Protect our Upland Habitats

Trekkers Nature Watch - Summer 

Heath Spotted Orchid

  

Ireland’s most common orchid (height=30cm), the Heath Spotted Orchid has pink-mauve flowers and dark spots on its leaves; it occurs on heath and bogs. Orchids grow slowly, taking several years to flower. 

Photo source: Northwest Nature and History

Tormentil

A small flower (height=20cm) that all hillwalkers can learn to recognise! Tormentil’s bright-yellow flowers, with four heart shaped petals, dot our hillsides for half the year. Often confused with buttercup, it is an indicator of acidic soil. Tormentil is abundant over hill grassland, heath and bog. It has been used to treat a range of ailments in humans and livestock. 

         Photo source: Wildflowers of Ireland

Further information on wildflower meadows: 

1) I recommend a visit to Ardgillen Castle and Demense, Skerries this summer. Their extensive wildflower meadows cover 30 hectares (approx), with easy walking trails overlooking the sea. 

2) Why not also visit the National Botanical Gardens at Kilmacurragh, County Wicklow?

Beautiful trails suitable for all Trekkers, including wildflower meadows. 

To Watch:

This short video on the wildflower meadows at Kilmacurragh includes the Heath Spotted Orchid. 

Wildflower meadows at Kilmacurragh

To Download:

Walking with Wildlife Leaflet: 

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

To Follow on Facebook:

Learn about more wildflowers on this website

Wildflowers of Ireland

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:

On the August 30th and September 24th litter picks, we will once again be joined by eight international protection applicant volunteers coordinated by the South County Dublin Volunteer Centre Integration Officer- Sandra Mpotu. https://volunteersouthdublin.ie/who-we-are/

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

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

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- 07/08/2026 )  

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
Glencullen	Firefighters have been trying to fully extinguish a fire on open ground in the Glencullen area over the August bank holiday weekend. This fire has reignited a few times and is being monitored by Dublin Fire Brigade. RTE report on Glencullen fire on 04 08 2026 Staff at the nearby GAP, Glencullen advise to  avoid walking in the area, especially for large groups. There is s risk of smoke inhalation, depending on the wind direction.
Glencree and Featherbeds	The White Bog Road, near Kippure and NW of Glencree (see red line on map) has been closed since 15th of July by the Wicklow National Parks and Wildlife Service (Wicklow NPWS) , when an extensive fire broke out on the Featherbeds (on heathland either side of the White Bog Road). Another nearby section of heathland at Oldboleys was also on fire.  As of 27/07/2026, the fire was still smouldering on the Featherbeds. While the Military Road has reopened, the Wicklow NPWS Rangers are still present to monitor for further re-ignition of the fire on the bog.  The Wicklow NPWS advise walkers to avoid the Kippure and Featherbeds area for the present, as the risk of re-ignition remains and there is also a risk of smoke inhalation, depending on the wind direction.  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.
Glendalough Valley	From Monday 20th of July, repair work starts 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.
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 did not erect any signage or give advance notice of the closure.  The car park has now reopened.	Free Car Park Laragh .png Google Maps Link:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/jYdBraPtiChPLJQS8