Five scenic routes to discover on a sunny spring walk this weekend
Goleen Harbour Long Loop. Picture: Joleen Cronin
WALKING TRAILS
Marconi Loop
Galway
This walk, in a rugged and wild landscape and area of outstanding natural beauty within the Derrigimlagh bog complex, follows a roadway and gravel tracks with small sections of boardwalk. You will walk through sensitive areas, as it passes through the Industrial Heritage site of the first commercial wireless radio station, also the landing site for the first nonstop transatlantic flight, whose stories are explained with various interpretive elements.
This is also the site of the Wild Atlantic Signature Point of Derrigimlagh. The walk includes natural heritage and has fine views of lakes, mountains, sea and Roundstone bog (a special area of conservation with its unique flora and fauna and a multitude of lakes).
In association with Sport Ireland.
WALKING TRAILS
Glen Beach Cliff Walk
Wicklow
This trail follows cliff path as it takes the walker through a landscape of rich cultural interest on one of the most spectacular stretches of Wicklow’s coastline. Walk towards Wicklow Head Lighthouse and a loop at the far end, passing Brides Holy Well, a church ruin, Lime-Kiln Bay (the site has remains of one), coves and beaches with opportunities to see grey seal, the occasional porpoise or dolphin and for bird watching in a Special Protection Area for breeding populations of several species of sea bird as well as Peregrine Falcon and Raven, all the while offering beautiful vistas of Wicklow Harbour, Bray Head, the Wicklow Mountains and the coast.
In association with Sport Ireland.
WALKING TRAILS
Goleen Harbour Long Loop
Cork
This walk takes you past the pier to the off-road part of the trail on Goleen Harbour Farm which, among other things, produces organic vegetables, honey from the native Irish black bee and Connemara Ponies that graze the Special Area of Conservation and help encourage the scarce chough found on sea cliffs in the area.
The trail meanders through wildflowers, meadows and new native woodland of oak, alder, hazel, hawthorn, birch and Scotch pine, with fine views of Goleen Pier and Harbour, the nearby coastline and extending across to Cape Clear and Sherkin Islands and out to sea as far as Fastnet Rock. Three other trails start at this trailhead.
In association with Sport Ireland.
WALKING TRAILS
Bray Head Loop Walk
Wicklow
This trail takes the walker on footpaths and tracks, an old Victorian Coach Road, a private road and public footpath, passing through Manweliers Wood beside a golf course and climbing to close to Bray Head Cross from where magnificent panoramic views open up of Bray to the north, the Irish Sea to the east and North East Wicklow to the south.
You can also see neighbouring Little and Great Sugar Loaf Mountains and Carrickgollogan Hill with the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains beyond. Bray Head is cloaked in heather, woodland and beautiful wild flowers and is home to a number of rare plants as well as offering important habitat for sea birds.
In association with Sport Ireland.
WALKING TRAILS
12 O'Clock Hills Looped Walks Blue Route
Clare
This trail follows forest track, hard-core pathway and boardwalk, climbing steadily to the 12 O’Clock Hills peaks and then descending, passing sites of historic and cultural interest such as abandoned dwellings, old wells and mass rocks and along a section of Crag River with its stone bridge and waterfalls after heavy rain, taking in very scenic countryside with shaded stream-side paths, forest trails (some of which can be covered in pine needles) and open bog offering the walker impressive 360 degree views from higher up, on a clear day extending to all the high mountains of Munster as well as mountains in Connemara. Two other trails start at this trailhead.
In association with Sport Ireland.
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