Westmeath routes will feature as part of the upcoming National Trails Day which will take place on Sunday October 2.
Trails in Belvedere House and Gardens and Mullaghmeen will be a highlight of the event which is in its fourth year.
Belvedere Nature Trail is a 3km trail through the ancient lakeside woodland of the Belvedere Estate where rare animals such as red squirrels, pine martens, jays, cormorants, and much more reside. Mullaghmeen forest walk is a 3km walk through the largest planted beech forest in Western Europe.
This year’s National Trails Day is expected to expand from the150 events of last year to 200 this year and thousands of people are expected to take part on the day.
This year’s events include a range of exciting outdoor pursuits including canoe and kayaking, mountain biking, trail conservation work, nature and heritage walks, horse-riding on equestrian trails, family orienteering, and family cycling.
National Trails Day is an all-Ireland event organised by Coillte, the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and Fáilte Ireland along with the Countryside Access & Activities Network in Northern Ireland. It is aimed at increasing awareness about the fantastic recreation opportunities in the Irish countryside, and encouraging people to experience a trail in their locality.
A full listing of events is on www.nationaltrailsday.ie Event organisers can still post events for the day by logging on to the website and completing the form.
