Cavan residents encouraged to visit Coillte Forests

National Walking Day aims to inspire people to get out and walk in their local areas due to the great physical and mental wellbeing benefits of walking.

Coillte is encouraging people in County Cavan to participate in National Walking Day on Sunday, September 27 by visiting one of their local Coillte forests.

National Walking Day aims to inspire people to get out and walk in their local areas due to the great physical and mental wellbeing benefits of walking.

It is an initiative by Get Ireland Walking, supported by Sport Ireland and takes place as part of the European Week of Sport.

Coillte is delighted to be involved and to support this annual event by encouraging the public, regardless of age or ability, to get active and stay local.

Cavan has three recreation forests- Cavan Burren, Bawnboy loop walk, and Deerpark, Virginia - and two forest parks – Killykeen and Dun a Rí - which are open to the public.

Charlie Burke, Recreation Officer with Coillte and co-ordinator of Coillte’s Woodlands for Health campaign said: “Coillte is proud to be Ireland’s leading provider of outdoor recreation activities, with more than 3,000 kilometers of trails, 260 recreation sites and 12 forest parks across the country.”

Noting the importance of walking in nature to members of the public and the benefits for both physical and mental health, he added: “Our forests offer a space where people can walk safely while maintaining social distancing and abiding by COVID19 guidelines. Coillte wants to encourage local residents in County Cavan to take some time out of their day and enjoy their local landscape by participating in National Walking Day on 27th September and visiting one of your local Coillte forests, like Killykeen or Dun A Ri Forest Parks.”