St Kevin’s Way is part of new Walks Scheme
ST KEVIN’S Way is one of ten new trails included in the first phase of the Walks Scheme operated by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
There are currently 39 trails covered by the Walks Scheme, involving 1,962 participant landowners and farmers. The Scheme contracts them, or their nominees, to undertake maintenance work on sections of National Waymarked Ways and other priority walks that traverse their lands.
The Scheme is administered at a local level by Local Development Companies.
St. Kevin’s Way is a 30km trail which follows in the footsteps of St Kevin through the hills of Wicklow to the 6th monastic site in the valley of Glendalough where he spent the rest of his life in solitary prayer and contemplation.
The route begins in Hollywood or from the alternative route in Valleymount, before the paths converge at Ballinagee Bridge.
Taking in the stunning vista of the uplands across the Wicklow Gap, old flagstones can be found along some sections which are remnants of the original pilgrim path before descending into the Glendalough Valley and finishing at the monastic site.
The St Kevin’s Way covers 2.5km and includes five land owners.
Last year alone, almost 2.7 million overseas visitors engaged in some form of cross country walking or hiking.
In addition, one in four of us included walking or hiking as part of our domestic holidays last year.
Michael Ring TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development, commented: ‘ This is good news for landowners and for the ever increasing number of people who want to get out and experience the beautiful outdoor areas that we have in such abundance. Investing in our trails also pays economic dividends.
‘ Thousands of tourists make walking, hiking, and other outdoor pursuits an important part of their stay in Ireland.’