Protect our Upland Habitats (Updated on 25/08/2026)

Trekkers Nature Watch - Autumn 

"But I thought all heathers were the same?"

Discover our three different heathers

  

Source: Walking with Wildlife- the Comeraghs. Mountaineering Ireland. 

     

To Watch:

A short video by Bryn Williams, Mountaineering Guide, with a really clear show and tell about the three most common heathers. Click on this YouTube Link: 

Learn the 3 Mountain Heather Types

To Download:

Walking with Wildlife Leaflet: 

www.mountaineering.ie/_files/WalkingWithWildlife-North2021.pdf

To Follow on Facebook:

The Wicklow National Parks and Wildlife Service Facebook (and Instagram) pages are worth following for regular posts on wildlife and nature talks and events that are nearby to most Trekker Club Members.  Here is the link: 

Wicklow National Park and Wildlife Service Facebook Page

Car sharing guidelines

When appropriate and feasible, the Trekkers club promotes car sharing for Wednesday and Friday walks, in order to limit our carbon footprint and to reduce the number of cars in the Uplands. Individuals registered on hikes are asked to check the attendance list the day before walking and to organise car sharing with others living nearby or on the route to the start point.  

Trekkers are reminded to avoid blocking gateways or parking on narrow country roads. Large farm vehicles or the emergency services may need access. In unmarked parking areas, make sure that space isn’t wasted between vehicles.

The Trekkers Club uses hired buses for Saturday hikes, which also serves to reduce CO2 emissions and to ease pressure on limited car parking spaces in rural and upland areas.

Where available, the use of public transport to walk start points is also recommended.

Reporting illegal dumping - this is how to report an illegal dumping site in Wicklow or the Dublin Uplands to the PURE office.

Source: www.pureproject.ie

If you come across an illegal dumping site on a hike, you should report it. Leaving the litter where it has been dumped will encourage more fly-tippers. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Take a photo of the contents of the dump site
2. Use Google Maps to save a pin drop of the exact location
3. Email Alana Sweeney, PURE Office Administrator at info@pureproject.ie as soon as possible
4. Include the date, photo and location pin drop (or grid reference) and short description in your email.

Remember, the PURE Project only covers Wicklow and the Dublin Uplands. www.pureproject.ie

For illegal dumping in the Uplands in other counties, call the National Complaints Line on 1800 365 123

PURE Mile litter picks.

Trekkers had a litter pick morning on June 18th along 6kms of roadside in the Featherbeds area, above Glenasmole Valley. On that day, 22 volunteers filled the equivalent weight of 74 bags of rubbish. The PURE team included 13 Trekkers and 9 international protection applicant volunteers. 

Upcoming dates are:

The six co-leaders of litter picks are: Noel Kelly, Rita Tuohy, Dara Robinson,  Fran Behan, Mary Murphy and Geraldine Boland.

Rita promises to bring her freshly baked scones to the refreshments after every litter pick!

PURE Mile Project- general information:

Want to find out more about the background of the PURE Project? 

Here is their website: https://www.pureproject.ie/

Trekkers PURE volunteers featured on the RTE environmental programme HEATED in 2024. You might like to look at the short clip, the first item in Episode 1: 

https://www.rte.ie/player/series/heated/10002421-00-0000?epguid=IP10002422-01-0001

Access

Public enjoyment of the vast majority of Ireland’s mountains and crags is due to the goodwill and tolerance of the landowners, rather than access being based on any formal arrangement. Land ownership in Ireland is a complex jigsaw of individually-owned land, commonage areas (where a number of people share grazing or other rights to the land) and State-owned lands (e.g. Coillte, national parks, Forest Service and Northern Ireland Water properties).

As land ownership and other circumstances can change, access should not be taken for granted, even on routes that have been used for decades.

Maintaining the goodwill that access depends upon is a shared responsibility. Taking the time to say hello or check about parking can make a big difference.

The purpose of this section is to alert Trekker leaders to current access issues: e.g. diversions or closures of certain trails by Coillte, Wicklow NPWS, Dublin Mountains Partnership, Wicklow Uplands Council. 

Report an Access Issue

If you experience difficulty in gaining access for hillwalking, please email helen@mountaineering.ie providing details of the location, a description of the difficulty you encountered, and your contact number. ALSO - PLEASE COPY THE TREKKERS ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER (Geraldine Boland) ON YOUR EMAIL gmboland@gmail.com

Temporary Trail Closures or Diversions (Last updated- 1/09/2026 )  

If you are aware of a trail closure or temporary access problem, please email Geraldine at gmboland@gmail.com Include a photo if possible of any signage related to the closure. 

Where?	When does the closure end?	Map
Glendalough Valley	From Monday 20th of July, repair work started on the White Trail (Spinc and Glenealo Valley) The work is expected to take 5 to 6 months (up to December, 2026). The area affected is known as the "White Zig Zags from the Miners Village up to the footbridge. There may also be be some disruption along the Blue Trail (Spinc Shortcut) as materials are moved.  Wicklow National Parks Service say that the trails will remain open, except for one or two days when they will bring stone in by helicopter. The crew will work on short 10 metre sections at a time. Signage guiding hikers will be in place
Glencullen	Firefighters and local farmers contained and put out a fire on open ground in the Glencullen which began over the August bank holiday weekend. This fire has reignited a few times and is being monitored by Dublin Fire Brigade. The area marked in blue on the attached map indicates the approximate area of burnt heathland, resulting from the fire. On 22/08/26, the ground was still smouldering, with some instances of the peat bog re-igniting.  If Trekkers are planning a hike here during September, it is important for leaders to check out on your recce if the fire is still active.
Glencree and Featherbeds	The White Bog Road, near Kippure and NW of Glencree (see red line on map) was closed temporarily by the Wicklow National Parks and Wildlife Service (Wicklow NPWS). An extensive fire broke out on the Featherbeds (on heathland either side of the White Bog Road) in July. Another nearby section of heathland at Oldboleys was also on fire. While it is possible to walk in the area, the heathland is badly charred and damaged.  The walkers track running NE from Bradleys Turn may be unavailable during August as this area is now a film set. Walkers can access the area, however, if filming is in progress there may be delays.
Free Car Park, Laragh (near Wollen Mills) Operated by Wicklow County Council	This popular car park for Trekkers was closed at short notice during the weekend of 3rd to 5th of July. Wicklow County Council (who manage the car park) did not erect any signage or give advance notice of the closure.  The car park has now reopened fully, with no further closures notified as of 1/09/2026.	Free Car Park Laragh .png Google Maps Link:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/jYdBraPtiChPLJQS8