I attended a professional development course in the beautiful surroundings of the Culloden Hotel yesterday. I took the opportunity to capture some images of the luxurious experience which awaits guests. It is sited on an elevated site overlooking Belfast Lough. From there Belfast and the North Down/Ards Peninsula areas are all easily accessible. Why not book a book a short break and explore the beautiful Ards Peninsula on a private bespoke tour with me, Brigid Watson , Sustainable Journeys Ireland.#smallluxuryhotels #bespoketours #cullodenhotel #heritage #ardspeninsula #stories #hiddengems
Out and around the Ards Peninsula and Strangford Lough area. So much to see and experience.
@discoverireland.ie @discoverni @visitardsandnorthdown @visitmourne @strangfordlecaleaonb @thecuan_
What better way to start the New Year than with a coastal walk at the beautiful Kearney village. While snow and gales are predicted for other areas the Ards peninsula is enjoying brilliant winter sunshine and blue skies. Happy New Year and thank you to everyone who has supported me in 2024. Looking forward to the adventures that 2025 will bring!
@visitardsandnorthdown @tourismireland #discoverni #aonb #coastal #offthebeatenpath #nature #heritage #history #sustainability
Our weather yesterday and today is very mild for mid winter. After enjoying delicious festive food it was good to take time for a walk in nature. There is a beautiful calm feel, a stillness all around. The quietness interrupted by the sound of birds such a flock of Golden Plover in Cloughey Bay. Yesterday I spotted a buzzard at Kearney coastal village where we always go for a walk on Christmas morning. The golden colour of the gorse adds a pop of colour to the hedgerows.
#gowalking #nature #christmaswalk #gorse
This afternoon I attended a Harp Recital by Anne-Marie O’Farrell in the Portico, Portaferry. She is a leading harpist who is internationally renowned.She played a wide variety of beautiful tunes ending with Carolan’s Concerto.It is a traditional Irish reel by Turlough O’Carolan. The air is the most famous composition of the blind Irish harper.
The harp is the traditional symbol of Ireland.
#ireland #music #harpist #carolansconcerto #portico #portaferry #heritage #culture
Earlier this week I welcomed a group of German journalists to the historic town of Downpatrick for the Legacy of St Brigid experience. They were very interested in learning about this amazing woman, her links with St Patrick and the ancient Irish heritage customs associated with her. Everyone had the opportunity to make their very own St Brigid’s Cross and enjoy refreshments including homemade pancakes. These were traditionally eaten on the eve of St Brigid’s Day. Afterwards I accompanied them on a tour to Strangford Lough and the picturesque village of Strangford. A huge thanks to TourismNI for the opportunity to showcase what is on offer in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. @visitmourne @mournegullionstrangford #embraceagiantspirit #geopark #ancienttraditions #irish #culture #stbrigid #crossmaking
Today I was exploring the great outdoors with a tour group on the coastal path at Crawfordsburn beach and through Crawfordsburn Country Park. It is a beautiful part of County Down. There are many tracks and trails to choose from and the woodland looks stunning in the autumn. The group enjoyed learning about the history and heritage of the area. After the tour we relaxed with tea and coffee in the woodland cafe.@discoverni @visitardsandnorthdown #coastal #woodland #walk #ulsterscots #stories #crawfordsburninn #crawfordhouse #coastalgeology #trees #biodiversity
Two fabulous groups on this weekend’s tours. Blue skies and sunshine all the way on Friday. Today it was dry and windy on Windmill Hill, Portaferry. One of today’s guests was from Kingston, Ontario in Canada. He had visited Amherst island in Lake Ontario. There was a familial emigration from the Cloughey-Ballyhalbert area to Amherst Island. John Watson was one of the group and he opened a pub called the County Down Inn on the island!
The groups really enjoyed their tour of the Ards and hearing all the stories of the place. They were interested in finding out more about St Patrick and St Brigid.
@tourismireland @discoverni @visitardsandnorthdown #ancientnortheast #ireland #offthebeatenpath #uniquetours #uniqueexperience #rural #farming #aonb #ulsterscots
Annual NI Tourism Alliance Conference in Belfast yesterday. Interesting event with an address by Mr Conor Murphy MLA . He has recently returned from the US. It was encouraging to hear him saying that visitors want to go to places that are off the beaten track where they can enjoy unique experiences. This is exactly what Sustainable Journeys Ireland offers! The Ards Peninsula and Strangford Lough area is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with stunning scenery and many stories to tell.
@tourismireland @visitardsandnorthdown @mournegullionstrangford #TourismAForceForGood #nitaconf24 #worldtourismday #offthebeatentrack #unique #experiences #storytelling #stories
Last weekend I introduced two lovely groups of Americans, Canadians and a couple of Australians to the rich history and heritage of the Ards Peninsula in Ireland’s ancient northeast. A huge thank you to CIE Tours International for demonstrating their commitment to sustainability by bringing people on the Scots Irish tour to lesser known areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Off the beaten path these communities are grateful for the support for local artisan businesses. There is always a great interest in Irish ancestral connections and on one of the tours there was a man whose ancestors emigrated from Kircubbin! The surname is McAuley and there are different versions of the spelling. Do please get in touch if you think you know the local connections.
@cietours @tourismireland @discoverni @visitardsandnorthdown @strangfordlecaleaonb #offthebeatenpath #aonb #ancienteastireland #ancestry #roots #ulsterscots #stories #craic
Glorious sunshine and blue skies over the western shores of Strangford Lough at Killinchy. Today I led a private tour at the Livingston Centre which is adjacent to the Parish Church in Killinchy and after a tour of the centre we walked through the rolling drumlin hills in the beautiful autumn sunshine. The countryside looked so well with golden fields of barley interspersed with the forty shades of green. The Livingston Centre tells the story of the Livingston family and also has much information on the general history and heritage of the area. It is well worth a visit.
A huge thank you to Rev Stanley Gamble for his warm welcome and hospitality for the group. After the tour everyone enjoyed refreshments in the cafe.
@visitardsandnorthdown @strangfordlecaleaonb @mournegullionstrangford @discoverni #livingstoncentre #emigration #usa #stories #heritage #offthebeatenpath #strangfordlough #history #archaeology
Columban Way walk for Peace, Healing and Wellbeing. Yesterday was International Peace Day and it was also the day that the first organised walk on the island of Ireland from Carlow to Bangor Abbey reached its destination. A core group of walkers have, over the last four weeks, walked 361 miles from Carlow to Bangor Abbey. A fantastic achievement! I am a member of the planning committee for this project and I joined the walk at various stages including Navan Fort to the cathedral city of Armagh; from Dundrum to the ancient, historic of Downpatrick and finally from Helen’s Bay to Bangor Abbey. The core group of walkers received a very warm welcome from the large crowd who turned out to walk the final leg of this Camino route. The group were welcomed by the Mayor of Ards and North Down and local religious leaders. Musical entertainment by Ards CCE added to the occasion. There followed a reception in St Comgall’s Parish hall for all the walkers. Later last evening there was a celebratory dinner for the planning group and core walkers. Funds were raised for a number of charities including the Samaritans. A very special day and one to remember!
@visitarmagh @visitardsandnorthdown @visitmourne @discoverni @tourismireland #columbanus #camiño #ireland #community #connections #spiritual #embraceagiantspirit #offthebeatenpath #samaritans
