Courtown Woodland Walking Trail

Courtown Woodland Trails are bounded by the Owenavorragh River on the north side and the canal on the seaward side to the east. The woodland dates back to pre-Famine times.  The four trails waymarked through the woodland are graded as easy. As you choose your walk along the River Walk, Top Walk, Canal Walk or High Cross-Walk, you are following in the footsteps of the previous Lords and Ladies of Courtown and their visitors.

 

At 25 hectares, the wood was once home to oak and ash trees. Acquired by the State in the late 1950s, it was planted with commercial timber. The mixed conifers – broadleaf plantings – were large of spruce with some ash although small strands of oak remain together with avenues of chestnut and lime trees.

 

Keep an eye out for remaining trees from the fifth Earl’s conifer collection, including Californian redwood, swamp cypress, Japanese cedar, cedar of Lebanon and a number of pine, yew and true cypresses. You will also notice common oak, ash, sycamore whilst, unfortunately, English Elm dating from the 1840s have mostly succumbed to Dutch Elm disease and are now suckering remnants of once fine, pre-Famine trees.

 

A beautiful woodland area offering a cool green respite from the sunshine and sea in Courtown, these walks, with a tree-lined avenue, offer a glimpse of the past and a chance to recover from today’s busy schedules while smelling the wild garlic!

 

The coastal trail to Kiltennel is a unique coastal trail through one of the only wooded dune systems in Ireland. 

 

If you want to explore more Wexford walking trails, don’t miss our blog Best Walking Trails in County Wexford.