In recent years a group of local walking enthusiasts bunched together to form an organisation called Boyne Valley Walking and they have made great strides (excuse the pun) in opening up the Boyne Valley for locals and visitors.
They’ve negotiated with landowners and established several walking routes the longest of which is the 25 km Boyne Valley Camino which is accredited as part of the Camino de Compostela and is already attracting good numbers of visitors from around Ireland, the UK, Europe and further afield.
This weekend, with support from the Love Drogheda Business Improvement District and Failte Ireland, they have organised a mini walking festival which they hope will shine a light on the beautiful Boyne Valley and the potential it has for locals and visitors alike for leisure time walking and other activities.
Each walk has a specific heritage theme and they are hoping that this can be developed into a sustainable long term tourism draw for our region.
The programme of events is as follows:
Friday, June 18, 2021
Drogheda Whiskey Tour – €10
Starting at 7.00 pm at Georges Square, this walk and talk tour is a 2kms long meander through the back streets, showing people the Jamesons corn stores, grain mill, kiln, malt houses, bonded warehouses, and impressive home, and the site of the distillery and finishes Laurence’s Gate.
Georgian Drogheda Heritage Walk – €10
Starting at 7:30pm at St Peters Church of Ireland (top of Peter Street) this is another ramble of just 2kms to George’s Square during which community historian Brendan Matthews will share insights and stories about Georgian buildings and the people who lived in them. Finish approx. 8.30pm- 9pm. Hear about our heritage town’s history, a walk not to be missed!
Saturday, June 19, 2021
Boyne Valley Camino – €25
The Boyne Valley Camino is a 25k looped walk starting at St Peters Church, West Street at 9:30AM in the heart of Drogheda. The route is a mixture of riverside, greenway, wood paths, quiet country roads, canal paths, and green fields. An approved Camino walk, with official Camino passport (cost included valued at €10) and Compostelas, you will ramble along the mythical Boyne to the monastic settlement of Mellifont, through Townley Hall wood, and along the Boyne Greenway.
There will be a lunch break at the wonderful Mellifont Abbey which was the first Cistercian abbey in Ireland, built in 1152.
Sunday, June 20, 2021
Battle of the Boyne Walk – €10
Enjoy the history of the Battle of the Boyne, walking from Drogheda to the Oldbridge site, and hear how the infamous battle between King Billy and King James unfolded, on the banks of this beautiful river, in 1690.
The 12 km walk starts at 10.00 am at St. Peter’s Church in West Street, Drogheda and travels along the Boyne Greenway, the Boyne Navigation Canal, and on to the Oldbridge Estate. The estate will host a historical talk and exhibit with special guest speaker Sean Collins, Historian and Battle of the Boyne expert. The walk will then cross the bridge to the location of the Obelisk, for a further talk, along the river Boyne and back to Drogheda.
The walk will include a rest stop at the Battle of the Boyne Centre with a Tea or coffee included at the Walled Gardens.
For more information on all of the events and to book tickets see www.boynevalleytrails.ie
