AS families plan summer day trips and staycations, Coillte is encouraging people across Donegal to rediscover the forests on their doorstep through its ‘Start at Your Local Coillte Forest’ campaign, highlighting local destinations that offer scenic walks, family adventures and opportunities to reconnect with nature.
Outdoor recreation and time spent in nature play an important role in supporting health and wellbeing.
As Ireland’s largest provider of outdoor recreation, Coillte manages more than 260 recreation sites, including 12 forest parks, 3,000km of waymarked trails and five mountain bike centres. With its open forest policy, Coillte’s forests welcome an estimated 20 million visits annually, reflecting the popularity of outdoor recreation and time spent in nature.
There are so many beautiful walks among the trees at Ards Forest Park. Photo: Maria Moore.
Each visitor destination offers its own distinct character. Across Donegal, Coillte forests offer a range of experiences, from coastal landscapes and heritage features to accessible trails and family-friendly outdoor recreation.
At Ards Forest Park, visitors can explore a unique mix of sand dunes, salt marshes, lakes and woodland trails, alongside a wealth of archaeological features including ring forts, a holy well and a mass rock.
Corravaddy in Letterkenny offers accessible walking opportunities, with an access-for-all trail and a range of routes through a peaceful forest setting.
Meanwhile, Drumboe in Stranorlar is a popular destination for walkers and families, featuring accessible trails, looped woodland walks and picnic areas for visitors to enjoy.
Speaking about the importance of Coillte’s recreational offering, Coillte CEO Imelda Hurley, said, “Every summer, thousands of people choose Coillte forests to walk, explore and spend quality time together. We want to remind people that you don’t need to travel far to enjoy memorable outdoor experiences – some of Ireland’s most beautiful places are right on your doorstep.
“As part of our commitment to delivering the multiple benefits of forests for climate, nature, wood and people, we’re continuing to enhance our outdoor recreation offering.
“Our ambition is to expand our recreation areas to 500 sites nationwide and enable investment to develop world-class visitor destinations that strengthen rural communities and create even more opportunities for people to enjoy the outdoors.”
To find your nearest forest and start planning your next outdoor adventure, visit Coillte.ie