Northern Ireland Sports & Outdoors Tips by hasthetravelbug Top 5 Page for this destination

Hiking Cave Hill - Napolean's Nose!

If you have a few hours to kill and are looking for some moderate exercise and a great view over Belfast, climb cave hill up to Napolean's Nose! The cavehill overlooks North Belfast. Its most dominant crag was nick-named Napoleon’s Nose, and was thought to have been the inspiration for Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels. All of Belfast can be seen from its peak, as can the Isle of Man and Scotland on clear days.

Equipment: Hiking boots, a jacket for wind or rain.

Address: Just outside city centre

Directions: Right at the base of Belfast Castle

Phone: +44 (0)28 9077 6925

Theme: Hiking

Website: http://www.belfastcastle.co.uk

Golf on the North Coast

Had the opportunity to golf in Ballycastle! They are very short on rental clubs so when you call ahead for tee times make sure you ask about rental clubs. Left handed clubs are even harder to get a hold of. The course is beautiful and the price was amazing! Coming from Ontario Canada there is a lot of reasonably price golf but doing by the sea is even better.

Equipment: Bring your clubs if you can. Rentals clubs are what they are - rentals.

Address: Cushendall Road

Directions: Follow major motorways from Belfast to Ballycastle - website has all the details.

Phone: 028 207 62506

Theme: Golfing

Website: http://www.ballycastlegolfclub.com/

Hiking through Banagher Glen.....

A walk through Banagher Glen Nature Reserve (near Dungiven) is relatively easy and interesting. Banagher Glen is the host of an annual biodiversity walk and is one of the only places where ancient woodlands still exist.
Our walk started quite normally with beautiful scenery and sounds. What we didn't know is that further down the path our route was interrupted by a rally car race! So more than half the walk we were dodging rally cars!
Overall it is a great place to walk - but just don't go on a day where there is a rally race!

Equipment: Comfortable shoes and layed clothing. Rain gear is handy. Lots of snacks and water.

Address: Banagher Glen - Near Dungiven

Theme: Hiking

Climbing the Mourne Mountains!!

The Mourne Moutain range is one of the most picturesque ranges in the UK. I had the pleasure of climbing Sleive Commedagh, the second highest mountain in the range. It only took around 4-6 hours. Having good hiking shoes, several layers of clothing, extra food, and someone who knows the mountains is essential. The conditions can change very fast and are sometimes unpredictable... When we were climbing, it went from cool and breezy to a blizzard!! Then on the way down it was raining.

Also when you get up near the summit you will encounter the Mourne Wall. It was built over 18 years between 1904 and 1922, the 22 mile Mourne Wall encloses 9000 acres of land which drains into the Silent Valley and Ben Crom reservoirs. The wall covers 9000-plus feet of ascent, rising and falling over 15 mountains including Slieve Donard, Slieve Commedagh and the ever popular Slieve Binnian.

This is a great hiking spot and on a clear day has magnificent views of all of Northern Ireland.

Equipment: Layered clothing, Good hiking boots, waterproof gear, lots of drinking water, snacks and a lunch, small first aid stuff.

Address: Just outside of Newcastle - County Down

Theme: Hiking

Downhill Mountain biking in Tullymore Forest

Located just outside of Newcastle and only an hour from Belfast, Tullymore forest was a great getaway from the city and gave me a chance to try some downhill mountain biking and camping. There are a few great places to ride for every skill level. I tried an intermediate run and it provided plenty of danger and excitement. I'll write another article about the camping. If you're a downhill mountain biking fan make sure you make your way to Tullymore! Check out the website below, it has information on Mountain biking in Northern Ireland.

Equipment: Bike, Helmet, small first aid kit, nerves of steel.....

Address: Located just outside of Newcastle and only

Theme: Biking

Website: http://www.japanfour.co.uk