2019 Visitor Observation Study Results EVIRONMENTAL SURVEYING AND MONITORING OF THE WILD ATLANTIC WAY OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME for: Fáilte Ireland 88-95 Amiens Street Dublin 1 by: CAAS Ltd. 1st Floor 24-26 Ormond Quay Upper Dublin 7 August 2019 2019 Visitor Observation Study Results of the Environmental Surveying and Monitoring of the WAW Table of Contents Section 1 Introduction ................................................................... 6 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................................ 6 1.2 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 6 1.3 Monitoring Site Selection Rationale .................................................................................... 7 Section 2 Methodology .................................................................. 9 2.1 Guidelines for Undertaking Visitor Observation Survey ................................................................. 9 2.2 Development of Activities, Effects and their Categories ................................................................ 9 2.3 Visitor Movement Zones ........................................................................................................... 10 Section 3 Presentation and Analysis of Results ........................... 11 3.1 Sheep’s Head .......................................................................................................................... 13 3.2 Seefin Viewpoint ...................................................................................................................... 20 3.3 Dursey Sound (Previously named Garnish Point) ....................................................................... 27 3.4 Inch Strand ............................................................................................................................. 34 3.5 Banna Strand .......................................................................................................................... 41 3.6 Spanish Point .......................................................................................................................... 48 3.7 Flaggy Shore ........................................................................................................................... 55 3.8 Traught Beach ......................................................................................................................... 62 3.9 Derrigimlagh Bog ..................................................................................................................... 69 3.10 Blacksod Harbour ................................................................................................................... 76 3.11 Lacken Strand ....................................................................................................................... 83 3.12 Inishcrone Pier ...................................................................................................................... 90 3.13 Rosses Point .......................................................................................................................... 97 3.14 Mountcharles Pier ................................................................................................................ 104 3.15 Carrickfinn Beach ................................................................................................................. 111 Section 4 Collective Analysis of All Sites ................................... 117 Section 5 Conclusions, Recommendations & Trends Observed.. 126 5.1 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 126 5.2 Recommendations ................................................................................................................. 129 CAAS for Fáilte Ireland i 2019 Visitor Observation Study Results of the Environmental Surveying and Monitoring of the WAW Table of Figures Figure 3.1 Duration of Time Spent at Sheep’s Head ........................................................................... 13 Figure 3.2 Use of Interpretive Material at Sheep’s Head ...................................................................... 14 Figure 3.3 Categories of Activity Levels Observed at Sheep’s Head ....................................................... 14 Figure 3.4 Range of Visitor Activities Observed at Sheep’s Head .......................................................... 15 Figure 3.5 Categories of Environmental Impact Levels Observed at Sheep’s Head as a result of Visitor Activities .................................................................................................................................... 16 Figure 3.6 Range of Environmental Impacts Observed at Sheep’s Head ................................................ 16 Figure 3.7 Zones Trafficked by Visitors at Sheep’s Head ...................................................................... 17 Figure 3.8 Location of Visitor Movement Zones at Sheep’s Head .......................................................... 18 Figure 3.9 Duration of Time Spent at Seefin Viewpoint ........................................................................ 20 Figure 3.10 Use of Interpretive Material at Seefin Viewpoint ................................................................ 21 Figure 3.11 Categories of Activity Levels Observed at Seefin Viewpoint ................................................ 21 Figure 3.12 Range of Visitor Activities Observed at Seefin Viewpoint ................................................... 22 Figure 3.13 Categories of Environmental Impact Levels Observed at Seefin Viewpoint as a result of Visitor Activities .................................................................................................................................... 23 Figure 3.14 Range of Environmental Impacts Observed at Seefin Viewpoint ......................................... 23 Figure 3.15 Zones Trafficked by Visitors at Seefin Viewpoint ................................................................ 24 Figure 3.16 Location of Visitor Movement Zones at Seefin Viewpoint .................................................... 25 Figure 3.17 Duration of Time Spent at Dursey Sound .......................................................................... 27 Figure 3.18 Use of Interpretive Material at Dursey Sound .................................................................... 28 Figure 3.19 Category of Activity Levels Observed at Dursey Sound ....................................................... 28 Figure 3.20 Range of Visitor Activities Observed at Dursey Sound ........................................................ 29 Figure 3.21 Categories of Environmental Impact Levels Observed at Dursey Sound as a Result of Visitor Activities .................................................................................................................................... 30 Figure 3.22 Range of Environmental Impacts Observed at Dursey Sound ............................................. 30 Figure 3.23 Zones Trafficked by Visitors at Dursey Sound .................................................................... 31 Figure 3.24 Location of Visitor Movement Zones at Dursey Sound ........................................................ 32 Figure 3.25 Duration Spent at Inch Strand .......................................................................................... 34 Figure 3.26 Use of Interpretation Material at Inch Strand .................................................................... 35 Figure 3.27 Categories of Activity Levels Observed at Inch Strand ........................................................ 35 Figure 3.28 Range of Visitor Activities Observed at Inch Strand ........................................................... 36 Figure 3.29 Categories of Environmental Impact Levels Observed at Inch Strand as a result of Visitor Activities .................................................................................................................................... 37 Figure 3.30 Range of Environmental Impacts Observed at Inch Strand ................................................. 37 Figure 3.31 Zones Trafficked by Visitors at Inch Strand ....................................................................... 38 Figure 3.32 Location of Visitor Movement Zones at Inch Strand ........................................................... 39 Figure 3.33 Duration of Time Spent at Banna Strand ........................................................................... 41 Figure 3.34 Use of Interpretive Material at Banna Strand ..................................................................... 42 Figure 3.35 Categories of Activity Levels Observed at Banna Strand ..................................................... 42 Figure 3.36 Range of Visitor Activities Observed at Banna Strand ......................................................... 43 Figure 3.37 Categories of Environmental Impact Levels Observed at Banna Strand as a result of Visitor Activities .................................................................................................................................... 44 Figure 3.38 Range of Environmental Impacts Observed at Banna Strand .............................................. 44 Figure 3.39 Zones Trafficked by Visitors at Banna Strand ...................................................................