A brand new adventure concept favouring slow, immersive experiences that engage with remote, wild and nature-rich places was revealed at an exclusive launch event in the Walled City Brewery in Derry.
One of the new slow adventure packages, aptly named, ‘slow adventure’ fosters an engagement with nature and provides an opportunity to not only partake in an activity but also to learn aspects of the local area such as the produce, wildlife and environment.
Over ten new visitor packages have been put together by thirteen local tourism businesses from the Derry and Strabane area and are now available to experience. Each package has been carefully crafted to make your introduction with slow adventure as memorable as possible. You can now walk through the Glenga Valley in the heart of the Sperrins foraging for food along the way, bake your own bread the traditional way in the farmhouse kitchen of Bradkeel Social Farm, see how artisan cheese is produced or have a go at traditional fishing on the River Foyle and cook your catch on a wild camp fire. Other packages include interactive cooking demonstrations with local hand-picked ingredients, Irish walking tours, horse riding in the Faughan Valley as well as deer stalking, bird shooting and salmon fishing in Strabane.
Visitors to the Derry and Strabane area can experience these new slow adventure packages over the weekend of Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24thSeptember as Derry City and Strabane District Council host the first ever ‘Slow Adventure Weekend’.
The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Maolíosa McHugh “The council are delighted to bring this new adventure concept to Northern Ireland and more specifically to Derry, Strabane and the surrounding rural areas. We are the first and only area in Northern Ireland to offer slow adventure experiences and believe it is an amazing way to journey through the breath-taking landscapes and engage with the wilderness and nature”.
At the launch, James Huey from the Walled City Brewery, one of the local tourism businesses offering a slow adventure package commented, “There is something very special about participating in a slow adventure. It’s not just about taking part in an activity, the crux of a slow adventure is to give people the chance to really get away from it all and create memorable experiences”.
This new concept has been introduced to Northern Ireland as part of a transnational programme to promote slow adventures in Scotland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Slow Adventure in the Northern Territories, or SAINT Programme, is a three year programme with support from The Northern Periphery and Arctic 2014-2020. The Northern Irish project partner, Derry City and Strabane District Council, has been working with local tourism businesses since September 2015 to create the new slow adventure packages using their learnings from the other destinations across the world also involved in the programme.
Visit www.slowadventureni.com to see what’s on offer during this year’s Slow Adventure Weekend and throughout the year to start planning your next adventure!
Fly fishing holidays for salmon, wild brown trout and sea trout on the Rivers Mourne and Finn
Fly fishing for salmon in Ireland at Paddy’s Stream on the River Mourne
Package 1
One weeks accommodation in Derg Cottage with 1 or 2 Anglers sharing. One guide for the duration of your stay. Airport Collection by your guide. 7 days small 4×4 hire (Toyota Rav 4 or similar)
Total price £2808
Per person if sharing £1404
Package 2
One weeks accommodation in the Finn Cottage or Strule Cottage, Up to 3 anglers not sharing. One Guide the duration of your stay. Airport collection by your guide. 7 days Large 4×4 hire (Toyota Hilux or similar)
Total Price £3600
Per Person £1200
Package 3
One weeks accommodation in the Finn Cottage or Strule Cottage. 4 or 5 anglers sharing. 2 guides for the duration of your stay Airport collection by your guides. 7 days hire of 2 Small 4×4 for 4 guests. For 5 guests, 1 small 4×4 and 1 large 4×4
Total price for 4 £5502
Total price for 5 £5934
Per person for 4 £1375.50
Per person for 5 £1186.80
Package 4
One weeks accommodation in the Finn Cottage or Strule Cottage. 6 anglers sharing. 2 guides for the duration of your stay. Airport collection by your guides. 7 days hire of 2 large 4×4
Total price £6366
Per person £1061
To arrange booking email us at: [email protected] or [email protected]
Slow adventure – inspiring connections with the outdoors. A chance to explore and engage with wild, open and natural places. To journey through breath-taking landscapes at a slower, immersive pace. Creating memories through meaningful experiences as you invest time in a place, in its traditions and community. Surrendering to the natural forces of the environment as you reflect, reconnect and become closer to nature.
Slow adventure brings together people who enjoy sharing their sense of place with visitors by sharing traditional skills, local knowledge, storytelling and spending time together in nature. Each slow adventure has been crafted to offer unique experiences by working with carefully selected people and businesses.
Slow Adventure forms part of the Slow Adventure in Northern Territories Project which is co-financed by the European Union’s Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme.
