Wicklow’s landscape makes it ‘the outdoor capital of Ireland’

OUTDOOR pursuits located in the Garden County have been packaged together with the launch of a new promotional brand called Wicklow Outdoors.

The new initiative is a partnership between Wicklow County Council and Wicklow County Tourism and aims to promote Wicklow to the Irish market and abroad. Walking, hiking, cycling, mountain biking, horse riding, golfing, kayaking, surfing, fishing and sailing are just some of the activities that will be highlighted.

‘With the largest mountain area, largest forestry area, rivers and lakes, 30km of varied coastline, and home of many Outdoor Pursuits, Wicklow is by default, the “outdoors capital of Ireland”’ said Frank Curran, CEO of Wicklow County Council, and newly elected Chairman of Wicklow County Tourism. ‘Wicklow is also right in the middle of Ireland’s Ancient East, and heavily showcases 5000 years of Irish history. This includes ancient burial tombs and places of worship, early Christian settlements, Viking’s and Norman’s sites, rebellion battlegrounds, castles, historic homes and gardens all filled with incredible stories. Walking along the Wicklow Way or cycling the Military Road, it is not only a great activity through stunning sceneries, fauna and flora, but it is also a journey through time and history’.

Plans are also underway to create a network of walking routes connecting with the Wicklow Way and help produce a network of trails around Wicklow, including the Sugarloaf Way, St Kevin’s Way, Blessington Greenway, Avonmore Way, Vartry Reservoir, East Coast Greenway and the Arklow to Shillelagh Wicklow Greenway.

At the same time, we want to help and grow the network of walking routes connecting with the Wicklow Way and create a world-class network of trails: Sugarloaf Way, St Kevin’s Way, Blessington Greenway, Avonmore Way, Vartry Reservoir, East Coast Greenway, Arklow to Shillelagh Wicklow Greenway, all creating a network of trails around Wicklow.

Fred Verdier, Manager or Wicklow County Tourism, said: ‘ There is an enormous amount of work to be done in order to promote and grow the Wicklow Outdoors destination and we will need the support of all tourism players in the County. Over the next few months, we will be working on a number of objectives. Wicklow is also considered ideal to develop a network of recommended cycling and ebiking routes. There are plenty of scenic and safe secondary roads and soon greenways, that when connected together and properly packaged, will turn Wicklow into a fabulous cycling and e-biking destination’.