There is delight for walkers in Wexford as works have recently begun to re-route a section of a popular walking trail in Wexford following part of its loss to erosion.
Coillte has begun progressed works along a section of the Courtown-Kiltennel walking trail which was lost during Storm Chandra earlier this year.
Courtown-Kiltennel walking trail has become a popular spot among locals and is uniquely regarded as one of the only wooded dune systems in Ireland.
The 2.3km trail had recently been impacted by recent weather conditions, with many trees, branches and debris damaging the trail, resulting in the loss of a section of the trail on the Kiltennel side, due to coastal erosion.
Once the debris had been cleared from the trail by National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS), the route remained accessible and safe to use but highlighted the need to re-route the trail itself.
Coillte recently commenced works to re-route the trail, which is set to divert walkers away from the affected area to a more stable inland within Coillte lands, with views of the stunning coastline from a safe distance.
Portions of the trail are currently closed to facilitate the re-route, where visitors are asked to adhere to all signage throughout the works until completed. The works are expected to take a number of weeks to be completed.
Courtown Riverchapel Community Development Group welcomed the ongoing works along the trail. “As the Trail Management Organisation (TMO), we’re happy to report that Coillte have now begun these works.
“We’re very excited to see the route being re-routed away from the soft shoreline, ensuring safe passage for generations to come,” a spokesperson added.
The works were originally scheduled to commence earlier this Summer but were delayed in order to protect the local wildlife during nesting season.
Coillte previously said the works aim to maintain access to the trail while ensuring visitor safety and protecting the surrounding environment, to prevent any further loss of the trail in the future.
In addition to this, the River walk in Courtown Woods has finally been cleared of a large tree stump which had been left idle in the woodland since last Winter, blocking the trail for users.
Courtown Riverchapel Community Development Group thanked Coillte for undertaking these important works and would appreciate the patience and cooperation of all trail users while the rerouting is completed.