Guided walks, tours and local experiences across the Sperrins
Connecting people to place
Fáilte! I'm Patricia (Pádraigín), a qualified tour guide from Ballinascreen. I lead walks for local people, visitors and groups, and work with others to develop experiences across the Sperrins.
WHAT I OFFER
Guided Walks & Tours
I lead guided walks across the Sperrins, from forests, hills and countryside trails to villages and historic places. Sometimes it's simply about enjoying a lovely walk; other times it's discovering the history, placenames and stories that make a place special.Places we might explore include Davagh Forest, Banagher Glen and Gortin Glen. Walks and tours can be tailored for individuals, private groups and organisations.I can also join coach or minibus groups as a guide, with transport arranged separately.
WORKING WITH LOCAL PEOPLE
Walks & Local Experiences
Alongside my guided walks, I work with local people and businesses to offer different experiences across the Sperrins.These can be tailored to different groups and interests - from a walk followed by breakfast or lunch, a visit to a local farm, or a walk and sauna, to experiences exploring local history, storytelling and placenames.I'm already delivering some experiences and developing new ideas with local people, community groups and businesses.
Upcoming Walks & Events
New walks and experiences are being planned across the Sperrins. Dates and booking details will be shared here as they're confirmed.
EXPLORE · PLAN · SHARE
How Can We Work Together?
Whether you're exploring the Sperrins, arranging something for a group or have something local to share, I'd love to hear from you.
Explore the Sperrins
Whether you're local or visiting, you might fancy a lovely guided walk, somewhere new to discover or make a day of it.I can plan and guide anything from a shorter outing to a tailored half-day or full-day experience with scenic stops and places of interest.
Plan a Group Experience
From a private outing with family or friends to a commissioned programme for a community group, charity or organisation, I can plan, coordinate and guide walks, tours or a series of experiences suited to your group's interests and needs.
Share Something Local
There's so much worth sharing in the Sperrins — our people, places, stories, Irish language, traditions and local knowledge.That could include farmers, local historians, food and accommodation providers, community groups or anyone with a story, skill or idea to share.You might welcome visitors as part of my guided tours, share your local knowledge or work with me to create something new.
Ní neart go cur le chéile.
About Me
There’s nowhere quite like the Sperrins for me — the open hills, quiet glens and big skies. And there’s so much more to it than the scenery. It’s the wildlife, the changing seasons, the people, communities, townlands, placenames and stories that make this place so special.Spending time outdoors, slowing down and appreciating the places around me has made a real difference to me. In 2024, I started leading free weekly walks with Steps Draperstown and went on to set up Mid Ulster Walking for Wellness, which I now jointly run. I still volunteer as a walk leader and lead monthly walks with The Hub in Cookstown. Bringing people together is something close to my heart.
I’ve always loved finding out about the people who lived here before us, and the stories behind the places we pass every day. That interest led me to gain Level 3 Tour Guiding and Level 2 Storytelling qualifications. I’m also a member of Tour Guides NI.I love meeting people who know their area and working with local people, historians, farmers, food producers, accommodation providers and other businesses to bring local stories, skills and experiences together.
That’s what Sperrins Tales & Trails is about for me — sharing my love of this place and helping others discover a little more of what makes it special.
Get in touch
Thinking about a guided walk or tour, planning something for a group, or have an idea for a local experience?I'd love to hear from you. Drop me a message and tell me a little about what you have in mind. We can take it from there.
Thank you
Go raibh míle maith agat! 💚Thanks so much for getting in touch with Sperrins Tales & Trails.I've received your message and look forward to hearing more about what you have in mind.I'll be in touch as soon as I can.Patricia (Pádraigín)
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