This extended Bank Holiday weekend, OutmoreNI.com is keen to encourage people to explore some new outdoor locations and avoid popular scenic spots that suffer from overcrowding to help enjoy the outdoors responsibly.
Its newly redeveloped website showcases a wealth of the many outdoor trails and places across Northern Ireland, sites that people may not have previously known.
From those on their doorsteps to those wonderful hidden gems further afield.
Chair of Outdoor Recreation NI, parent owner of OutmoreNI.com, Dawson Stelfox MBE said:
“More often the same small number of locations are visited, making trips to these hotspots not enjoyable and overstuffed.
“It also leads to people parking irresponsibly – blocking access for famers and emergency services.
“Plus, some of these locations lack sufficient amenities and services in order to cope with the Bank Holiday demand.
“Therefore, we are asking people to plan ahead and do more research on our website around the full spectrum of outdoor sites across Northern Ireland, that provide the same outdoor experience, but do not suffer from overcrowding.
“We need to collectively manage the situation whilst ensuring that people get to explore the outdoors in an enjoyable yet safe way, protecting the local environment and agriculture in tandem.”
Here are some of their hidden favourites:
Clare Glen can be described as a delightful walk along the banks of the River Cusher in Co. Armagh.
Many of the trees in the wood are multi-stemmed and the wood may have been managed by coppicing in the past.
Hazel is abundant, with oak, ash and wych elm over a stunning ground layer of wood anemone, wild garlic and bluebells, and several different species of orchid (when in season).
Lagan & Lough Cycle Way is on National Cycle Network Route number 93 and 9 and is a 21 mile mostly traffic-free cycle and walking route connecting Lisburn, Belfast and Jordanstown.
The route is suitable for novice and family cyclists of all ages and abilities and passes along the waterside of the Lagan Towpath and Belfast Lough.
Davagh Forest lies in an untouched rural landscape of rolling hills and sweeping forests.
Located approximately 6 miles north west of Cookstown, Davagh Forest offers gentle mountain biking and walking trails as well as an impressive 16km red mountain biking trail with some rock slab drops you will never forget.
Glenariff Nature Reserve and Waterfalls Walk: Walk through the river gorge and past spectacular waterfalls. Damp conditions ideal for ferns, mosses, and liverworts with several rare species present.
