Recently Qualified Tour Guides Set Up Collective

A group of recently qualified walking tour guides have set up a new collective to help boost interest in the rich heritage and beauty of North Down.

Seven students who completed the OCN Level 2 Award in Tour Guiding at SERC,  have launched Coast and Country Walking Tours, with ambitions to offer a full calendar of guided walking tours across the Ards and North Down Borough from next summer.

Each of the guides brings different interests and knowledge to the group which has been supported by Ards & North Down Borough Council. Gavin Walker, a member of the collective, said, “We are all grateful to the Mayor and Ards & North Down Borough Council for their support of our plans to encourage residents and visitors alike to pull on a pair of walking shoes and join us as to discover the history, geography and beauty of the place we call home.”

Lecturer Diane Quinn, who brings a wealth of travel and tourism insight to the course having gained 40 years’ experience throughout the sector said, “It is wonderful to hear about people gaining a recognised qualification which has spurred the start of a new tourism offer in the local community.  We wish Coast and County Walking Tours every success with this exciting venture.”  

For further information on Coast and Country Walking Tours contact: gavinhwalker@gmail.com SERC will be delivering two more OCN Level 2 Award in Tour Guiding courses commencing for six weeks from 6 January 2026 (four Tuesday evenings and two Saturdays) and 16 February 2026 (four Monday evenings and two Saturdays).

These courses are fully funded by Department for the Economy’s Skill Up Programme. Potential participants must meet eligibility criteria:
- Aged over 18 years old at the point of enrolment.
- Applicants must have a right to work and undertake training in the UK at the point of application and for the duration of the course and must not be disqualified from doing either by reason of their immigration status.

For further information contact garymillar@serc.ac.uk

Above: Students who completed the OCN Level 2 in Tour Guiding at SERC have recently launched the Coast and Country Walking Tours. ( l-r) John McConnell, Rebecca Cupples, Gavin Walker and William Hutchison. Missing from the picture are Collective members Lauren Finnegan, Jill Hunter and Martha-Ann Slaughter.