Article first published in:
Wicklow Mountain Views – The Newsletter of the Wicklow Uplands Council.
Issue No. 31 – Winter 2022
More Ways To Enjoy Wicklow Outdoors
‘Beyond The Trees” at Avondale Forest Park
In addition to news related to the envisaged route from Bray to Woodenbridge, there have been some exciting developments that naturally compliment the overall vision and reputation of Wicklow as an international location for trails and other outdoor pursuits.
A little south of the Vale of Clara, the Samuel Hayes Suspension Bridge that spans the Avonmore River, opened in 2021, connecting the Avonmore Way to the Jubilee Loop and importantly, to the town of Rathdrum. The bridge has proved to not only to be a very popular, but also timely, as Rathdrum welcomes the ‘Beyond the Trees’ visitor experience and the wider redevelopment of Avondale House and Forest Park – all part of €16m state investment to create a key visitor attraction for county Wicklow and to secure its place on the destination marketing brand of Ireland’s Ancient East.
The Laragh Tidy Towns committee, unveiled a number of trails earlier this year in Ballard Woods and Brockagh Forest. The 2.2km loop in Ballard Woods takes a meandering path through a mixed forest setting and along the banks of the renowned Avonmore River and the impressive Jacksons Falls. With a particular focus on restorative wellbeing in the design, it features three beautifully crafted oak sculptors and a number of seats installed to provide a place to reflect and enjoy the peaceful setting.
To the north of the village, the Brockagh Trails consist of three new waymarked trails that offer looped walks and links to the Wicklow Mountains National Park. Perhaps from a visitor’s perspective, it includes a long-wished for connection from Laragh and the Brockagh Resource Centre, to the famed long-distance trail, The Wicklow Way.
The new footpath that safely connects The Avonmore Way and Trooperstown to the village of Laragh, now provides a number of onward choices; locally Ballard Woods and the Brockagh Trails, and for off-road routes to the nearby glacier valley of Glendalough, the Wicklow Way link and the more accessible, tree-lined ‘Green Road’.
Once in Glendalough – Wicklow’s most popular outdoor visitor experience – the recently improved pilgrim path of St. Kevin’s Way, offers a 30km route to traverse the uplands before descending into the villages of Hollywood or using the alternative route, Valleymount, where the proposed 42km Blessington Greenway will also be able to be met.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Poulaphouca Reservoir/ Blessington Lakes, a decision regarding final planning permission on the looped greenway is expected in coming months. This development follows a successful funding allocation of €15M under several funding schemes. The proposed lakeside route, which takes in Russborough House and Park, along with several villages on the foothills of the uplands, is expected to attract considerable numbers of visitors to west Wicklow.
The planned 38km greenway between Arklow and Shillelagh, that follows the old railway track of the ‘Fitzwilliam Railway Line’ from Woodenbridge through to the picturesque villages of Tinahely and Shillelagh, is still at the development stage. Should it progress to completion, it will offer a wonderful choice at the end of the proposed Wicklow Uplands Way – eastbound to Arklow and its maritime setting, or westbound into the rolling hills and the grounds that once made up one of Ireland’s largest private estates at Coollattin.
The last decade or so has seen a significant focus and growth to Wicklow’s trails and more recently, greenways. it appears that the collective efforts of landowners, state agencies, community organisations, and the available funding structures to develop these amenities, has truly begun to open up the uplands for local communities and visitors to enjoy and experience, in a way that perhaps once seemed aspirational.
( Article written in October 2022 )
Newsletters Available Online
This newsletter and many of the previous publications are available online to view and download as PDF files directly from the Wicklow Uplands Council website.
CLICK HERE for this issue – Winter 2022.
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