County Kildare Walking Routes Project - Kildare.ie

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County Kildare Walking Routes Project 4. Conclusions (i) There are twenty six (26) recreational walking routes in County Kildare which can be divided into three types, canal bank walks, forest walks and town walks. (ii) The methodology as proposed provided an objective means of scoring existing and proposed routes with respect to their heritage content and promotional value. (iii) The routes that combine public sector management with significant natural and built heritage scored highest and will require the least effort by Kildare County Council to develop, maintain and promote. However significant public private cooperation will be required to develop and promote the best routes. (iv) The development plan and promotional strategy for the top ten scoring routes have common issues but each walk should be developed and promoted separately by a partnership of local stakeholders, with overall direction by Kildare County Council maintaining common standards through the planning process. (v) Promotional themes associated with Kildare that impact on walking include the St. Brigid Cult (Pilgrim Trail), the tranquil inland waterways and the “Thoroughbred County” (stud farm country). Themes to be explored include military routes and the conservation of peatlands (and associated archaeology). (vi) The National Waymarked Ways Advisory Committee “Guidelines for Developing and Marking of Waymarked Ways” should be adopted for all walks in Kildare. 5. Development Plan and Promotional Strategy There are general county-wide and also walk specific recommendations for development and promotion of walking routes in Kildare. There are a number of strategic plans produced by different organisations that include walking and heritage in County Kildare 2 . Walking in County Kildare is well promoted by Kildare Fáilte and East Coast and Midlands Tourism. Coillte and the Irish Heart Foundation are actively promoting recreational walking in the County. A co-ordinated walking trails strategy for County Kildare is required. The recommended objective of Kildare County Council’s development plan for walking routes in the county is to: a) Generate an increased awareness of Kildare’s walking routes and heritage as an attractive and unique recreational and educational amenity. b) Promote greater use of existing walking routes, including assistance in upgrading and management. c) Do this in partnership with tourism service providers, community groups, walking clubs, semi state bodies, state agencies, private sector companies and wealthy benefactors. Promotion is the last stage in a cycle of evaluation, development and maintenance. To be successful the objectives must be achieved through an integrated approach by a Kildare Walking Task Force. The Tourism Strategy Group as proposed by the County Kildare Tourism Task Force that includes representatives from Kildare Failte, the Regional Tourism Authority (MERTA), Kildare County Council and KELT, to represent Kildare on 2 Co. Kildare Tourism Task Force 2002-2006, Kildare Sports Partnership Strategic Plan 2004-2006, Waterways Ireland Marketing & Promotion Strategy. CSA Project 3419 10
County Kildare Walking Routes Project any inter-county tourism committees is an example of the type of task force that could be established to develop and promote walking in the county. The Walking Task Force would include representatives from tourism service providers, community groups, walking clubs, semi state bodies, state agencies, private sector companies and wealthy benefactor. The Walking Task Force could co-ordinate promotion of walking with MERTA and Kildare Failte, influence the national tourism spend on walking in County Kildare, liaise with Bord na Móna, Waterways Ireland, Kildare Sports Partnership, Irish Farmers Association and Coillte, inform the tourism service industry of developments and receive feedback and ideas from the private sector. This is in keeping with walking initiatives in other counties such as Co. Donegal that have appointed a walking officer, Co. Waterford, that have a walking strategy and Co. Cork that has established a walking forum. 5.1 Recommended Promotional Activities The recommended activities to be addressed to meet the stated objectives are: a) Advertising. The walking routes in Kildare are currently advertised by Kildare Failte, East Coast and Midlands of Ireland Regional Tourism Authority, The Irish Sports Council, The Kildare Sports Partnership, The Irish Heart Foundation, Coillte, Waterways Ireland and others. There is a growing awareness of Kildare’s walking routes in the international and national tourism market. There is a growing local awareness of walking routes in Kildare. However, the capacity to deliver what is expected on the ground in terms of signage and services is sometimes disappointing to the intending walker. An example of an advertising campaign would be to promote all the walks along the Arrow commuter train route by train advertisements and distribution to passengers of canal tow path walking route guides at the train stations. b) Sponsorship by the private sector and semi state bodies has the capacity to deliver more advertising and improved delivery of services. The Tourism Strategy Group could work with potential private sector sponsors who have significant commercial activities in the county to identify well developed walking routes with significant community involvement. These routes may require some upgrading in signage and facilities that sponsors could integrate into environmental management and community support activities. c) Event Management. Kildare County Council regularly sponsors events. Other funding agencies such as KELT also sponsor events. Co-ordinated advice and assistance with the management and hosting of walking events should be part of the development plan. Events such as Feile Bríd, National Heritage Week and 9/11 at Donadea are examples of events that can be linked to walking route promotion. However, the balance between successful event and environmental impact at sensitive heritage sites should be considered. d) Media Management. Continuous pro active media management through press briefings, development of relationship with key tourism correspondents and journalists, press visits to sites and press launches of walking initiatives is required. The publishing of articles in newspapers, trade journals, in-flight magazines and radio and TV interviews on walking in County Kildare is the most effective form of advertising. CSA Project 3419 11
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