Upcoming Events

International Dawn Chorus Day is the worldwide celebration of nature’s daily miracle. Why not start your day and join us for a chance to hear the wondrous bird song on a dawn chorus walk through Cregagh Wood, nestled in the Antrim Coast & Glens AONB. We may even be lucky enough to hear the NI rare Great-spotted Woodpecker or Wood Warbler. Early morning refreshments will be provided. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. No dogs allowed.

Pre-booking is essential. Please note there are steep, rough paths throughout this walk.

Duration: 1.5 Hours

Distance: 2 miles

Surface: Steep forest paths

Footwear: Walking boots/sturdy shoes. Bring warm clothing and binoculars. Check forecast beforehand and dress suitably

Free Event

Join us as we take a walk to explore Downhill Forest and Old Dunboe Graveyard with local historian Geoff Warke. The route leads us through Downhill Forest which was once part of the larger Downhill Demesne, the estate of the renowned ‘Earl Bishop’, Fredrick Hervey. The fascinating ruins of Dunboe Parish Church sit at the centre of Old Dunboe Graveyard, possibly dating back to 1291, surrounding by old graves and the Bruce family tomb.

The Forest has much more to offer with its diverse biodiversity and spectacular trees including Irelands fattest Sitka Spruce tree!

Footwear:           Walking boots/Sturdy shoes/suitable outdoor clothing

Clothing:             Check forecast beforehand and dress suitably

Free Event

**Photocredit: Loretto Blackwood

Join the Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust to explore Altikeeragh Blanket Bog nestled high up in the Binevenagh Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and learn about the special wildlife and habitats. The walk will pass through the Altikeeragh Nature Reserve which is one of the finest examples of blanket bog in Northern Ireland, with a network of blanket bog vegetation with some raised bog characteristics, a well-developed pool system and flat bog plains, supporting important peatland vegetation communities. In late May the air will be filled with the call of the Cuckoo and the song of the Skylark with the resident raptors patrolling the skies.

Footwear:           Walking boots/Sturdy shoes

Clothing:             Check forecast beforehand and dress suitable

Free Event

**Photo credit Fiona Fyfe

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Flow with nature through Binevenagh Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty while on a Stand Up Paddleboard Lesson.

Start on the River Roe where beginners are taught the basic flat water skills and techniques to this new and fast growing sport. This is a sport which can be enjoyed at any pace but will also give you time to take in the scenes while hearing about the heritage of the local area by our knowledgeable instructors.

With trails to suit everyone’s needs this is a great way to see the sights.

With a maximum group size of 6 this creates a sustainable service that shows respect to other water users. Minimum age of 16 years.

Duration: 2 hours

Footwear: Swimming Costume & Towel

Book: Email: info@longlinesurfschool.co.uk / Tel: 07738128507/ Web: https://longlinesurfschool.co.uk/

Cost: £30 per person

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Join Mark Smith from Northern Ireland Swift Group along with representatives from the Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust, Glens Red Squirrel Group and Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council to discover the life of our local Swifts.

Pick up top tips on how you can identify these incredible birds, learn about their life and how you can help reduce the decline of this beautiful bird across the Causeway Coast & Glens area. It’s easier than you may think.

Enjoy a talk and take a walk to spot these birds in flight and visit nest sites in Ballycastle town.

Not suitable for dogs

Duration:             2 hours

Footwear:           Walking boots/Sturdy shoes/suitable outdoor clothing

Clothing:             Check forecast beforehand and dress suitably

Free Event

Get out in “The Open” and join the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust and local Biodiversity Officer, Rachel Bain for a leisurely safari through the sand dunes at Castlerock Golf Club, hunting for the colourful and coastal butterflies, bumblebees and wildflowers. Finishing with a gentle stroll back along the beach. Let’s hope for sunny weather but prepare for anything. Equipment provided.

Not suitable for dogs

Duration:             1.5 hours

Footwear:           Walking boots/Sturdy shoes/suitable outdoor clothing

Clothing:             Check forecast beforehand and dress suitably

Free Event

Date:  Monday 1st July- Wednesday 3rd July 2019

Times: *Morning -10am 2-4yrs and 11.30am 5-8yrs.  *Afternoon – 2pm 2-4 yrs and 3.30pm 5-8yrs
Location: *Morning – Portstewart *Afternoon – White Rocks beach, Portrush

Join Beach Schools Ni & CCGHT for a three-day programme offering 1 hr family sessions for 2-4 yrs and 5-8 yrs on our stunning North coast beaches. Sessions led by a fully qualified teacher and Beach Schools Practitioner. Activities include beachcombing, beach art and crafts, rock pooling and shelter building. An adult must accompany children throughout the session.

Cost: £20 for 3 x 1 hr sessions

Other sessions will run weekly until end of August on various North Coast beaches inc. Portballintrae & Castlerock. All dates, times and locations will be advertised at www.beachschoolsni.com or Facebook: Beach Schools NI or email beachschoolsni@yahoo.com for more information.

To book email beachschoolsni@yahoo.com

Join us for a seasonal family walk exploring wild foods, medicines, myths and legends.

All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Registration is essential.

Footwear:           Walking boots/Sturdy shoes/suitable outdoor clothing

Clothing:             Check forecast beforehand and dress suitably

Free Event

Meet in Glenarm Car park (along A2)

Join RSPB NI’s Neal Warnock and the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust to explore this special area of the Antrim Hills within the Antrim Coast & Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You will hear all about the work of RSPB NI and encounter a wide range of upland wildlife, including wildflowers, birds and butterflies in a stunning location. Total distance is 5.5km over some strenuous terrain.

Booking required. Call the RSPB NI secure booking line 028 9064 5630 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm) or email rspbnievents@rspb.org.uk.

Not suitable for under-16s. Route will be wet and rough in places – suitable footwear and clothing required. Some fences/stiles to be crossed.

Duration: 3.5 hours

Footwear: Walking boots/Sturdy shoes/suitable outdoor clothing

Clothing: Check forecast beforehand and dress suitably

Cost: £5/ £4 for RSPB members

Join the Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust and members of the Coast Office on a kayak safari along the Causeway Coast focusing on the wildlife that can be found under, on and above the sea. Take in the wildlife, geology and history of the area at leisurely pace.

Duration:           2 hours

Clothing:          Check forecast beforehand and dress suitably. Wear suitable outdoor clothing

Cost                £30 per person

” Our Living Coast” wildlife and stories of stormy seas” Join our eagle-eyed crew in a unique 2-hour journey along the North Coast. You will see our wildlife in its natural environment and learn about the hidden local history of our Causeway Coast. There will be three stops throughout the trip; seal & sea bird colony of the Skerries islands, Whiterock Caves and Dunluce Castle.

Clothing: Check forecast beforehand and dress suitably
Cost: £25 Adults, £20 Under 16 years old (including Tea/Coffee)

Book Contact Coleraine Visitor Information 028 703 44723 or email colerainevic@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk or book directly 07712115751

**Photocredit Gary Burrows

Whether you’re nuts about bats or just want to find out more, then come along on this family fun bat talk and walk with your local Biodiversity Officer, Rachel Bain. Uncover the exciting nocturnal world of bats and their amazing acrobatics. The guided walk will help to dispel common myths, discuss the conservation issues and explore what action we can take to help bats. Participants should wrap up warmly and PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN TORCH. This event is limited to 20 people on a first-come basis, pre- booking is essential.
This is a joint event between Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust.

Duration: 2.5 Hours

Footwear: Strong/solid footwear and waterproof clothing recommended

Clothing: Check forecast beforehand and dress suitably/ Warm clothing

Free Event

Join military historian James O’Neill on a walk from Downhill to Barmouth Wildlife Reserve. The area around Castlerock is peaceful and beautiful now, but in the past, the region played its part in global events. During the walk, James will discuss the impact of war and the marks that remain in the surrounding landscape. The region has been the focus of military activity for centuries, and each phase has left its mark in one way or another.

Duration: 3 hours

Footwear: Strong/solid footwear or walking shoes

Clothing: Check forecast beforehand and dress suitably

For further information & to book visit: https://castlerockwalkfest.wordpress.com/

Everyone has visited the beach, but have you ever wondered where the sand comes from? Why are some beaches pebbly and others sandy?  Why is the beach wider in summer than winter?  What are those strange little marks in the sand?   If you’d like to find out more, then join CCGHT & Ulster University’s Professor Andrew Cooper for a walk on the beach at Whitepark Bay.   As we walk along the beach we will find the answers to these and many more questions.  We’ll see recently discovered cemented beach sand, a phenomenon usually confined to the tropics, some huge chalk boulders thrown about by the waves, and have the chance to find some fossils and exotic pebbles.

Professor Cooper is a world authority on coasts and is author of several books including “The Worlds Beaches” and “The Last Beach”

Footwear:           Walking boots/Sturdy shoes/suitable outdoor clothing

Clothing:             Check forecast beforehand and dress suitably

Whether you’re nuts about birds or squirrels or just want to find out more, then come along on this family fun box building event with Glens Red Squirrel Group, CCGHT and your local Biodiversity Officer, Rachel Bain. We will also take a wander through this beautiful woodland & see some of the creatures that live there and put up the boxes made. This event is limited to 8 people on a first-come basis, pre- booking is essential. Under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

This is a joint event between Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Glens Red Squirrel Group and the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust.

Duration: 2 hours

Surface: Steep forest paths

Footwear: Walking boots/sturdy shoes. Bring warm clothing and binoculars.

Free

If you have never lifted a hammer before but you thought Blacksmithing looks like fun and you would love to give it a go, this class at Hot Milk Forge is for you. By the end of the two days you will have completed a beautiful hand forged Flower Basket Hanger for your own home. Additionally, you will be introduced to the majority of the basic skills of blacksmithing. Including: Scrolling, Drawing down, Twisting, upsetting, reviting…. etc.

This Course is also open to people who have come before, we’ll just advance your skills by completing a project more in tune with your skill base

Duration: 2 days

Cost         £100

Footwear:           Walking boots/Sturdy shoes/suitable outdoor clothing

Clothing:             Check forecast beforehand and dress suitably

To book: E: hotmilkforge@gmail.com/ T: 07740510008

Join Irish Feast on a journey of local, gastronomic discovery. During our tour of Bushmills, you’ll discover old recipes and new trends. You’ll talk to people in traditional family-owned restaurants and in up and coming artisan cafes and eateries. You’ll taste history and culture and truly experience the creative future of our food industry on a scintillating, surprising, seriously tasty Irish Feast Food Tour.

Cost: £40pp
Clothing:            Check forecast beforehand and dress suitably (including waterproof clothing and comfortable walking shoes).
Other information:   Please let us know of any dietary requirements or allergies at time of booking.
Book Online:             www.irishfeast.com or contact your nearest Causeway Coast and Glens Visitor Information Centre.