Walking Strategy Document (PDF; 3.7 MB) - Mayo Walks

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Policy ContextThe Cultural, Education, Heritage and Corporate Affairs Strategic Policy Committee of Mayo CountyCouncil recommended the establishment of a County Walking Partnership following a visit bymembers and officials of Mayo County Council to the Lake District in England August 2005. Foremostamongst the objectives of this Walking Partnership, established under the County DevelopmentBoard, was the development and publishing of a County Walking Strategy and Action Plan to coordinateand drive the sustainable development and promotion of walking in the county.The drafting of a County Walking Strategy and Action Plan for County Mayo comes in the context ofmany national developments in countryside recreation and walking such as the publication of botha National Countryside Recreation Strategy , and an Irish Trails Strategy . It also comes on the backof calls, regionally, for the development of walking at a local level, specifically so in the ‘Walking inthe West…a Step-by Step Guide’ document produced last year. Having already developed a LocalWalking Partnership (LWP), as that document advocates, this strategy and action plan is an attemptto lay a framework for the development and promotion of walking in the county. Locally, MayoSports Partnership is committed to “increasing the levels of sports participation in Mayo” (pp. 21) andwalking is seen as a means to achieving this objective. Amongst MSP strategic actions for 2006/07is to “produce a walking strategy and facilitate communities in the development of walking at a locallevel” (pp. 5).Benefits of WalkingThe benefits of walking, and its development within the county, are manifold. They arediscussed below under the three broad headings of economic benefits, health benefits, andsocial, environmental and leisure benefits. Benefits include; benefits to individuals, benefits tothe county and benefits to communities.EconomicThere are significant economic incentives to encourage the development of walking in CountyMayo. The development of walking trails in the county has the potential to generate revenuethrough both domestic trail use and through overseas walking tourism. A recent studycommissioned jointly by the Irish Sports Council (ISC) and Coillte revealed the true extent of theeconomic value of trails and forest recreation . This comprehensive piece of research estimatedthe total direct economic impact of trail usage by Irish residents alone at €307 million annuallyand takes into account both expenditure on walking equipment and expenditure by trail userson food, drink, accommodation etc.Meanwhile, according to Fáilte Ireland statistics , over 250,000 overseas visitors participated inhiking or hillwalking while in Ireland, spending an estimated €170 million in 2004. The samestatistics reveal that 45% of these visitors visited the Western region of Ireland and that 88%of those that went hiking and/or hillwalking regarded the opportunity to take part in theseactivities as important in their decision to come to Ireland for a holiday.1Comhairle Na Tuaithe. National Countryside Recreation Strategy 20062Irish Trails Strategy, Irish Sports Council 20063Walking in the West… a Step-by Step Guide 2005 – Western Development Commission / Tourism Programme / Leader Programme4Mayo Sports Partnership Strategic Plan 2006-20095Mayo Sports Partnership Implementation Plan 2006-20076The Economic Value of Trails & Forest Recreation in Ireland, Fitzpatrick Associates 20057Fáilte Ireland. Hiking/Hillwalking 2004pMayo Count y Walking Strategy & Strategic Ac tion Plan
The development of new walking trails and the upgrade of existing trails in Mayo, accompaniedby an appropriate promotion and marketing strategy, will result in Mayo increasing its marketshare of walking tourism in Ireland. Moves afoot nationally, such as Comhairle na Thuaithe’sNational Countryside Recreation Strategy, the impending Irish Sport Council’s Irish TrailsStrategy and a renewed impetus behind the promotion of Ireland as a walking destination byFáilte Ireland offer the prospect of increased walking tourism countrywide. The developmentand marketing of Mayo’s walking product should see it take a sizeable portion of this increasingnational market. Coming, as it does, in a climate of dramatic change in the farming sector andthe ‘clear tendency for increasing numbers of farm families to choose to combine running a farmingenterprise with other occupations’ (pp. 22), the exploitation of Mayo’s potential as a walkingdestination is critical in assuring a thriving tourism market with the associated seasonal spin-offindustry that this would create.HealthThe development and promotion of walking in Mayo will have the potential to significantlybenefit the health and wellbeing of local communities through the encouragement of physicalactivity. The National Health and Lifestyle Surveys (SLAN) reveal that the number of individualsmeeting their recommended weekly physical activity levels has fallen between 1998 and2002 10 . The national health promotion strategy identifies that environmental conditions canact to promote our health and well being through the provision of recreational facilities. Theprovision of safe and accessible walking trails, accompanied with the effective promotion ofwalking as an inexpensive form of physical activity, should therefore go some way to reversingthe trend towards a sedentary lifestyle and towards encouraging active living. The Irish HeartFoundation’s Slí na Sláinte routes have already proved successful in this regard.Social, Environmental & Leisure‘Recreational trails provide a broad range of environmental, cultural and social benefits, whichcollectively result in a higher quality of life, a healthier environment and more attractive communitiesfor people’ 11 . They provide a means of social interaction and may prevent feelings of isolation,which may occur particularly in rural areas and amongst the elderly. Walking trails may thereforehave a function in renewing traditional community values.There are also significant environmental benefits to be gained from the development of walkingtrails in County Mayo. Encouraging people in the county to take up walking as a healthy lifestylewill result in many abandoning use of cars for short trips to work, school, etc. This would havesignificant benefits to the environment in terms of reducing pollution caused by driving as wellas the health benefits associated with an active lifestyle. The development of walking trails mayalso encourage a respect for nature and an interest in the heritage and history of the area.Walking is an accessible form of outdoor recreation, which requires the purchase of minimalequipment, compared to other outdoor recreational pursuits. The development of walkingtrails will ensure that this accessible activity becomes available countywide, and will afford allinterested individuals the opportunity to partake in this low-cost leisure activity.8Fáilte Ireland. Strategic Development Plans for Ireland’s Walking Tourism Product 2003-20069Report of the Agri Vision 2015 Committee 2004.10Results of National Health and Lifestyle Surveys SLÁN 200211Irish Trails Strategy, Irish Sports Council 2006Mayo Count y Walking Strategy & Strategic Ac tion Planp
Page 2 and 3: MAYOWALKSConnaught Telegraph Printe
Page 5: IntroductionBackgroundFollowing the
Page 9: Challenges/IssuesThere will undoubt
Page 12 and 13: Strategy & Action PlanThe strategy
Page 14 and 15: IIProduct Development & PromotionTh
Page 16 and 17: Actions Arising from The Product De
Page 18 and 19: References• Comhairle Na Tuaithe.
Page 20 and 21: Appendix BMembership of the Working
Page 22 and 23: Appendix DList of Organisations & I

Walking Strategy Document (PDF; 3.7 MB) - Mayo Walks

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