Options Report for Glenfarne Wood
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Options for new tourism infrastructure and outdoor recreation facilities Glenfarne Wood Options Report for Glenfarne Wood Options for the Development of new Tourism Infrastructure and Outdoor Recreation Facilities at Glenfarne Wood, Co. Leitrim October 2020 Jointly Commissioned by Coillte and Leitrim County Council Authored by: EMcG Solutions & Ethna Murphy Consulting 1 Options for new tourism infrastructure and outdoor recreation facilities Glenfarne Wood 2 Options for new tourism infrastructure and outdoor recreation facilities Glenfarne Wood Contents Foreword .................................................................................................................................................... 5 1 Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. 6 2 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 9 2.1 Background ......................................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Study Approach ................................................................................................................... 9 2.3 Project Delivery .................................................................................................................... 9 3 Strategic Context .............................................................................................................................. 10 3.1 Strategic Fit ....................................................................................................................... 10 3.2 The Consumer.................................................................................................................... 10 3.3 The Tourism Market ........................................................................................................... 11 3.4 COVID 19 ........................................................................................................................... 13 4 Current Situational Analysis ............................................................................................................... 14 4.1 Key Facts ........................................................................................................................... 14 4.2 Current Visitor Experience .................................................................................................. 15 4.2.1 Overview .................................................................................................................... 15 4.2.2 Location ..................................................................................................................... 15 4.2.3 Glenfarne Community Development Projects............................................................. 15 4.2.4 Heritage and Culture .................................................................................................. 15 4.2.5 Archaeological sites and Thur Mountain ..................................................................... 16 4.2.6 Walking/jogging/cycling and woodland walk ...............................................................17 4.2.7 Link to the SLNCR Greenway ......................................................................................17 4.2.8 Bilberry Island and Patrick’s Island on the Lough .........................................................17 4.2.9 Fishing ........................................................................................................................17 4.2.10 Water-based activities ................................................................................................ 18 4.2.11 Environment and Ecology .......................................................................................... 19 4.2.12 Events ........................................................................................................................ 19 4.2.13 Arrival ........................................................................................................................ 19 4.2.14 Car parking ................................................................................................................. 20 4.3 Supportive Local Facilities .................................................................................................. 20 4.3.1 Additional Local Visitor Attractions/Experiences ........................................................ 20 4.3.2 Accommodation Provision Locally .............................................................................. 20 4.3.3 Adventure Tourism Providers in the Local Area .......................................................... 21 5 Consultation Analysis ........................................................................................................................ 24 5.1 Stakeholder Consultations Meetings .................................................................................. 24 5.2 Revised Consultation Programme ...................................................................................... 25 3 Options for new tourism infrastructure and outdoor recreation facilities Glenfarne Wood 5.3 Zoom Calls & Submission Analysis ..................................................................................... 25 5.3.1 Zoom – Key Findings .................................................................................................. 26 5.4 Survey via SurveyMonkey ...................................................................................................... 27 5.4.1 Survey Analysis ............................................................................................................... 27 5.5 Consultation Implications for the Glenfarne Wood Option Analysis .................................... 29 5.6 Emerging Themes .............................................................................................................. 30 6 Research and Benchmarking ............................................................................................................. 31 6.1 Good Practice Review ........................................................................................................ 31 6.2 Key Learnings: Parks and Forest Parks and Woods ............................................................. 31 6.3 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 34 7 Development of Options ................................................................................................................... 35 7.1 Options Overview .............................................................................................................. 35 7.2 Themes .............................................................................................................................. 36 7.3 The Basic Building Blocks ................................................................................................... 47 8 Delivery Models ................................................................................................................................. 52 8.1 Overview ........................................................................................................................... 52 8.2 Recommendations for consideration .................................................................................. 52 APPENDIX 1 STRATEGIC CONTEXT ......................................................................................................... 55 APPENDIX 2 – HERITAGE AND CULTURE ................................................................................................ 63 APPENDIX 3: LOCAL AREA ATTRACTIONS .............................................................................................. 84 APPENDIX 4 – THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENTS GLENFARNE ................................................................ 89 APPENDIX 5: ONLINE MEETING ATTENDEES ......................................................................................... 91 APPENDIX 6: GLENFARNE WOOD – SURVEY ANALYSIS ........................................................................ 92 APPENDIX 7: GOOD PRACTICE CASE STUDIES........................................................................................ 97 CASE STUDY 1: Haldon Forest Park .............................................................................................. 97 CASE STUDY 2: Slieve Gullion Forest Park .................................................................................. 104 CASE STUDY 3: Lough Key Forest and Activity Park ................................................................... 112 4 Options for new tourism infrastructure and outdoor recreation facilities Glenfarne Wood Foreword It gives us great pleasure to present this options study for Glenfarne Wood which results from the recently formed Coillte and Leitrim County Council Working Group. The report is a joint production and marks the first public output of this collaboration in County Leitrim. Glenfarne Wood is a Coillte -owned, working forest. However, this definition gives no hint of the lakeside treasures within – a tranquil yet living place with paths to suit every ability, wild nature, sculptures, history, heritage and scenic views at every turn: all this on the cross-border shores of Lough MacNean. It is with these qualities in mind that the project