Trail Development for Community Groups
A community trail can be a very valuable amenity, bringing a range of benefits to local residents and visitors alike. Access to trails enables people to enjoy the outdoors, connect with our natural heritage and improve mental and physical health. Trails attract tourism, benefit local businesses, and provide opportunities for education. Trails offer a way to socialise outdoors, and even the work of developing and maintaining a trail can bring a community together and promote social inclusion.
Trails of a sufficiently high standard can be added to the National Trails Register, which offers many advantages. It’s a great marketing opportunity, and provides reassurance to walkers and to the developers that the trail is of good quality. Registered trails can be listed on Sport Ireland’s website, added to Ordnance Survey maps, and covered by Sport Ireland’s public liability insurance.
Developing a New Trail
Developing a trail from scratch takes quite a bit of work, but there are lots of resources available to help community groups to properly plan, design, create and maintain a sustainable, safe and enjoyable trail in their locality.
Steps may include:
- Set up a Trail Development Committee
- Public consultation to consider the needs of the local community and identify a suitable site
- Secure landowner permissions (get signed permissive access agreements)
- Create a trail development plan, perhaps with the help of a specialist
- Have an ecologist/consultant carry out environmental studies e.g. Preliminary Ecological Appraisal
- Apply for funding e.g. Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS), LEADER, Community Development Fund (Co. Council)
- Hire a contractor to carry out the planned works
- Conduct a risk assessment for the completed trail
- Develop a maintenance and monitoring plan
- Have the trail assessed by a Sport Ireland Outdoors inspector
- Confirm registration on the National Trails Register
- Ensure trail has public liability insurance before opening it to the public (this can be provided by Sport Ireland once the trail is registered)
Upgrading an Existing Trail
Trails have to meet certain criteria before they will pass a Sport Ireland inspection and get approval for registration on the National Trails Register.
Criteria include:
- Access to the entire trail must have the permission of the land owner/occupier
- Suitable off-road parking must be available at the trailhead
- Trail information made available to the public online and via onsite Information Board
- Information should include trail map, length, grading, terrain, estimated time to complete, ascent, waymarking symbols, dog policy, contact information for the trail manager, contact numbers for emergency services, guidance on user behaviour, details of any services available, and notification of any diversions or trail closures, etc.
- As much of the trail as possible should be off-road or at least make use of footpaths
- All sections of the route must be free of obstacles and passable using stiles, gates or bridges as appropriate
- Warning signs must be in place to advise walkers of the presence of livestock and/or electric fences
- Trip hazards must be highlighted e.g. with tape, ribbon or paint
- The route must be properly waymarked e.g. at every junction
- Waymarking signage must be consistent in its design and colour
- Trail furniture such as stiles, steps and bridges must be fit for purpose, robust, reliable and secure
- The trail surface should be durable, robust, fit for purpose, adequate to the type and level of use, well-drained and resistant to erosion
- The walking surface of trail infrastructure must be stable in all weather conditions (e.g. add slip-resistant paint, staples or wire mesh to improve grip)
- Vegetation must be controlled so that it doesn’t encroach on the trail nor obscure signage/waymarking
- Every trail should have a risk assessment and a trail management and monitoring plan in place
Resources
Sport Ireland: Walking Trails Criteria for Ireland (PDF)
A 32-page document describing the criteria trails must meet to be considered for inclusion on the National Trails Register.
Sport Ireland: A Guide to Planning and Developing Recreational Trails in Ireland (PDF)
An 84-page document that lists things to consider about trail development, and examines the trail planning process in detail.
Sport Ireland: Trail Planning Questionnaire (.docx)
This form is very useful for the early planning stages of a new trail. Required when submitting a request for assessment by Sport Ireland.
Wicklow Trails – Developing a New Walking Trail – A Step by Step Guide for Community Groups (PDF)
A helpful 28-page guide to community trail development.
The Mountain Meitheal Handbook of Trail Design and Construction
Fantastic guide to the practicalities of trail construction – trail surface, water management, building bog bridges, stiles and other infrastructure.
Other useful links:
There are lots more trail development resources available on the Sport Ireland website here:
Trail Development | Sport Ireland
Contact Us
Contact MID if you need support in developing a community trail in your area. The Rural Recreation Officer (RRO) can advise on best practice, funding opportunities, and other resources to help with the development of outdoor recreation across the county.
Email: info@midl.ie / zdoody@midl.ie
Call: 042 974 9500 / 087 1952424
The Walks Scheme
Once a trail is registered with Sport Ireland, there may also be a chance to join the Walks Scheme. Landowners on the Walks Scheme get paid by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to carry out ongoing maintenance work on their sections of the trail.
Keep an eye out for the Department’s next call for Expressions of Interest (EoI), when funding to support the addition of new trails will be announced.