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Launching the first National Trails Day, to be held on September
28, Community Affairs Minister Eamon Ó Cuív said the outdoors
was there to be enjoyed by everyone.
“I hope that National Trails Day would draw the entire community’s
attention to the benefits of rural recreation, social and
health benefits amongst them” - he said.
The Minister added that he expects tens of thousands of people
to hit local nature trails in support of the initiative. "The
response from local communities, so far, has been very enthusiastic
and we hope this annual day will become an enjoyable date
in everybody's calendar,"
Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Community,
Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs have developed 78 looped walks
in 18 counties over the last two years. These walks can be
categorised under three separate groups - Nature, Heritage
and Mountain & Coastal. Many of these walks are designed
to have loops, which means they start and finish from the
same point. Each starts from a trail head that provides facilities
such as car parking, visitor information, maps and eating
facilities.
By the end of 2008, there will be over 100 looped walkers
in 26 counties. Discover Ireland Walking gives information
on all of these walks with access to detailed information
and maps.
Recent tourism trends in Ireland have shown significant interest
in short looped walking trails that give access to areas of
stunning natural beauty of areas of significant historic interest.
Each walk listed has detailed information such as direction
to the trail head, distance, estimated time, services, terrain
and theme.
The initiative comes as a new payment scheme has been agreed
with landowners to encourage them to develop and maintain
approved walking routes around the country. A list of accessible
walks and trails across the country is currently being compiled.
The Department also aims to recruit 12 Rural Recreation Officers
this year to promote walking tourism in areas around the country.
In addition, up to €1.5 million will be spent on maintaining
and enhancing outdoor recreation facilities. Some €350,000
has also been allocated to Fáilte Ireland by Mr Ó Cuív's Department
to develop a National Walks Network.
Fáilte Ireland chief executive Shaun Quinn said 488,000 overseas
visitors engaged in hillwalking and hiking holidays last year,
while 110,000 people participated in cycling holidays.
Mr Quinn added that Fáilte Ireland, with support from the
Department, is investing heavily in developing and upgrading
trails countrywide. These include national looped walks, waymarked
ways, trails on Coillte-owned sites and the development of
new cycling routes and hubs.
David Gunning, chief executive, Coillte, said that getting
out and about has never been easier, with a range of facilities
being opened and upgraded.
For more information and details of events in various localities
- Click
Here
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