Oughterard will host its first Walking Trails Festival this weekend (June 24-26 ), highlighting its stunning views, picturesque landscapes, and fine food.
Already on the map for the quality of its food, Oughterard is now set to add to its appeal as a walker’s paradise, and the Oughterard Trails Festival will highlight the wonderful walks the village has to offer and encourage everyone to get outdoors and explore.
The festival offers something for everyone, whether it is a short walk with the family to learn about food foraging and local bogs, or a more strenuous ramble to Derroura or the Western
Experienced local guides will share their enthusiasm and knowledge in order to help all participants discover more about the landscape, geology, wildlife and local culture of this unique area.
Each day the festival will host a choice of walks with varying levels of difficulty. The “A” walks are aimed at the more experienced walkers over the age of 16 only, requiring a good degree of physical ability and will last for up to four hours. Lunch will be served after the walks. All participants will be bused to and from the trek start and finish points. Grade B walks are suitable for those with an average level of fitness and will typically last for a duration of two/three hours. Again buses will be included in the ticket costs.
The Grade C events are more family-oriented and are suitable for all ages. Saturday boasts a wonderful food foraging walk followed by the preparation of the food collected and a ‘hedgerow lunch’ in Power’s bar afterwards. The Sunday Grade C walk aims to highlight the flora and fauna of our native bog lands in O’Sullivan’s Bog, Glengowla.
The festival will launch on Friday night with a torch light procession in Corribdale Park, followed by a tapas night in the Lake Hotel. Proceeds of this night will go towards the St Patrick’s Day Parade.
For more details and a festival brochure see http://www.discoveroughterard.com/oughterard-trails-festival.
