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View from the Scalp Lookout Welcome to the Summer issue of Trailhead Its been a busy first half of 2009 with the We are beginning to see the real benefits of working reconstruction of over 1.2km of the at together – local authorities, Coillte, NPWS, recreation Tiknock, the construction of the new mountain users and the community. The partnership is showing access route in , the waymarking and real innovation and vision in its use of all the resources to deliver better recreation for the citizens and visitors to opening of the first section of the Dublin Mountains Dublin. Way and the installation of a permanent orienteering course in the Hellfire Forest with support from the Below we have printed just one of the many comments Irish Orienteering Association. that regularly come into our website or are passed onto our ranger service from recreation users, and it illustrates 2009 has also seen a huge increase in community that the DMP is making a difference in improving and volunteer involvement in the DMP. The most recreation use of the public lands in the Dublin Mountains. notable aspect of this is the start up of our volunteer ranger programme which is proving very successful. “ Many, many thanks for all We have also benefited hugely from the contribution from Mountain Meitheal and Google volunteers who the work you have done in are allowing us to do much needed trail repair works Cruagh/Tibradden It has while maximising our resources. The Irish Ramblers made a great difference. May Club are sponsoring the materials to build an there be more of it!” important link on the .

THE NEWSLETTER FROM THE DUBLIN MOUNTAINS PARTNERSHIP www.dublinmountains.ie Dublin Mountains Initiative

Untitled-1.indd 1 27/07/2009 11:04 Permanent Orienteering Course Volunteer Ranger Service Local orienteering clubs have wished for a long time to establish a network of permanent orienteering courses around the country. The first of these is nearing completion at Hell Fire/Massy’s. This project involved co-operation between the DMP, Coillte, Setanta Orienteering Club, & South Dublin County Sports Partnership. candidates were selected. A basic training weekend for the new recruits took place at The course involves 52 control points which can be used for a variety of events, the end of May, and more training is including courses suitable for primary and secondary schools (with an education scheduled over the coming months. workbook of mathematical and nature questions), and suggested courses of varying Ranger duties will include providing lengths for orienteerers. Orienteering is a requirement on the school curriculum. assistance to visitors to the DMP area, leading and helping with DMP organised Details, maps and education workbooks are available on the DMP website. events, promoting responsible use through Bookings should be made through the DMP Recreation Manager. the Leave No Trace programme and providing support to the DMP full-time staff. Dublin The DMP Volunteer Rangers have been out on the mountains since the first of June, and the Volunteer Ranger Service was officially Mountains launched by Minister Ó Cuív on 19th June. This is a very exciting time for the DMP and hopefully you will meet the Volunteer Way TIBRADDEN & HELL As part of its programme to enhance the The DMP set about recruiting Volunteer Rangers out and about in the DMP area over recreation experience for the users of the Rangers early in 2009. Enormous interest the summer months. Please feel free to FIRE CAR PARKS OPEN Dublin Mountains, the DMP has developed a was expressed in the Volunteer Ranger come up to them and have a chat about the A new long distance walk As more and more people enjoy outdoor recrea- The DMP with the aid of the Volunteer Rangers Volunteer Ranger Service. Volunteer Service from a wide range of people living all area and what’s going on. tion, our collective mark on the environment and have reopened the car parks at Tibradden and Rangers play an important role in the over Dublin and beyond, with a variety of stretching from Shankill in the its natural processes, increases. Leave No Trace Hell Fire on weekends and Bank Holidays. management of outdoor recreation in many backgrounds and experience. Interviews principles are designed to minimise the social and Opening times are from 11am to 5pm. Cars left other countries including the UK and US. took place in in April and 14 east to in the west, environmental impacts to natural and cultural in after these times will be released on payment heritage areas. Leave No Trace depends more of a call out fee of €75, so please respect the covering over 38km, is being on attitude and awareness than on rules and closing times. regulations. developed by the DMP. The Also please take care and do not leave any valu- The seven principles of Leave No Trace are: ables lying about in your cars. If you see any first section was launched on • Plan ahead and prepare dumping taking place in any car parks, forest or mountain areas, please report it to the PURE 19th June by Minister Ó Cuív. • Be considerate of others hotline on Lo Call 1850-365 121. Google help • Respect farm animals and wildlife • Travel and camp on durable surfaces Contact Us build trails... The Dublin Mountains Way will be a • Leave what you find DMP Manager Tel 01 201 1187 varied, interesting walk with magnificent c/o Coillte Email [email protected] views of Dublin city, the coast and the • Dispose of waste properly Dublin Road Web www.dublinmountains.ie Newtownmountkennedy . It will cross a vari- • Minimise the impacts of fire Co. Wicklow ety of landscapes from the conical hill Trail News of , through the old WWW.LEAVENOTRACEIRELAND.ORG woodland of , past Johnnie Foxes pub and the in Wicklow Way Upgrade in Completed Ballyedmonduff forest, up to the flat open heathland of Fairy Castle and NEW SIGNAGE INSTALLED ACROSS DMP SITES A 1.1km section of the Wicklow Way in Kilmashogue has been completely upgraded by the DMP. . Joining the Wicklow Way The trail was built using a reversal trail building method utilising natural material on site for both trail for a small section, it then heads across The DMP has recently installed lovely new signage and water bars. This new trail should be much more sustainable and reduce the erosion and water across nine forest recreation sites in the Dublin into Cruagh forest. damage suffered in the past. This trail forms part of the first section of the Wicklow Way from Marlay Mountains. Threshold signs, which welcome visitors From here Dit follows the Owendoher to a forest were placed at the forest entrances. Park to . It also provides links to Tibradden Mountain, Fairy Castle and Three Rock. Trailhead signs, which display a range of information River through Massy’s Estate and over including a map of the forest, information about the the road into Hell Fire. The next sec- area, length and ability of trails, along with the Leave 32 Google employees came Mountain Access Route in Cruagh Irish Ramblers sponsor trail in Cruagh No Trace principles. Trailhead signs can be found in tion is still to be confirmed, but it will out to Barnaslingan Wood, the car park area, and also at the junction of some Mountain Meitheal (www.pathsavers.org) have Work will commence in mid July on a further eventually head down through St. Ann’s trails such as the Cruagh Mountain Access Route, near , over two days now completed the Mountain 370m of the new Dublin Mountains Way, linking graveyard and around the Glenasmole (9/10th June) to waymark and Access Route in Cruagh. A Cruagh and Massy’s Estate. Mountain Meitheal reservoir. Finally it passes through upgrade the new Dublin 400m -bridge was con- volunteers are constructing the turnpike trail, Kiltipper landsM and Sean Walsh Park structed up through the forest to which winds through the lovely Mountains Way and Scalp into Tallaght. The only section way- and the junction of the Wicklow Way and the new National Park land. The DMP provided the ma- mature and spruce forest, Dublin Mountains Way. Maps displayed on the Lookout trail. A great amount marked at present is from Tibradden to terials and Mountain Meitheal, the many hours of exiting along the laneway leading trailhead signs can be downloaded on the DMP of work was achieved, a big Cruagh. The section from Shankill to website www.dublinmountains.ie - Recreation Sites. hard labour. Thank you to all the volunteers! to the bridge over the Owendoher Unfortunately two signs were vandalised—the sign thanks to all the volunteers This route now provides easy access to the open River. The materials for the pro- Barnaslingan will be waymarked over at Tibradden has now been replaced and the one for Hell Fire is on order. involved. mountain over as far as Prince William’s Seat ject are being kindly funded by the the coming weeks. The Dublin Moun- and an alternative looped walk in Cruagh Forest. Irish Ramblers Club. taineer (see page 4) will be ideal for Six picnic benches, some with BBQ facilities, were W also installed in Tibradden and Cruagh Forests. those wanting to walk part of the DMW.

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