In 2018 I really want to focus more on exploring the local hiking and walking trails around both Sligo and Galway. I am lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world and definitely do not take advantage of the areas around me. And I think that the upcoming Sligo Walking Festival could be the perfect kickstart to my upcoming year of exploring.
Last year, Sligo held it’s inaugural walking festival in January (you can read more here) and in 2018 they are intending to run the festival again from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th of January. Sligo local award-winning adventure providers Northwest Adventure Tours are behind the festival. The actual aim of the festival is to bring visitors to Sligo and showcase the stunning natural beauty of the area. Check out the details of the fab Killaspugbrone Loop in Strandhill here – this is one of my favourite walks to do when I am home in Sligo.
What appeals to me about this festival is that they cater for varying fitness levels. You can find all the details of each of the walks on over the weekend here. Walks are graded as either A, B or C depending on fitness level or just what you might feel up to on the weekend in question;
- A walks are for very experienced hikers involving greater distances and more hills.
- B walks are for experienced hill walkers or those with a standard of fitness and ability usually gained through regular exercise.
- C walks are for leisure or regular walkers, these are the easiest walks and require some basic fitness and the ability to walk for 2-3 hours on flat or easy rolling terrain.
Bus transfers leave from the Riverside Hotel and are included as part of the package so leave your car at home and allow the adventurers to shuttle you around for the weekend. There is so much on in Sligo on the walking festival weekend with comedy and live music gigs.
One fun and quirky twist of the weekend is the B-Walk Night Hike (The Sligo Way – Slish Wood to Union Wood) designed to launch the festival on Friday night. Venturing out under a starlit sky, the guides bring you through a section of The Sligo Way providing torches to light your way through this ancient landscape. This does indeed seem to be the perfect chilled out yet exhilarating start to a weekend of entertaining adventure that Northwest Adventure Tours are well renowned for. And this is something that I am hoping to be able to go to!
For more information on the hikes and to book check out the North West Adventures website!
All images kindly provided for use.
Wow the pictures are stunning. It’s a part of Ireland I’m DYING to visit more as well. It just seems so far away from both Limerick & Dublin where I’m usually based!
You should try and get to the walking festival and take in the sights of Sligo while you are over! And honestly, it’s not so far – just over 2 hours 🙂
These photographs are just simply divine!
I’ve only been to Sligo once and never really thought there was anything out there. Definitely worth checking out 🙂
There is actually so much to do around Sligo – certainly worth popping to for a fun weekend break – and the walking festival should be great fun as well!