Seven Cork walks added to National list

SEVEN Cork trails are among 62 new additions to Ireland’s National Walks Scheme.

The initiative boosts outdoor recreation and rural tourism and is a key element of Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy.

Under the walks scheme, operated by the Department of Rural and Community Development in conjunction with local development companies, funding is provided to farmers and other landholders to maintain the walking trails that go through their holdings.

The seven Cork walks are Ladysbridge Loop Trail, and six Fastnet trails: Knockaphuca Loop, Goleen Harbour Loop, Tormore Loop, Gortyowen, Gortdubh Loop Walk, and Lissigriffin Loop Walk.

Some €15m has been paid to farmers and landholders by the scheme since 2017, and with €1.4m spent on materials for the maintenance of trails.

An additional €500,000 is set to be invested annually in rural areas through the scheme.

The total number of nationally recognised trails now stands at 140, up from just 40 trails in 2019.

A key action in Embracing Irelands Outdoors, the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027, is to expand the Walks Scheme to 150 trails by the end of 2024.

To this end, the department is now inviting expressions of interest from LDCs for new trails and substantial extensions to existing trails.

Submissions can be made up until Friday, October 11.