Supporting Rural Development in
Waterford County

Rural Recreation & The Walks Scheme

The Department of Rural and Community Development Walks Scheme works with landowners to encourage the development, enhancement and maintenance of trails approved by Sport Ireland Outdoors and listed on the National Trails Register. 

The Walks Scheme contracts the landholders, or their nominees, to undertake maintenance work on sections of priority walks that cross their lands.  The scheme has resulted in the development and enhancement of 140 trails, and the negotiation of maintenance contracts with over 2,000 landowners.  

The scheme is administered in accordance with the Operating Guidelines of the Walks Scheme as determined by the Department of Rural and Community Development. 

The Walks Scheme in Co. Waterford 

The Walks Scheme in Co. Waterford is administered by Waterford LEADER Partnership CLG on behalf of the Department of Community Development, and with assistance from Sport Ireland Outdoors and Fáilte Ireland. 

There are 14 trails across Co. Waterford on the Walks Scheme. The Rural Recreation Officer works with over 100 landowners to co-ordinate the maintenance of 61.9km of track across the county.  

Important Information and Safety Notices: 

Dog Policy
We kindly ask you to respect the dog policies for each trail. Please refrain from bringing dogs onto trails where they are not permitted. These restrictions are in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of livestock and wildlife, as dogs—whether leashed or unleashed—can cause stress and harm to sheep, cattle, and other animals. 

You are welcome to bring your dogs on trails that allow them. Information on which trails welcome dogs can be found in the trails section. Thank you for respecting the farmers, landowners, and natural environment that make these trails possible. 

For more information on walking near livestock and dog control, click here: Sport Ireland – Livestock Advice for Trail Users  

Staying Safe & Responsible Behaviour  

Before going out on a trail, make sure you are fully prepared. Check the difficulty of the trail, familiarise yourself with the route, and ensure you have all the necessary clothing and supplies for your walk/hike.  

For more information on getting prepared, staying safe on a trail and responsible behaviour, click here: 

  

Contact Details:-

The walks scheme is administered by Ms Niamh McGuinness, Rural Recreation Officer for Waterford Leader Partnership CLG. Niamh can be contacted as follows:-

Waterford Leader Partnership CLG, Lismore Business Park, Lismore, Co Waterford

M: 086 1990221

E: niamh.mcguinness@wlp.ie

 

Further details on the programme can be found here 

TitleTypeFileSizeHits
ORIS Scheme Expression of Interest vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document 300 KB 29
ORIS Scheme Outlines & Guidelines pdf 667 KB 29
The Walks Scheme and Rural Recreation Officers
Leave No Trace
Livestock advice for trail users pdf 660 KB 289

Corporate Governance

"We confirm that Waterford Leader Partnership CLG complies with the Governance Code for the Community, Voluntary & Charitable Sector in Ireland"

TheGovernanceCode.ie