Slieve Felim Concept Plan Stage 2 – Baseline Study and Scoping Report and Recommendations Final (Updated)
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Slieve Felim Concept Plan Stage 2 – Baseline Study and Scoping Report and Recommendations Final (Updated) November 2012 Prepared for Ballyhoura Development and North Tipperary LEADER Partnership Ballyhoura Development and North Tipperary LEADER Partnership Slieve Felim Concept Plan - Baseline Study, Scoping Report and Recommendations Revision Schedule Final (Updated) November 2012 Rev Date Details Prepared by Reviewed by Approved by 01 18/02 Scoping Study Barry Woodfin Marion Green Gordon Clarke Principal Consultant Assistant Consultant Director 02 09/03 Amended Barry Woodfin Marion Green Gordon Clarke Version Principal Consultant Assistant Consultant Director 03 10/05 Final Version Barry Woodfin Gordon Clarke Principal Consultant Director 04 21/11 Final (Revised) Barry Woodfin Gordon Clarke Principal Consultant Director 05 11/12 Updated Final Barry Woodfin Gordon Clarke Principal Consultant Director URS-Scott Wilson Beechill House Beechill Road This document has been prepared in accordance with the scope of URS-Scott Wilson's appointment with its client and is subject to the terms of that appointment. 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The contents of this document do not provide legal or tax advice or opinion. © URS-Scott Wilson 2012 www.scottwilson.com Ballyhoura Development and North Tipperary LEADER Partnership Slieve Felim Concept Plan - Baseline Study, Scoping Report and Recommendations Table of Contents 1 Introduction.............................................................................................1 Project Background...........................................................................................................1 Approach and Methodology ..............................................................................................1 2 Slieve Felim Overview ............................................................................2 Defining the Geographical Area........................................................................................2 Geology and Landscape Character ..................................................................................2 Transport and Access .......................................................................................................6 General Economic Profile ................................................................................................. 7 Summary...........................................................................................................................9 3 Slieve Felim Tourism and Leisure Profile ..........................................11 Slieve Felim Mountain Range .........................................................................................11 Wider Tourism Context ...................................................................................................16 4 Development Options and Considerations ........................................23 Visitor Attractions and Sightseeing .................................................................................23 Outdoor Activities............................................................................................................25 Countryside Field Sports................................................................................................. 31 Adventure Activities ........................................................................................................32 Natural Heritage and Wildlife ..........................................................................................36 Indulgence/Pampering ....................................................................................................39 Culture ............................................................................................................................40 5 Rationalising the Concept Options.....................................................43 6 Overall Conclusion ...............................................................................47 Vision and Key Recommendations .................................................................................48 Delivery and Challenges ................................................................................................. 50 Ballyhoura Development and North Tipperary LEADER Partnership Slieve Felim Concept Plan - Baseline Study, Scoping Report and Recommendations 1 Introduction Project Background 1.1 Ballyhoura Development and North Tipperary Integrated LEADER Partnership have identified the need for a concept plan to be established for the Slieve Felim Mountain Range based upon leisure, recreation and associated tourism activities. 1.2 The Slieve Felim area, which consists of low-lying mountainous and countryside, has long been regarded as having potential to accommodate leisure, recreation and tourism activities. However, despite some existing provision of tourism operators and investment in provision to encourage certain activities, the potential has not been realised. As the first in a series of planned investigations to establish a viable and realistic vision for the future development of Slieve Felim, the following study examines the current provision and potential scope of the Slieve Felim Mountain Range to support a variety of leisure, recreation and tourism purposes. Approach and Methodology 1.3 URS-Scott Wilson was commissioned by Ballyhoura Development and North Tipperary LEADER Partnership to complete the Stage 1 study and subsequently to present and discuss further the findings of the report via a series of consultation and training workshops. 1.4 In accordance with the brief, the Stage 1 study has involved an appraisal of the following: • the existing attractions and accommodation enterprises in the area and within the surrounding area, including identifying any gaps in provision; • the position and accessibility of any facilities and amenities available to support different activities and themes (e.g. walking, cycling, horse riding, wildlife watching, history/heritage interpretation); • the linkages between the different attractions and amenities across the area and beyond; • the roles and current approaches of the different organisations and stakeholders involved in the management, development and planning of the area; and • an examination of the current activities of the community groups, especially in relation to identifying any projects of relevance to the development of leisure, recreation and tourism activities. 1.5 It is important to reiterate that this baseline assessment and scoping report represents the initial stage of a broader study programme. The key output of the report is to identify coherent clusters of complementary leisure, recreation and tourism activities that have the potential to increase economic, social and environmental benefits to the area. The subsequent phases of investigation will then evolve the findings of this report to establish a vision for the future comprising a detailed masterplan and strategy as a framework from which the aspirations development in these sectors can be realised. 1.6 The following report has been updated and revised based upon the workshop and training sessions. The report presents the background information, technical detail, and key recommendations for developing Slieve Felim into a more coherent destination for leisure and tourism activities. Final (Update 2012) November 2012 1 Ballyhoura Development and North Tipperary LEADER Partnership Slieve Felim Concept Plan - Baseline Study, Scoping Report and Recommendations 2 Slieve Felim Overview Defining the Geographical Area 2.1 In order to provide greater context to the study area, it is important to firstly define the study boundary. The Slieve Felim Mountain Range (SFMR) consists of the following (see Figure 1): • Slieve Felim Mountain Range Boundary – encompassing the settlements of Murroe, Newtown, Silvermines, Upperchurch and Cappamore. • Wider Area of Influence – this area includes Limerick City, Nenagh, Thurles and Tipperary from a spatial context, but also includes Lough Derg and the Ballyhoura Mountains from a thematic perspective. 2.2 We recognise that the Slieve Felim Mountain Range (SFMR) is a nominal boundary at present and has been formed for the purpose of describing the leisure and provision that resides both within and beyond its limits. It is recognised that countryside areas such as the SFMR have an influence that extends well beyond any ‘official’ boundary. The implications of this are discussed at appropriate intervals in the report, particularly in relation to the provision of complementary or competing facilities and services in the wider area. Geology and Landscape Character The Slieve Felim Mountain Range 2.3 The SFMR resides to the east of Limerick City and spans the border of Limerick and North Tipperary Counties. In a general landscape that is predominantly characterised as being a combination of agricultural lowlands