of five waymarked trails of varying lengths that start from the trailhead close to the main car park.

Co Fermanagh

Florence Court: About eight miles outside Enniskillen, you will find the National Trust’s Florence Court situated against the wild mountain backdrop of the Cuilcagh Mountain. Although there is no access to the house at present, glorious grounds with a beautiful walled garden should be enough to tempt you to visit – see if you can spot the famous Florence Court Yew. You can also find 15 kilometres of trails here.

Castle Coole: Another gem in County Fermanagh and situated just outside Enniskillen is National Trust’s Castle Coole. With its wooded landscape park sloping down to Lough Coole, it is ideal for long walks.

Co Armagh

The Argory: Take a stroll around the 320-acre wooded estate and enjoy the wonderful views over the gardens. Also, at The Argory - National Trust are the woodland and riverside way-marked trails to stretch your legs and get some outdoor exercise as you enjoy the scenery along the majestic River Blackwater. The house and facilities are closed at the moment but that shouldn’t stop you from popping by for a visit with the family to enjoy the beautiful autumnal nature surrounding it.

Slieve Gullion: Enjoy a mountain walk exploring the Slieve Gullion Special Area of Conservation and the Ring of Gullion Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) using mountain paths, forest trails and country roads. The AONB is an area of national landscape importance and is centred on the craggy heather covered hills of a circular ring dyke volcano that erupted over 50 million years ago. The Ring of Gullion is the most famous ring dyke in the world having featured in geological debate and theory over the past 160 years.

Co Antrim

The Gobbins: What better way to blow the cobwebs off than with a walk along this exhilarating coastal cliff path? Your trip begins via a hole through a rock called Wise’s Eye. Make your way along the paths, walkways, tubular bridges and tunnels on this dramatic walk and take in the stunning views while breathing in the sea air. Your tour guide will tell the story of its creation at the turn of the 20th century. The two-and-a-half hour walking tours are capped at 10 people to enable social distancing.

The Giant’s Causeway: While the visitor centre is currently closed, the Giant’s Causeway is still welcoming people to enjoy the walk and the legendary stones themselves.

Co Down

Hillsborough Castle: Enjoy 100 acres of world-famous royal gardens. Try the 18th-century Walled Garden, the Lost Garden, the Granville Garden and Lady Alice’s Temple. To enable social distancing, tickets must be pre-booked and there is no restriction on how long you can stay. The castle may be closed for the winter period, but the beautiful gardens are still open.

Castle Ward: While the house may be closed at present, the surrounding garden and trails are still available to enjoy.

Co Londonderry

Mussenden Temple: Mussenden Temple is located in the beautiful surroundings of Downhill Demesne near Castlerock. Enjoy this spectacular clifftop walk with stunning views along the coast. It perches dramatically on a 120ft cliff top, high above the Atlantic Ocean, offering spectacular views westwards over Downhill Strand towards Magilligan Point and County Donegal and to the east Castlerock beach towards Portstewart, Portrush and Fair Head. The grounds at National Trust’s Downhill Demesne and Mussenden Temple are open for walkers.

Ness Country Park: This area consists of 55 hectares of mixed woodland along with open parkland which extends along both sides of the Burntollet River.