I`m, in ireland for a couple of months doing some land survey work. I`m seeing some good countryside out and about but finding it hard to find any good walks. I`m staying in Portlaoise, in central ireland and have struggled to find anything resembling a rights of way network or even decent maps. The Slieve Bloom hills nearby are interesting but the new paths are long distance routes and making circular walks is dificult. The Wicklows are great - good scenery, low erosion on paths, quiete, but quite a treck out. Anyone got any ideas of anything closer or could clarify the land access rules, i`ve been told that in the Wicklows it`s as good as "right to roam" even though there is no "right"?
Don`t expect much of a reply, getting internet access here means a special trip into town.
In message <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] writes
Quoted message said:
Hi,
I`m, in ireland for a couple of months doing some land survey work. I`m seeing some good countryside out and about but finding it hard to find any good walks. I`m staying in Portlaoise, in central ireland and have struggled to find anything resembling a rights of way network or even decent maps. The Slieve Bloom hills nearby are interesting but the new paths are long distance routes and making circular walks is dificult. The Wicklows are great - good scenery, low erosion on paths, quiete, but quite a treck out. Anyone got any ideas of anything closer or could clarify the land access rules, i`ve been told that in the Wicklows it`s as good as "right to roam" even though there is no "right"?
No closer I'm afraid, but the Galty Mountains are good and an excellent Youth Hostel (Mountain Lodge).. Make a weekend of it.
And while there, you should visit both the Dingle and MacGillycuddy's Reeks.
try www.mountainviews.ie which should give you options for mountain ranges near Port Laoise. The Slieve Blooms are low and probably will not interest you for more than a trip or two. For variety go to the Silvermines (Keeper Hill is 694m with a famous view) or the Slieve Bernaghs or further south to any of the Galtees (up to 900m), Comeraghs or Blackstairs.
Rights of way don't really exist in the same way in Ireland as England. In most areas you can walk on uplands without difficulty, provided you exercise common sense.
Simon Stewart.
<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Hi,
I`m, in ireland for a couple of months doing some land survey work. I`m seeing some good countryside out and about but finding it hard to find any good walks. I`m staying in Portlaoise, in central ireland and have struggled to find anything resembling a rights of way network or even decent maps. The Slieve Bloom hills nearby are interesting but the new paths are long distance routes and making circular walks is dificult. The Wicklows are great - good scenery, low erosion on paths, quiete, but quite a treck out. Anyone got any ideas of anything closer or could clarify the land access rules, i`ve been told that in the Wicklows it`s as good as "right to roam" even though there is no "right"?
Don`t expect much of a reply, getting internet access here means a special trip into town.
<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Hi,
I`m, in ireland for a couple of months doing some land survey work. I`m seeing some good countryside out and about but finding it hard to find any good walks. I`m staying in Portlaoise, in central ireland and have struggled to find anything resembling a rights of way network or even decent maps. The Slieve Bloom hills nearby are interesting but the new paths are long distance routes and making circular walks is dificult. The Wicklows are great - good scenery, low erosion on paths, quiete, but quite a treck out. Anyone got any ideas of anything closer or could clarify the land access rules, i`ve been told that in the Wicklows it`s as good as "right to roam" even though there is no "right"?
Don`t expect much of a reply, getting internet access here means a special trip into town.
I,ve wondered about this situation in Ireland. I think it is/was for historical reasons. The estates owned by the English did not encourage people to walk across the land, indeed many were surrounded by walls. A possible result of this is that in many areas there is a very good network of roads which take the place of paths.
