WICKLOW TO HOST SECOND ECOTRAIL

WHILE many cancelled events have fallen victim to Covid-19, plans for the 2020 Wicklow EcoTrail are still on track.

Last year Wicklow became the tenth destination worldwide to host the prestigious event. It also won Event of the Year at the Wicklow Sports Awards held in the Arklow Bay Hotel earlier this year.

It is still set to take place on Saturday, September 26, starting from Bray and continuing to the Wicklow Mountains National Park. The journey begins on the seaside promenade before the short steep climb to the iconic cross on Bray Head.

Participants will also pass some of Wicklow’s most scenic locations, including Sugarloaf Mountain, Kilruddery Estate, Powerscourt Waterfall, Lough Tay and Roundwood Reservoir.

Fred Verdier of Wicklow County Tourism is already looking forward to the event following last year’s success.

‘We were absolutely delighted with how the event went last year and we got fantastic feedback on social media from participants. The event is truly a scenic-feast and any running enthusiast should have this event on their ‘must do’ list”. Wicklow got great exposure from the event last year when more than 39 different nationalities took part. It showcases Wicklow as an outdoor destination to both an international market and domestically as well. ’

There is a selection of challenging routes to chose from; 17km, 28km, 42km and 80km. Most race participants are expected to arrive between nine and twelve hours after they depart.

Ecotrail comes with a very strong eco-responsible ethos and each event is committed to reduce litter, minimise environmental impact and promote public transport. The Ecotrail concept has been recreated around various cities in Europe having started in Paris and is now held in Reykjavik, Oslo, Stockholm, Brussels, Geneva, Florence, Madrid and Funchal (Madeira).