The Ulster Way stretches across Northen Ireland and totals a distance of 560 miles. It seems incredibly hard to find any information on t’internet about something that is a registered long distance trail and should be more publicised than any Land’s end to John O’Groat’s (LEJOG) walk, however any information is very spartan. Recently I purchased the latest and only real guide to the Ulster Way written by Paddy Dillon. As there doesnt seem to be any decent map of the way I decide to spend a minute or two throwing together a rough route on google maps, which can be seen here, and will hopefully give any one else out there a rough idea to the route.
The only other page to be found with an account of “the way” seems to be Tango and Cash’s Ulster way in 6 days, completed on bike in support for RNLI, which gives an entertaining read of their experience (pain) over the 6 days. Personally I can’t see me finishing in 6 days ever, especially when using my two feet and a heartbeat, more hitting around 20-25 miles a day is my target. Still yet to give myself a date to carry it out (and maybe some company), however will have to get some money together and quite a bit of free time to make it work. Summer would be the sensible time to do it, however I love the scenery in the winter, and with the weather we have summer don;t mean didley squat for it to be dry.
After reading the NI Enviromental Agency update I was slightly worried that the route in Paddy’s book may have recently become out dated and be un markered, however Paddy was able to quell my misgivings over a couple of emails. How something like The Ulster Way hasn’t been completed year’s ago I don’t know, but I suppose it’s just ike many other things that were put on the back burner with the “troubles” taking place.
