#walkni

Top autumnal walks from the National Trust in Northern Ireland

The National Trust has picked out some of its top Autumn walks to get you outdoors and into nature. What’s more, every visit you make helps the conservation charity to care for these places for generations to come.

Mount Stewart, County Down Within the Mount Stewart estate there close to 60 acres of woodland around the lake and sitting within the wider demesne landscape, both featuring any…

It’s that time of year when it’s all about the Bluebells! These pretty little flowers have started to make an appearance across Northern Ireland's countryside and forest floors. To help you discover new and exciting walks with some of the best bluebell displays check out a few of our favourite spots below.

Castle Ward, Strangford, Co. Down There are around 5 miles of bluebell trails waiting to be discovered in this stunning 820 acre demesne complete with 18th century mansion and over 13 miles of multi-use trail.  Minnowburn and Giant’s Ring, Belfast, Co. Antrim Wander through the woods in spring to see a haze of bluebells at this tranquil refuge next to the Lagan river. Downhill Demesne, Castlerock, Co. Derry~Londonderry A magnificent clifftop walk, affording rugged headland views across the North Coast. Discover Mussenden Temple and the striking 18th-century ruins of Downhill mansion.  Scrabo Hill & Killynether Wood, Newtownards, Co. Down Enjoy some of the best views over Strangford Lough and North Down from the iconic Scrabo Tower, one of Northern Ireland's best known landmarks built in 1857 before indulging in a woodland walk.   

Glenariff Forest Park, Co. Antrim  Specular waterfalls, breath-taking glens and wild woodland scattered with bluebells await. 

Clare Glen, Tandragee, Co. Armagh A delightful walk along the banks of the River Cusher in County Armagh. Hazel is abundant, with oak, ash and wych elm over a stunning ground layer of wood anemone, wild garlic and bluebells as well as several different species of orchid. Castle Coole, Co. Fermanagh An 18th century mansion surrounded by ancient wood where you will be captivated by a carpet of native bluebells.  Castlewellan Forest Park, Co. Down One of Northern Ireland's most famous lakes, a stunning Victorian Castle, incredible panoramic views, scenic walking trails the forest park comes alive in Spring. 

Murlough National Nature Reserve, Co. Down Home to one of the most stunning beaches in County Down with paths running through the dunes and heathland you’ll witness carpets of wildflowers in spring.

Mount Stewart Newtownards, Co. Down The mild climate around Mount Stewart with its recently restored neo-classical house allows a wide range of plants to grow, from the Mediterranean specimens to the bluebells which are the stars of the show in Spring.

When it comes to thinking of where next to walk in Northern Ireland, Instagram is full of inspiration. We have pulled together our top 10 inspiring walks to discover this summer across Northern Ireland. From the rugged Causeway stones and city views to forests and summit selfies there is a walk to suit all. Detailed route descriptions and walker comments on each of these walks can be found on .

The rugged stones of the Giant's Causeway in Co. Antrim along the Causeway Coast way is a popular walk for tourists and locals alike.  Managed by the National Trust, photographers can often be seen at sunrise and sunset capturing the light dancing off the stones.

One of our favourite pictures to see on are the 'summit selfies' that walkers take after a day exploring the Mourne Mountains in Co. Down. A popular retreat for keen walkers, the Mournes offer a range of peaks suitable for those starting out, right the way up to those with lots of experience on the more challenging peaks.  

One of the most Instagrammed walks in Northern Ireland, the Cuilcagh Boardwalk in Co. Fermanagh is a must do walk for keen walkers this summer. Please note that no dogs are allowed on this trail due to the habitat you will be exploring via the Boardwalk. 

A little hill with big views, the Cloughmore Stone offers panoramic views over Carlingford Lough and the surrounding landscape. Declared a National Nature Reserve and more recently an Area of Special Scientific Interest, maximise the length of your visit by exploring the Cloughmore Stone via Fiddler's Green. 

If you are in search of spectacular city views look no further than Cave Hill Country Park, Co. Antrim. Just a stone's throw from Belfast city centre, this is a popular walk for visitors and locals alike. The views are spectacular at any time of day, however we have noticed the 'golden hour' at sunrise and sunset is a popular time of day for those in search of the perfect Instagram photo.

Located on the shores of Strangford Lough, The 2.3 miles Scrabo Hill Walk takes in the summit and the famous Scrabo tower built in 1857, one of Ireland's best known landmarks. The views over Strangford Lough and North Down are some of the finest in the country. The walk descends to a disused sandstone quarry before returning to the car park.

A favourite walk amongst locals in Co. Tyrone, it isn't surprising that the walks in Gortin Glen Forest Park appear frequently on Instagram. There are a number of fantastic walks to enjoy within this forest park and more are being developed. We recommend following the Pollan Trail up the course of the Pollan Burn as it tumbles down the mountainside or the Ladies View Trail, which is ideal for those looking a more strenuous walk to superb views.

The Giant's Lair Walk in Slieve Gullion Co. Armagh brings a magical living storybook to life through a trail of intertwined fairy houses and arts features. A childhood land with dragons, giants and fairies inspired by legend and mythical folklore.

Carrick-a-Rede famous for its rope bridge connecting the mainland to Carrick-a-Rede Island provides an exhilarating coastal cliff walk in Co. Antrim. Highlights of this walk include spectacular views of the rugged cliffs, Rathlin and a noisy seabird colony. Managed by the National Trust.

The Connswater Community Greenway provides two different routes along the Connswater, Loop and Knock River. This walk takes you through Belfast's own wildlife corridor so there is lots to see along the way. One of the highlights of this walk is C.S. Lewis Square where you can stop and explore the seven sculptures inspired by the characters from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

G Spots! The 2016 Best Bits….

I know 2016 has been an annus horribilis for some, but rather than close the year on a low note, I wanted to highlight some memorable things from 2016 to hopefully bring a smile to your face. The Great Outdoors: This is the first year in my life that I haven’t been a member of a gym. I’ve had mixed feelings about it as I had always been a gym bunny. Too many injuries put an end to my high impact…