Experience Foraging and Farming Through The Ages

About

Prepare to step back in time as we explore how our place in the natural word has evolved over the many centuries, from foraging to farming.

Visitors get to meet Ring of Gullion farming forager, Brian, and learn 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.

Tour includes:
- 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.
- Exclusive access along ancient drovers lanes with a guided walking tour to the 'Cargas' upper Mountain Farm on Slieve Gullion's lower slopes.
- A brief introduction to foraging long the way, looking at whatever is seasonally available
- 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.
- Each guest is asked to sign a simple consent and medical declaration form and also inform us in advance of any allergies or medical conditions which we should be aware of.
- Apologies but no dogs allowed with the exception of guide dogs and advance notice.
- We are 5 * approved with the Food Standards Agency N.
- Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds or date transfers under any circumstances, however, you may choose to transfer your ticket on the day to somebody else.
- Grade: Easy / Moderate
- Distance: 3 to 4 km
- Duration: 3 hours plus
- Dates: Early Spring - Late Autumn