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Family-friendly walks added to Bantry Walking Festival

May 9th, 2018 7:17 AM

By Southern Star Team

Whiddy Island: one of the venues for the Walking Festival.

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A bank holiday weekend of walking, hiking, exploring, sightseeing and fun is in store for visitors to Bantry in June.

A BANK holiday weekend of walking, hiking, exploring, sightseeing and fun is in store for visitors to Bantry in June.

From Friday June 1st to Sunday 3rd, the Bantry Walking Festival will see visitors and locals enjoying the wonderful trails along this spectacular part of West Cork.

Bantry Walking Festival was first held in 2013, having been conceived when members of local walking groups joined the Bantry Development and Tourism Association (BDTA). 

The walkers proposed the festival in an effort to boost the profile of Bantry as a walking destination and to showcase the numerous breathtaking walks that the area has to offer.

All those that work to organise and guide the festival do so on a voluntary basis, with any profit put back into the BDTA to fund this and other festivals held throughout the year.

It is these volunteers that set and map the walks, work tirelessly behind the scenes and the farmers that allow the walks to cross their lands, that make this festival possible every year.

In recent years, the Friday launch at the Bantry Community Tourist Office continues with a guided historical walk of the town, free for all.

There are also family-friendly walks including walks of Whiddy Island, Mealagh Valley and the Drimoleague heritage trails. 

As these walks are off-road, walkers should bring appropriate footwear but unfortunately the walks are not suitable for buggies.

To find out more, see Bantrywalkingfestival.com or Bantry Walking Festival on Facebook Enquiries can be emailed to [email protected] or call 087-9268370.

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