Step out for first Antrim Hills Walking Festival

Jennifer McLernon, a Blue Badge tour guide, will provide information highlighting the historical aspects of the area and describing some of the points of interest to be visited by the guided walks on Saturday and Sunday.

There are three levels of walk each day, one for the family, a moderate and a challenging walk giving a wide choice depending on interest and experience.

The family walks will include a tour of Carnfunnock Country Park on Saturday while on Sunday the trail will visit the Gortin Quarries and Cranny Falls in Carnlough. Saturday’s moderate walk will trek through the picturesque Glenarm Forest returning to the village along the paths of the Castle Estate and on Sunday the journey takes in Eagle Craig and the Craigfad Loughs situated overlooking Carnlough.

The ‘challenging’ walk on Saturday leaves the Largy Road in Carnlough and climbs to the Garron Plateau where several of the small lakes, a feature of the area, are visited before traversing the Trosks, the two hills high above the village, and returning to Carnlough by the Waterfall Road and route of the old railway.

Sunday is National Trails Day when the ‘challenging’ route will follow the Antrim Hills Way from Ballyboley to Glenarm and the theme of the walk will be the principles of ‘leave no trace’.

Experienced and well-informed guides will lead all the walks and transport will be provided to and from the start and finish of each walk from Carnfunnock Country Park.

Pre-booking, which is essential, and further information is available from Larne Tourist Information Centre on 028 2826 0088 or Glenarm Tourism on 028 2884 1087