THERE'S little better than escaping to the solitude and calm of the great outdoors. It's good for our fitness and our mental wellbeing, and we are truly blessed to have amazing places to walk and explore.
The Sperrins is one of those beautiful landscapes, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that stretches across Tyrone and Co Derry, from Strabane in the west to Slieve Gallion and Desertmartin in the east, and from outside Omagh towards Limavady in the north.
A series of walks are being hosted in the area from next month until March next year. The first Sperrins Walking Programme has been developed and delivered by The Sperrins Partnership and outdoor experts Far and Wild, with the aim of helping walkers of all abilities to enjoy this beautiful landscape as well as promoting health, physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
The walks offered range from leisurely strolls to more demanding longer walks, all in small groups and guided by experienced leaders across the different council areas included in the Sperrins AONB.
September 3 and 4 - Causeway Coast and Glens: Explore the natural and human history in the northern Sperrins with two challenging walks looking at late Bronze Age to current day heritage. Walks include Banagher Dam and Donald’s Hill to Sconce Fort.
September 17 and 18 - Derry City and Strabane: Sperrins and Killeter features a wide variety of walks including Balix Boardwalk and Loop, Craignamaddy Loop, Carnanelly - Oughtmore - Goles, Leitrim Hill, Derg Lodge to the Derg River, Carrickaholten - Golandun McHugh - Causeway.
September 24 and 25 - Mid Ulster: In cooperation with Embrace Tours and local guides, walks include Glenaruddagh Mountain, Davagh Forest, Moydamlaght Forest to Glenshane Pass over Mullaghmore, Moydamlaght Forest looped walk to Eagle’s Rock.
March 25 and 26 - Fermanagh and Omagh: One of the first programmed walks for the 2023, including Gortin Lakes, Mullaghcarn, Tattynure to Bessy Bell, Sloughan Glen and Bollaght Mountain.
Derry and Strabane councillor Dan Kelly, who chairs the Sperrins Partnership, said the Walking Programme was the "first time the four councils that make up the Sperrins Partnership have come together to deliver a range of walks for all abilities to enjoy throughout the beautiful Sperrin Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, while also promoting health, physical, mental and emotional wellbeing".
"The Sperrins Walking Programme encourages everyone to get out and get active while at the same time affording participants the opportunity to absorb the beauty of one of the most spectacular and undiscovered locations in the island of Ireland," he added.
"I would encourage everyone to use this opportunity to get out, get active and enjoy our wonderful countryside."
Lawrence McBride from Far and Wild said the Sperrins "is a diverse upland environment and superb location for walking in the heart of historic Ulster".
"It is also a living and working landscape, where people dwell and earn their livelihoods, and have done since neolithic times," he said.
"This makes it a fascinating destination for visiting and local walkers alike, replete with natural and human heritage for over 8,000 years. We are delighted to be back leading walks across four areas of the greater Sperrins hills, and engaging local communities and other excellent walk leaders to help deliver an insightful and fulfilling programme."
