Hill Walking & Relaxing Weekend

The Hill Walking & Relaxing Weekend
"It's as good as a week's holiday"!

Get away from it all on the Breesy Centres chilled out "Hillwalking and Relaxing weekend".   Arrive on Friday evening for dinner, drinks, local traditional music a warm welcome from the staff of the centre.  On Saturday you can ease yourself into the day with a relaxing yoga session that's ideal for both beginners and more experienced practitioners alike.  Then it's off for an historical walking tour of the Cashelard area with our informative and friendly guides.  Learn about mass rocks, hedge schools, famine pots and the fate of the Canadian World War II plane that came down in the area over sixty years ago.

Following the historic tour a short bus trip will transport you to the Donegal Atlantic Coast for a hike along the Creevy Coastal walk, followed by "refreshments" at the Creevy Pier Hotel.  A relaxing massage is available on request before your delicious evening meal, suitable for Organic food lovers and vegetarians alike.  This is followed by a great night's music and craic with the local natives in the aptly named local rural pub- The Travellers Rest.

Sunday begins with another yoga stretch out before be hit the Donegal hills on the Breesy Centre Hill Walk with our qualified and knowledgeable guides.  At the end of your journey five counties can be seen from the top of Breesy Hill so definitely don't forget to pack the camera.  Return for a hearty cooked lunch before the newly enlivened you heads for home on Sunday afternoon.

Certified Ecotourism

All the Breesy Centre experiences including the English language programme have been certified according to the Greenbox Ecotourism Standard which means that all the key elements of ecotourism are met as part of the experience. (More details can be found on www.greenbox.ie)

Environment

The Breesy centre is strongly committed to avoiding the negative environmental effects that can be generated by tourism.  Electricity for the building is provided exclusively by Airtricity, an Irish wind energy company, and energy efficient lightbulbs have been installed throughout.  Plans are currently in place to install solar panels that will provide free hot water for most of the year and rainwater is captured and used to water the gardens and plants.  All waste from the accommodation is either recycled or composted and the compost produced is used by local farmers. Finally, in the bedrooms guests are informed of the Breesy's towel policy whereby towels are changed either every three days or on request in order to minimise the detergents and water used in laundry.  In 2006 the centre was awarded the EU Flower symbol, the European Unions indication of environmental excellence.

Learning

All of the Breesy Centre experiences actively support learning about local history, culture, landscape, biodiversity and sustainability.  The centres teachers and guides are highly qualified and have many years of experience. Overall the Breesy has a policy of informing all guests about the local environment and the difference people can make by their actions.

Conservation

The Breesy Centre is committed to promoting the preservation of the beautiful Cashelard area and conserving the local biodiversity.  Each year they organise the Breesy Hill Walk which is open to all in the community. The walk can take from anything up to 2.5hrs to 5hrs depending on route and special guides available to ensure walkers stay on the beaten path. Along the way walkers are asked to do a 'clean up 'as they go and information is provided on the biodiversity & wildlife that can be spotted along the way.   A fun table quiz will take place later in the afternoon where questions are conservation focused and relate to the local flora, fauna and landscape. Following this an art competition for children take place where the theme is to draw any flower or wildlife spotted while on the walk.

The centre has recently decided to join up with the Irish Whale & Dolphin Group and have been in touch with them regarding this.  It is hoped that in return they can provide the centre with information for students who partake in the surfing lessons that are provided.  As part of the Breesy's EU Flower certification they have created a biodiversity folder that is available for all guests and is informative on different wildlife guests can watch out for in the area.

Benefiting the local community

All staff employed at the Breesy Centre are local natives and live within fifteen kilometres of the building.  Therefore, by deciding to choose ecotourism experiences like those above you are helping to bring employment to a rural area. The Centre is situated in Cashelard which has recently been awarded 'village' status and consists of a shop, a pub, a church and of course the 'Breesy Centre'. The spin off from visitors visiting this area is very much valued by the local shop & pub and the Breesy purchases many goods from the local shop when necessary.  All guides & teachers are local and benefit greatly from groups that come to stay. The centres bus driver is also local to the area and has great tales to tell of local folklore!

The Breesy centre is a local community run centre. It was a project which was undertaken by volunteers of the community in 1995 to convert an old hall into a facility that the community could use and also attract visitors to the area. Today it has one full time manager and two part time staff from the community that run the centre. Other casual staff are called in when necessary. The manager reports to a board of directors who are made up of local voluntary people from the community. Each year the Breesy Centre runs at least one major charity event that benefits a local organisation. This year it was the Saimer Play Group which cares for children in the local community.

Providing ecotourism holidays helps bring in income for the centre and creates employment in the area for the local community. They are an essential part of keeping the facility to the standard it is today and providing a space that members of the community can enjoy also. 

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Tel: 00353 71 9822925