Rural Recreation Programme
THE Rural Recreation Programme is tasked with the following major functions:
The implementation of the National Countryside Recreation Strategy.
The work associated with the roll-out of the National Walks Scheme.
Overseeing work on the maintenance, upgrade and re-routing of trails.
Assisting Fáilte Ireland in the development, marketing and promotion of trails and key walking destinations, including media and trade visits.
Work with local communities in developing trails and assisting in organising walking festivals.
Development, improvement and promotion of other outdoor recreational activities, including mountain access.
The Walks Scheme
There are over 60 landowners taking part in the Walks Scheme in Wicklow, maintaining not only the long distance Wicklow Way, but also the Mangans, Kyle and Ballycumber loops along with three mountain access paths: Zig Zag Little Sugarloaf Kanturk The Walks Scheme was closed in 2010, and unfortunately cannot accept new landowner applications at this time. The loops were developed under the Failte Ireland looped Walk Programme, with the support of landowners, communities, and County Wicklow Partnership Rural Recreation Officers.
This Scheme has resulted in the development and enhancement of long distance, looped, themed and Irish heart foundation trails. The Rural Recreation Programme have also negotiated and managed maintenance contracts with an annual value in excess of €50,000 for Wicklow landowners. As a result, significant social and economic spin-off for local communities has been achieved including:
• The leveraging of additional jobs in the accommodation sector.
• The development of new business ventures such as bike hire and coffee shops, including additional employment in the supply of outdoor recreational equipment and services.
• A marked growth in registered walking clubs.
• A significant increase in the number and duration of walking activities which generate additional bed nights in small villages and the wider rural area.
• Maintenance payments to landholders for trail development, generating an income stream for rural communities of some 5.4m euro over a 4 year period.
It is with kind permission of landowners that these and all rural walking routes all around the county are accessible to walkers.
It is important that walkers and rural recreationalists recognise this and follow the principles of Leave No Trace when in the outdoors, which includes respect for landowners, their animals and their property.