Coíllte Sites:
Please adhere to the following Coíllte Site Guidelines:-
The full enjoyment of the woodland depends on the consifderation shown by each person to others and to everything in the forest. take acre of the trees and plants; do not light fires in the forest areas and take special care with cigarettes and matches.
Coillte has adopted a policy of not providing ;itter bins in the forests and has asked people to co-operate by taking homes there litter.
In oredr that you can enjoy your visit to the forest, motor cars and especially motor bikes are not permitted and should be left in the car park.
While Coillte allows pony-trekking only in its forests under permit, it does not allow pony
Location: 3.2 km
north of Arklow on N11 to Wicklow. Turn left for 1.5 km.
Geology: The region is generally derived from
Ordovician shales, with intrusions of granite and schist rocks evident in this
area.
Length of Trail: 6 km.
Habitat: The hill rises 240 m above sea level
with some breathtaking views of the coastline. On a very clear day you can see the Welsh
mountains!
Main Tree Species:
Commercial forest site, main species include Sitka spruce,
Japanese larch, lodgepole pine and Douglas fir. There are also small areas of oak, beech, poplar and ash.
Other Flora: Grasses and furze.
Fauna: Fox, rabbit, squirrel and
badger.
History: The area of Ballymoyle
Wood covers 200 hectares.
Facilities: Car park, forest walks, scenic views and picnic site.
Location:4 km north west of Arklow on R747 to
Woodenbridge.
Geology: Ordovician
Length of Trail: 5
km.
Habitat: A narrow glen with a small stream
flowing into the Avoca river.
Main Tree
Species: There is a fine stand of Western hemlock around the car park. Other
species include Sitka spruce, grand fir, beech, ash, oak, Lawson cypress, Scots
pine and birch. The oak dates back to 1820.
Other Flora: A multitude of cultivated
rhododendron lines the drive from the gate lodge entrance to the picnic site
which is spectacular in early summer.
Fauna: Here you will find fox, rabbit, badger,
stoat and hare.
History: Once part of a
large estate, the date of construction is cut out in stone on gate lodges and
other edifices.
Facilities: Car park,
forest walks, rhododendron drive, viewing points and picnic site.
Location: 3 km South of Avoca
on R752 to Arklow.
Geology: Ordovician
shales with intrusion of volcanic rocks north of Avoca
village.
Length of Trail: 3
km.
Habitat: There are large mounds of
brownish copper coloured soil between
Avoca
and Woodenbridge which are evidence
of mining in the area.
Main Tree
Species: Mixed species of broadleaves and conifers all around the car park area
including Douglas fir, European larch, Scots pine, beech and oak. The oak is
over 100 years old.
Other Flora:
Broom, gorse and heather create a profusion of colour here in summer and
autumn.
Fauna: Fox, rabbit, squirrel
and badger.
History: The Avoca area has
been associated with its famous copper mines for many years and the valley has
been immortalised by Thomas Moore in the famous song Sweet Vale of
Avoca.
Facilities: Forest walks,
scenic views and fishing.
Location: 11 km north west of
Arklow on R747 to
Aughrim.
Geology: Ordovician.
Length of Trail: 3 km.
Habitat: Close by is
the Aughrim River which is renowned for its trout fishing. There is also a
commercially run fish farm in the
area.
Main Tree Species: Sitka spruce,
oak, ash, grand fir, Norway spruce and birch. The trees were planted in the
late 1930s with the exception of the oak which dates from
1820.
Fauna: Various species of
woodland animals are present including the fox, rabbit, badger and hare.
Various species of birds can also be found here.
History: The old Irish name Baile
na Mona suggests 'The Town of the Turf', but there is little evidence of peat in the area.
Facilities: Car park, forest walks and picnic site.
Location:5.5
km south of Rathdrum on R752 to Arklow.
Geology: Ordovician
shales with intrusion of volcanic rocks north of Avoca village
Length of Trail:2 km.
Habitat:The
Avonmore and the Avonbeg rivers meet
nearby.
Main Tree Species:
Mixed species of broadleaf and conifer can he found around the car park area Douglas fir, grand fir,
western hemlock, noble fir, beech, oak, and larch.
Other Flora:Woodrush and
bramble.
Fauna: Wide
variety of wildlife including fox, rabbit, red squirrel and badger. Varied
birdlife.
History: There
is a pub marking the spot where the waters meet nearby. In this area you will also see what
remains of 'Thomas Moore's Tree' under which he is said to have written the
song. Sweet Vale of
Avoca.
Facilities: Forest walks, picnic site.
Location: 4 km west of Ashford on
3rd class road to Glendalough via Nun's
Cross.
Geology: Cambrian rock covered by
thick glacial drift.
Length of Trail: 10 km.
Habitat: The Glen was cut out
gradually by melting water on the ice sheet. The steep sides show evidence of a
young valley. This rock face has been colonised by various species of plant
life: lichens, mosses, and the polypody fern. The Vartry River runs through the
gorge.
Main Tree Species: From the
access road to the car park the area is a mixed broadleaf and conifer including
some nice stands of beech, Spanish chestnut and ash. The walk areas are
dominated by old beech scrub oak and Scots pine with underplanting of Norway
spruce, Western hemlock and grand
fir.
Other Flora: A good variety of
laurel, rhododendron, heather and lichens can be found
there.
Fauna: The area is home to the
fox, otter, badger and
squirrel.
History: The site was once
part of the Glanmore estate, former ancestral home of John Millington Synge.
The castle has since fallen into ruin but some of its features have recently
been restated. Along the path you can see the privately owned Tottenham Estate
on the far side of the
Glen.
Facilities: Car park, picnic
sites and forest walks through a spectacular gorge to a waterfall. This
is also the home of ‘Sculptures in Woodland’ – for more info.
See their website at www.woodsculpture.ie
Please contact the
Webmaster if you wish to add your website or if you have any queries, suggestions or broken links to report.
