Overview
Prepare to step back in time and come explore how our place in the natural word has evolved over the many centuries, from foraging to farming. My name is Brian and my family has foraged and farmed this magical landscape for all of my life. My ancestors have done the same thing in the same place for cenutries. This culture, history, heritage and nature connection runs deep.
This experience lasts about three to three and a half hours and you will learn hands on about some of the ancient farming practices, the folklore and how wild food and medicinal plant knowledge co-existed here for milenia. The experience also includes a short farm walk tasting the wild hedgerow as we go.
INCLUDED IN YOUR DAY
- Welcome ‘Céad míle fáilte’ tea, coffee or herbal tea at Brian’s converted barn visitor centre.
- View some antique original farm tools and domestic implements on display.
- Walk into a private and abandoned 200-year-old half door stone cottage to see the original butter making tools and feel the past in your bones.
- A brief introduction to foraging along the way, looking at whatever is seasonally available – ( note that this event is not a purely foraging experience)
- Basic wild food peparation processing techniques (please note alcohol is often used as a preservative)
- Exclusive access along ancient drovers lanes with a guided walking tour to the ‘Cargas’ upper Mountain Farm on Slieve Gullion’s lower slopes.
- The option to taste wild food straight from nature under the safe guidance of a foraging expert.
- Walk through mountainside ‘lazy beds’ and learn how they were abandoned during the great famine of the 1840’s. Witness the digging technique used to create these rare mountain side features, using an ancient ‘Loy’ spade digging tool.
- Panoramic views in every direction of the stunning Ring of Gullion landscape below.
Additional Information:
– This is approximately a 3 – hour 15-minute experience.
– Just over 3km walking at a very gentle pace with plenty of stops along the way.
– There is a short uphill gradient, the walk is easily accessible for most levels of fitness, ages and ability however it is not suitable for people with limited levels of mobility – please contact us if you have any questions at all around this.
– The tour follows grassy country lanes and rough open hill side.
– Please note the grass in places may be long and wet underfoot so wear appropriate footwear with a good deep tread and something that will keep your feet dry – traditional walking sticks are available for your convenience.
– This is for the most part an outdoors experience so please dress accordingly for the Irish weather. (e.g. raincoat, umbrella, warm clothing/sun cream.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- Grade: Easy / Moderate
- Distance: 3 to 4 km
- Duration:3 hours plus
- Dates: Early Spring – Late Autumn
