Getting Out More This Halloween

With the Halloween season and half term quickly approaching, there’s no better time to get outdoors in Northern Ireland, embracing the spooky Halloween atmosphere with family and friends!

Montalto Estate

The Carriage Rooms at Montalto is opening its doors for an enchanted Family Witch’s Wander this Halloween. Pick your own pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, follow your map to pumpkin carving and face painting areas, and much more! Be sure to make a day of it by exploring all that the Montalto estate has to offer, with a variety of walking trails that are sure to make for a great family day out! The huge champion trees that are visible from the lake walk will provide that daunting Halloween feeling as you stroll through the estate grounds. 

Quoile River Walk

The Quoile River Walk begins at the Down County Museum, passing the Mound of Down, travelling along the Quoile River taking in sights such as, Quoile Countryside Centre and Steamboat Quay. The Quoile river is playing host to a guided Stand-Up Paddleboard tour on the 29th October, giving you the opportunity to time warp to Inch Abbey, look out for Viking invaders and paddle into the Twilight.

This gives you the opportunity to put on your best fancy dress and test out your paddleboarding skills, while expanding your knowledge of the history of the Quoile River and surrounding areas. If you require equipment for this event, be sure to book accordingly with limited availability.   

Antrim Town Loop

The traffic free Antrim Town Cycle Loop offers no better opportunity for a safe and enjoyable family activity. This 5-mile circular route will take you past Antrim Castle Gardens where you can enjoy a spooky saunter through the ghostly gardens from Saturday 29^th October to Monday 31^st October for a £2 admission fee.

Slieve Gullion Forest Park

The typically tranquil forest at Slieve Gullion will have a more paranormal feel during the footsteps in the forest festival between Thursday 27^th October and Monday 31^st October. This year the popular event will celebrate the Gaelic festival of Samhain (Sow-in), marking the harvest season’s end and the beginning of winter. Samhain is steeped in Gaelic tradition that to this day shapes the holiday we now know as Halloween. For those Halloween thrill seekers, Slieve Gullion Forest Park also offers the chance to explore The Calliagh Berras House, the highest surviving passage tomb in Ireland. This can be found at the summit of the South Cairn.

Prehen Wood

Everyone knows one of the go-to destinations for Halloween in Northern Ireland is Derry/Londonderry. There is always a wealth of activities to choose from in the area but if you want to head out for a quieter half-term adventure without staying too far away from the buzz, then Prehen Wood is the perfect location for an autumnal walk.

Ballycastle Beach and Seafront

There are spooky activities happening across the Causeway Coast and Glens council area in Coleraine, Ballymoney, Limavady and Ballycastle.

Visitors can expect an exciting range of attractions featuring a mix of DJ music, live performances, spooky characters, fire or glow poi, magicians, balloon modelling, wall of terror, spooky animals and stilt walkers.

Ballycastle’s event is on the 31st October on the Seafront, which is a super location to take the family for a day out by the beach even in the colder temperatures.

So what are you waiting for? Start your Halloween planning and Get Out More!