By Dan Walsh
Wexford Walking Festival is taking place this weekend – Friday to Sunday inclusive – and all walkers are invited to embrace the natural beauty and wonderment that awaits over the festival weekend.
This year’s festival will offer walkers a choice of three fully accredited walking trails with spectacular views from the mountains to the coast. The festival is an ideal opportunity for family, friends and neighbours to enjoy a walk together and meet with other people walking. The walks are graded moderate and suitable for people of all ages.
Chairperson of Wexford Walking Trails, Peter O’Connor told WexfordLocal.com; said “Our walking trails are a valuable resource, creating healthy recreation opportunities by providing people of all ages and abilities with attractive, safe, and accessible locations, to walk, hike, run or jog. The network of trails in County Wexford, serves to help and encourage people to incorporate exercise into their daily routine, by connecting them with attractive and well-maintained places to exercise every day. The positive impact on public health and wellness cannot be overestimated. We look forward to welcoming everyone, enjoying a walk and to celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Wexford Walking Festival over the weekend.”
“We look forward to welcoming everyone, enjoying a walk and to celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Wexford Walking Festival over the weekend,” concluded Mr. O’Connor.
The festival weekend will commence on Friday at 6pm with a guided 6km walk to Carrigfoyle Lake, Forth Mountain. The meeting point is Barntown Community Centre (Eircode Y35 X023).
Following the walk, at 7.30pm, everyone is invited to Barntown Community Centre for a reception and the official launch of Wexford Walking Festival 2024, by Cllr Garry Laffan. The new Wexford Walking Trails brochure will be launched by Mr. Eamonn Hore, Director of Services Wexford County Council.
To celebrate a collaborative project between Wexford Walking Trails, Wexford County Council, Healthy Wexford, the Irish Farmers Association and Creative Ireland, a selection of beautiful ‘captures’ from Country Connects walks during the year, will be on display as part of the festival weekend, in Barntown Community Centre.
On Saturday, at 11am, a choice of two walks along the stunning Three Rocks Trail awaits. The meeting point is Carrigfoyle Lake Car Park. As you walk the Three Rocks Trail, breath-taking landscape, biodiversity in abundance and various sites of historical importance can be found. Local guides will accompany the walk and point out historic landmarks and items of interest along the way.
On Sunday, at 11am, to coincide with ‘National Walking Day’, a choice of two stunning coastal walks from Carne to Carnesore Point awaits. The meeting point is Carne Beach Caravan Park. Walkers can explore a beautifully natural path leading to Nethertown beach. This coastal path shows off a vast granite rock formation, best seen at low tide. Black back gulls and terns can be seen perched on the rocks looking for their next meal. Great cormorants can also be seeing drying their wings on the massive granite boulders. Local guides will accompany the walk and point out historic landmarks and items of interest along the way.
Following the walk, to mark the 10th anniversary of Wexford Walking Festival, complimentary refreshments will be served at 1.30pm in Lighthouse Pub located at the entrance to the Caravan Park.
Walkers are requested to register online prior to the event at https://Wexford_Walking_Festival.eventbrite.ie. Further information can be found on Wexford Walking Trails website at https://wexfordwalkingtrail.ie/ and people can also visit social media channels for updates. Wexford Walking Trails wish to thank Wexford County Council for its assistance with organising this year’s festival.
WexfordLocal.com 