Canyoning is the activity of following a river or a stream as it cuts its way through gorges, ravines and, you’ve guessed it, canyons. It’s quite loosely defined, which is reflected by the numerous names, including gorge walking, ghyll scrambling and wet bouldering, that people use for it But one thing’s for certain - you need the right terrain in order to enjoy it. Rivers that flow through gentle surroundings can be navigated by boat, streams that tumble over cliffs to the sea should be avoided, but when water falls on high ground in sufficient quantities, it starts to cut into the landscape. The result is one of nature’s best playgrounds, with rocks to climb on, falls to slide down, pools to plunge into and secrets to discover. This activity is for anyone who wants to enjoy the fun - and doesn’t mind getting their feet wet. If you’re looking for canyons in Northern Ireland, you need to head for the highest place, and that’s the Mountains of Mourne.

The Mountains of Mourne are some of the most dramatic peaks in the British Isles. Rising up to 850 metres above the Irish Sea, Slieve Donard is the highest of a series of granite peaks that are visible from as far away as the Isle of Man and Dublin. Between these peaks, rough grassy slopes descend to deep gorges where torrents of water crash towards sea level. It’s here that you can get stuck in and enjoy climbing, jumping and scrambling in and around the water. It might not be a trip to the Grand Canyon, but it’s a great adventure - at a fraction of the price!

Where to go canyoning in Northern Ireland?

Water activities in a place like Northern Ireland, which is a land that’s steeped in myths and legends, are the stuff of fantasy. According to the old stories, Ireland’s greatest hero Fionn mac Cumhaill (or Finn Mccool), who supposedly built the Giant’s Causeway, was intimately connected to the Mountains of Mourne. One day, he was climbing one of the mountains when he saw a young woman weeping at the edge of a lake. She told him that she had lost a gold ring in the water and, without thinking twice, Fionn dived into the lake and found the ring on the bottom. When he returned to the surface, however, the young woman had transformed into an old witch and Fionn himself was an old man. Little did Fionn know that there was a spell on the lake which caused anyone who entered it to age rapidly, and he had been tricked. Although he managed to make her reverse the spell, his hair remained white for the rest of his life; legend has it that, to this day, if you enter the lake, your hair will turn bright white!

But that story shouldn’t put you off going canyoning in the Mountains of Mourne, after all, the lake of the legend is on the slopes of Slieve Gullion, and the best spot for canyoning in the Mourne Mountains and indeed the whole of Northern Ireland is miles away, near Newcastle, at Bloody Bridge. Once again, there’s no need to be alarmed. The bridge takes its name from a battle which took place here between rival clans in 1641, any traces of which have long since been washed away.

What you’ll find today is a fast flowing stream that crashes down waterfalls into deep pools, splashes off rocks and snakes around boulders as it races towards the sea. If you’re brave enough to take on the challenge of canyoning, you’ll have to find your footing on wet stones, hang on for dear life against the current, jump into the dark water and climb back out again. It’s an adrenaline fuelled adventure, full of surprises, and unlike anything else you can find here.

Requirements to do this activity

We’ve already compared the canyon at Bloody Bridge to a natural playground, and just like in the best adventure playgrounds, there’s always more than one way to get where you want to go. This means that is an activity which dedicated daredevils can enjoy alongside those who are just dipping their toe in the water of extreme sports, so to speak. It also makes it family friendly. Although smaller children won’t be able to overcome every obstacle on the route, if they’re over 8 years old, or about the size of an eight year old, they’ll find a lot of fun here. So why not spice up your trip to Northern Ireland by taking the kids on a canyoning adventure?

This is one of the activities that’s best enjoyed as a group. Part of the fun is challenging yourself to solve problems that you never normally face in your day to day life, but it’s also a lot of fun to work things out with the rest of your group and cheer each other on! It’s a great option for kids’ or adults’ birthday parties, stag and hen dos, and team building activities for companies.

How long does an experience last?

Unlike in some parts of the world, the canyoning spot in Northern Ireland isn’t in a far flung corner of the wilderness. You’ll feel like you’re far away from civilisation when you’re at Bloody Bridge, but in fact it’s just a few miles away from the town of Newcastle. That means that an excursion doesn’t have to take up a full day. In fact, the whole experience lasts between 2 and 2.5 hours, and most of that is spent swimming, climbing, jumping and playing in the gorge.

What do you need to bring the day of the descent?

One of the great things about canyoning is that it’s a water sport which doesn’t require a boat. Instead, you get around the environment just with your body, enjoying all of the freedom of movement and variety of techniques which that involves. Having said that, your guides will give you some equipment in order to keep you safe and comfortable in what is a pretty inhospitable zone. Getting wet and staying wet for an extended period of time can really take the heat out of you, especially in the mountains, so you’ll be given an insulating wetsuit to keep you warm, as well as a buoyancy aid so that you don’t spend too much time completely submerged in the water. They’ll also give you a helmet to protect you from any knocks and bumps against the rocks. You need to bring your own footwear - a pair of old lace up trainers that will give you some grip on wet boulders - a towel and a change of clothes.

If you’re ready to get wet, we’re ready to help you. Make your booking now!