December Walk

The December Outing of the Irish Wildlife Trust Waterford takes place on Sunday December 12th starting at 2 pm sharp. The walk is along the interesting and biologically rich and diverse Anne Valley starting at Annestown car park. The walk is gentle and will be of about 2 hours. The route will take us along the Anne River past Dunhill Castle, the stronghold of the mediaeval Power family. This is a family friendly outing. The walk will be led by Reggie and Hilary Killops. Let us know if you need transport to and from the walk as there will be a small amount of car pooling available. Directions for Annestown car park: From Dunhill take the Annestown Road. The car park is at the eastern end of Annestown Beach or from Tramore follow the Dungarvan coast road through Fenor and on to Annestown. Enquiries: Ray at 051-382629. All welcome.

View Larger Map

Irish Wildlife Trust November Walk

The November Walk of the Irish Wildlife Trust ( Waterford) went to the interesting Carrigavantry Lake area on Sunday November 14th. The walk included a section along the lake front, through some forestry, and open farm land. Carrigavantry is a reservoir so part of the focus of the walk was the water supply. There is a passage grave en route. Alan Walsh of the Copper Coast Geo Park lead the walk.

Information on the reservoir can be found on the Flyfishing website. The new wheelyboat gives additional access to the lake.

Hydronet from the EPA gives some idea of the seasonal fluctuation of water levels.

Cliff walk report part 2

Our final destination: Portally Cove...any chance of continuing this fine walk on to Ballymacaw and even Rathmoylan?

once again the steps are a little demandiing for the less agile!

Fine coastal features at the mouth of Portally

and a Geo which has a small protective fence around it to prevent the less wary slipping in

Dunmore Cliff Walk Report part 1

Looking back over the Flatrocks to the Lighthouse and on up the Suir Estuary.

Well done to Ray McGrath and the Dunmore East Tourism and Commerce Group for their fine booklet entitled: Guide to 7 walks in Dunmore East and surrounding area. For more information on the annual Walking Festival check here.

The new steps may be a bit steep for some but maybe improved

The addition of a seat with views over to the Hook and a small bridge over a marshy area

Should development be allowed on such a superb coastline?

Walk on 14th November

Ballyscanlon Lake will be the venue on November 14th. The wildlife will not be as active as when Don Conroy visited in July. Listen to his podcast on WLR..click here.

Looped Walks and Trails

This Sunday is National Trails Day...click here for full details.

Rathgormack Hiking Centre	Lough Mohra Loop	Rathgormack
Rathgormack Hiking Centre	Exploring The Gap nature and landscape	Nire Valley to Rathgormack
Kilmacthomas Walking Club	Crohaun Walk	Mar Mar Rd near Lemybrien
The Comeragh Mountaineering Club	The Comeragh Mountaineering Club Open Day	Coumshingaun Corrie Lake in the Comeragh Mts

Worth checking out the Discover Ireland website for the section on Looped Walks. Click here.
You can download trail maps.

September/October walks

Hi everyone,

What a great summer this was for us humans as well as the plants, butterflies and bats (less so for the 5-in-a-row hurlers perhaps, but we can't all be happy!).

Here are a few outings in the wild - or close to it - for the autumn season that might interest you.

Saturday, Sept 18th; IWT National AGM in Cork (members only) . 11am - 1 pm / Forest Walk after lunch)

Sunday Sept. 26th: 2pm Tramore : Seaweed workshop. Free event, no need to book.2pm.... a free Seaweed Workshop hosted by Marie Power, Regional Chairperson of the Irish Wildlife Trust, Field Ecologist Grace O’Sullivan and Hilary Killops on the front deck at Oceanics Surf School & Marine Education Centre. The Seaweed workshop will focus on the health benefits of seaweed and its uses, from tasting to cooking with it, and the identification of seaweed will be included. (anyone got a more recent picture...this one from 2004)
Check the archive on this blog for uses of seaweed.

Saturday October 2nd: 2-4.30pm: Mushroom Hunt in Lismore. More details and booking arrangements on the IWT website

Sunday October 24th: Seaweed Wokshop, Clonea Strand, Dungarvan. Booking neccessary. Details on the local website, part of the Return to the Deise weekend.

Everyone is welcome to IWT outings and feel free to pass this on to anyone you think would like to join an informal walk / talk in nature and some sharing of knowledge about plants, animals, birds, habitats etc. We would love to hear your suggestions / proposals for walks, events, practical conservation work in Waterford and the South East.