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Welcome to Trailhead — review of 2010
THE NEWSLETTER FROM THE DUBLIN MOUNTAINS PARTNERSHIP www.dublinmountains.ie
Despite the economic doom and gloom, one
clear message resonates from the Dublin
Mountains Partnership project. It is that there
is a great appetite amongst the people of
greater Dublin to get outdoors and get active.
Whether its walking or mountain biking, volunteering
as a ranger or volunteering to build trails, picnicking
or just sitting and enjoying the view, 2010 has seen a
huge influx into the hills and forests to enjoy this
remarkable resource on our doorstep. And its that
coming together of the partner organisations and the
volunteering effort in a common vision that makes the
Dublin Mountains Partnership so effective and
exciting. The Dublin Mountains Way is testament to
this effort.
Research shows that interaction with nature not only
encourages better physical health but has a major impact
on mental health and self esteem. Similarly longitudinal
studies have shown that children who have access to
forests and nature at a young age are two to three years
ahead, in terms of problem solving and educational
attainment, than their peers when they reach their late
teens and early twenties.
As we face into the tough economic period ahead, these
are remarkable benefits that have an important part to play
in maintaining our quality of life over the next decade. It is
essential that we tap into as many of these values as
possible to improve the quality of life for all who live in or
visit the Greater Dublin Area. The last few years, and 2010
in particular, have shown what can be achieved when we
all work together in a common purpose and we must
redouble our efforts to make the Dublin Mountains a great
place to visit.
Mountain Meitheal
volunteers
This year‟s project involved building
a stone pitched trail up towards Fairy
Castle at Tiknock Forest. Over
126 different volunteers contributed
1832 hours over 19 days to build
this fantastic new path.
All stone to build this trail was found on site
and many of the large stones were moved
manually with a winch.
In 2009 Mountain Meitheal constructed the
Massy‟s Cruagh link on the Dublin Mountains
Way and the Cruagh Mountain Access Route
bog bridge. Thanks once again to all the
volunteers.
If you are interested in volunteering with
Mountain Meitheal visit www.pathsavers.org.
Volunteers from GOOGLE were out again
in June 2010 helping the DMP upgrade a
section of the Dublin Mountains Way in
Carrickgollogan. The 20 volunteers helped
construct water bars and cut back
encroaching vegetation.
Tel 01 201 1187
Email [email protected]
Web www.dublinmountains.ie
DMP Manager
c/o Coillte
Dublin Road
Newtownmountkennedy
Co. Wicklow
CONTACT US
Three new permanent orienteering courses were erected
in 2010 at Carrickgollogan, Barnaslingan and Ticknock,
bringing the total to 5 sites in the Dublin Mountains.
Each site has three different levels of course available (beginner, intermediate
and advanced) which range in length and technical difficulty. Maps can be
downloaded from the website before you head out to the forest, and on arrival
a family can head off and discover orienteering, an exciting, alternative way to
explore the forest. At each control point, you record the code visible on the
post in the boxes on your map. The courses at Hell Fire and Carrickgollogan also have an education
workbook for primary & secondary schools. Thanks to the local orienteering clubs and county council
sports partnerships who helped establish these courses.
Permanent Orienteering Courses
Dublin Mountaineer Bus Service
Hell Fire: Two new looped walks have
been installed, the Montpelier loop (4km)
and the Forest Loop (5.5km) giving
people the option of different routes
through this lovely forest and amazing
views over Dublin city. Tiknock: The
new Fairy Castle loop brings people up
to the masts and on up the newly built
stone pitched path to the summit at Fairy
Castle before heading down to join the
Wicklow Way. Then it heads back towards Tiknock car park alongside the old rifle range. This is
an enjoyable 5.5km walk. Rathmichael: The Rathmichael loop through Rathmichael wood takes in
the lovely views from the rath site over Killiney, Dalkey, Howth Head and the Little Sugar Loaf.
Glenasmole: The Upper Reservoir Walk is a 8.5km looped walk from the Bohernabreena car park
all the way around the upper reservoir. It is a stunning walk past the dam, spillway and stone
channel diverting peaty water to the lower lake.
The Dublin Mountaineer bus service was in operation once again from the end July to early
October. This year there were 3 services from Sandyford Luas (10:00, 12:30, 15:45) and 3 services
from Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght (11:00, 13:15, 16:55) at weekends and bank holidays.
A hop on hop off daily ticket cost €5 or a family ticket was €12. The service was featured on
RTE‟s Capital D programme in September.
We are currently reviewing the service for 2011 and your input is greatly appreciated —
please complete the short survey on the DMP website.
Mountain Meitheal volunteers
were back once again working
hard in the Dublin Mountains.
TRAIL NEWS UPDATE
2010
Dublin Mtns
Map launched...
Dublin Mountains Way Launch, 31st October Volunteer Ranger Service
1:25,000 scale map of Dublin
Mountains highlighting public lands
available for recreation, access
points, car parks, and recreation
facilities including the Dublin
Mountains Way.
It is now available from
www.eastwestmapping.ie or
bookshops & outdoor shops
The start/finish points at either
end can be reached by public
transport. Within a few
kilometres of either end, the
walker quickly leaves the city
suburbs behind and enters the
peace and tranquillity of the
Glenasmole reservoir or
woodlands of Rathmichael and
Carrickgollogan.
Very few cities have such a
wonderful resource on their
doorstep, and very few walks
have such diversity of
landscape, heritage and vistas.
Some of the interesting sites
along the route include the
Fassaroe Cross at Rathmichael,
the Lead Mines tower, Scalp
viewpoint, Johnnie Fox‟s pub,
the cairn on Fairy Castle (which
is the highest point along the
route at 537m), the bronze age
burial at Tibradden, the beautiful
Scots pine and larch woods at
Tibradden and Cruagh, the old
Massy‟s estate and Hell Fire
Club, St. Ann‟s graveyard and
the engineering wonder of the
Bohernabreena reservoir.
The entire route is waymarked
with the standard national
waymark way yellow man.
Information about the route
and maps are available on the
DMP website. The Dublin
Mountains Way was featured
on the RTE series Tracks and
Trails in August.
Get out and enjoy this beautiful
new trail across the Dublin
Mountains.
THE DUBLIN MOUNTAINS WAY IS A CAPTIVATING WALK WITH STUNNING VISTAS
OF DUBLIN CITY BELOW, A VARIETY OF TERRAIN FROM FOREST, OPEN
MOUNTAIN, LAKES TO PARKLAND WITH A WEALTH OF HERITAGE FROM MEGA-
LITHIC TOMBS TO THE ENGINEERING WONDER OF BOHERNABREENA RESER-
VOIR. IT IS IDEAL FOR SHORT FAMILY WALKS ALONG SECTIONS OF THE ROUTE
OR AS A LONG DISTANCE 2-3 DAY HIKE.
A strong, enthusiastic and
committed team of 26 volunteers
are now working with the Dublin
Mountains Partnership.
The construction of the first designated mountain
bike trail system in the Dublin Mountains is
underway at Tiknock and should be completed
early in the New Year. This first phase includes
8km of trails and is being funded by the DMP.
"The trails at Tiknock will be fast and fun for those
with some level of experience already. There will
be large rock slabs, big grade reversals, technical
„twisty bits‟ and fast flowing descents with plenty
of opportunity to get airborne! The design of the
8 km of trails will appeal to a broad range of
mountain bikers and will be graded from moderate
to very challenging,” said Daithi deForge of Coillte
Recreation Team who designed the trails.
Metro Building Contractors from Wexford are
building the trails. The DMP is currently trying to
secure more funding for 2011 to further develop
these trails. This project is a very welcome
development by the mountain bike community.
NEW MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS AT TIKNOCK
In 2010, an additional 16 volunteer
rangers were recruited from the local
and outdoor communities, bringing
the Volunteer Ranger Service to a
fantastic team of 26.
From opening and closing the carparks,
promoting the Leave No Trace message,
waymarking new routes, helping with DMP
events, leading the extremely popular guided
walks—the work ethic and enthusiasm of the
volunteer rangers is superb and the DMP can-
not thank the team enough. The public is also
very appreciative of the friendly face out on the
mountains there to have a chat, or give advice.
“To be invited last March to become one of
the panel of rangers was a great honour - to
be entrusted with part-guardianship of this
resource and to be able to assist its users
maximise enjoyment of it - a privilege.” said
one of the new recruits.
“Thanks so much for telling me about this
hike. I truly enjoyed the experience of hiking
through the Dublin Mountains, the rangers
where excellent. Also, I am looking forward to
meeting some of the members of this hiking
group again. I also hope to become more
knowledgeable about these routes, as I would
love to take my 'overseas' visitors and show
them the marvellous Dublin Mountains” was
the email received from a lady who joined one
of the guided walks.
On a cold, misty Halloween, the Dublin
Mountains Partnership opened the new long
distance trail, the Dublin Mountains Way. The
new 43km trail, stretches from Shankill in the
east to Tallaght in the west, a total of 54km if you
include the Hell Fire/Massy‟s spur route.
Through the close cooperation of the partners
and over 300 different volunteers, the Dublin
Mountains Way route was developed,
waymarked and new sections were constructed.
The Dublin Mountains Way has been an
objective in county development plans for over
twenty years and ,with the formation of the DMP,
has now been delivered.
The launch took place at Tiknock Forest and
was attended by all the Dublin Mountains
Partners. At the event David Gunning, CEO,
Coillte said: “The proximity of the Dublin
Mountains delivers a wonderful amenity for
people of all ages. The Dublin Mountains Way
provides a challenging long distance hike for the
serious walker, and attractive, shorter, day walks
for families and casual walkers. This initiative
shows what can be achieved when organisations
with different mandates work together on a
common purpose. All the partners must be
complemented on their vision in coming together
and delivering this important infrastructure in an
innovative way despite the difficult economic
situation”. There was great coverage of the
event in all the national media and on the RTE
Six One news.
The day started with the opening of the Tallaght
side of the route by the Mayor of SDCC,
Councillor Eamonn Maloney. A group of 15
enthusiastic runners braved the elements and
ran part of the route from Tallaght to Tiknock.
Dublin Mountains Way
Some DMP Events during 2010
DUBLIN MOUNTAIN PLOD
18th July, Dublin Mountains
The DMP and IMRA (Irish Moun-
tain Running Association) hosted
the first Dublin Mountains half
marathon. The tough scenic route
started and finished in Marlay
Park. Then the route continued up
Tibradden Lane and into Massy‟s
Wood, along the forest roads
through Cruagh, and up the
Tibradden Mountain trail, back
down the Wicklow Way through
Kilmashogue to Marlay Park.
Most of the route was on trails
and forest roads, with 820 metres
of climb. 192 runners participated
in the event which was a great
success.
The date is set for next year,
Sunday 17th July, so lots of time
to get out training!
FORESTRY FAMILY FUN DAY
19th September, Tibradden
Despite the pours of rain, the 1st
forestry family fun day was
amighty success, with over 400
kids and adults attending. There
was a range of activities for
families to try out including den
building, field archery (thanks to
Greenhills Archery Club), tree
identification, using an old
cross-cut saw, conkers, the
blindfold string trail, wood
products quiz.
Everyone had fantastic fun trying
their hand at all sorts of forestry
related activities, and even
learned a few new things such as
how to recognise a beech tree, all
the different products that come
from wood. We will definitely be
hosting this event next year.
NATIONAL TRAILS DAY
3rd October, Tiknock
Over 150 adults and kids joined
the DMP for the Trails & Tales
hike up to Fairy Castle for the
3rd National Trails Day. En route,
the kids had to collect different
letters which spelt out 5 fairy tale
characters such as Cinderella,
Robin Hood. On reaching the
cairn at the top of Fairy Castle
many families stopped for a picnic
and to enjoy the wonderful views
over Dublin city on the beautiful
sunny day.
Other events in the Dublin
Mountains included a walk with
Mountain Meitheal volunteers
along some sections of trail they
have recently upgraded, orien-
teering at Carrickgollogan and a
guided walk at Hell Fire.