Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has announced the launch of a new three-year pilot Upland Recreation Scheme specifically for the MacGillycuddy Reeks.

Designated as a ‘Mountain Access Project’, this first-of-its-kind initiative in Ireland will provide over €100,000 annually to support more than 50 landowners in managing recreational access to the mountain range.

The scheme involves payments to farmers and private landowners who undertake agreed work programmes, including monitoring and maintaining upland paths.

Landowners will also be rewarded for providing assistance and guidance to the public on responsible mountain access.

The pilot is overseen by the MacGillycuddy Reeks Mountain Access Forum and administered by South Kerry Development Partnership CLG.

Minister Calleary said: “In excess of 64,000 walkers access the MacGillycuddy Reeks each year and the area is an important driver of the local tourism economy.

This pilot scheme is a crucial step in creating a more sustainable future for visitor access to the MacGillycuddy Reeks.

I am committed to working with them to make this new venture a success and to address any challenges that emerge so that this and similar projects can become a permanent feature in many of our upland areas.”

He added: “We are fortunate in Ireland to have areas of outstanding natural beauty that are accessible to so many.

"However, we often forget the significant impact that walkers can have on these sensitive areas which are typically private land that is actively farmed.

"I would like to again thank the landowners for providing this access and dealing with the challenges it brings for them, and also commend them for participating in this new pilot scheme."

Chairperson of the McGillycuddy Reeks Stakeholders Forum, Stewart Stephens, welcomed the news.

He said: "The Upland Recreation Scheme is a major development in sustainable access to mountain areas, much of which are privately owned.

"It will benefit landowners, recreational users and the fragile upland environment.

"It recognises the important role of landowners in land management and the visitor experience.

"A lot of work has gone into the scheme, and we are delighted it is being piloted in the MacGillycuddy Reeks.”

Helping the Hills Network

Alongside the primary access scheme, Minister Calleary announced €90,000 in funding for the first year of a two-year programme to support the ‘Helping the Hills’ network.

Led by Mountaineering Ireland, this initiative is designed to build the capacity of various organisations to effectively address path erosion in upland areas.

The project will focus on training in upland path development and the sharing of learning from recent projects to consolidate the network.

Minister Calleary added: “The programme will build the capacity of organisations to address path erosion in upland areas and will include training in upland path development.”

By improving technical skills and capturing best practices, the initiative aims to protect fragile environments from the impact of high footfall while ensuring the long-term sustainability of Ireland’s most popular mountain trails.