The Walks Scheme (previously known as the

Comhairle na Tuaithe Keep Ireland Open is a voluntary campaign organisation established to promote access to the Irish countryside and walkways. Founded in 1994, its chairman is former Green Party (Ireland), Green Party Teachtai Dala, TD, Roger Garland. The group beli ...

/Rural Walks Scheme) is an initiative by the Irish

Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht () is a Department of State (Ireland), department of the Government of Ireland. It is led by the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. Departmental te ...

which funds the maintenance of walks and trails through private and public lands. The scheme has been in existence since 2008.

Expansions

2024

Following a call for applications in June 2023, an expanded list of walks in the scheme were announced in February 2024, including the first walks in counties

Wexford Wexford ( ; archaic Yola dialect, Yola: ''Weiseforthe'') is the county town of County Wexford, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Wexford lies on the south side of Wexford Harbour, the estuary of the River Slaney near the southeastern corner of the ...

and

Monaghan Monaghan ( ; ) is the county town of County Monaghan, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It also provides the name of its Civil parishes in Ireland, civil parish and Monaghan (barony), Monaghan barony. The population of the town as of the 2022 cen ...

, and trails on off-shore islands

Inis Meáin Inishmaan ( ; , the official name, formerly spelled , meaning "middle island") is the middle of the three main Aran Islands in Galway Bay, off the west coast of Ireland. It is part of County Galway in the province of Connacht. Inishmaan has a ...

and

Cape Clear Island Clear Island or Cape Clear Island (officially known by its Irish name: Cléire, and sometimes also called Oileán Chléire) is an island off the south-west coast of County Cork in Ireland. It is the southernmost inhabited part of Ireland and h ...

2025

22 new walks across 10 counties were announced in May 2025. These included the "Siúlóid an tSáis" loop from Brandon Point,

County Kerry County Kerry () is a Counties of Ireland, county on the southwest coast of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster and the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern Region. It is bordered by two other countie ...

, Fowley's Fall in Rossinver, and both the Keenagh Loop and Newport Coastal Trail in

County Mayo County Mayo (; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. In the West Region, Ireland, West of Ireland, in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht, it is named after the village of Mayo, County Mayo, Mayo, now ge ...

Walks

This is a list of notable walks included in the scheme. * Monaghan Way * Lúb Dún Fearbhaí,

* The Devils Chimney, County Sligo *

Lough Derg Way The Lough Derg Way is a long-distance trail in Ireland. It is long, beginning in Limerick City and ending in Dromineer, County Tipperary. It is typically completed in three days. Management and development It is designated as a National Waym ...

* Ardmore Cliff Walk, County Waterford *

Ladysbridge Ladysbridge (), previously known for census purposes as Knockglass (), is a village in County Cork, Ireland. As of the 2016 census, the area had a population of 658 people. In 2022, Ladysbridge had a population of 809. The village of Ladysbri ...

Loop Trail * Durrow, County Laois#Amenities *

Mount Nebo Mount Nebo (; ) is an elevated ridge located in Jordan, approximately Height above sea level, above sea level. Part of the Abarim mountain range, Mount Nebo is mentioned in the Bible as the place where Moses was granted a view of the Promised L ...

* Enniscorthy Promenade * Lung Lough Gara Way * Miners Way and Historical Trail,

County Roscommon County Roscommon () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is part of the province of Connacht and the Northern and Western Region. It is the List of Irish counties by area, 11th largest Irish county by area and Li ...

Cavan Way The Cavan Way () is a long-distance trail in County Cavan, Ireland. It is long and begins in Blacklion and ends in Dowra. It is typically completed in one day. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of th ...

Mount Melleray Mount Melleray, also spelled Mountmelleray (), is a townland situated in the Knockmealdown Mountains near Cappoquin, County Waterford, Ireland. It is in the civil parishes in Ireland, civil parish of Lismore and Mocollop in the barony (Ireland), ...

pilgrim paths * Keeldra Lake,

County Leitrim County Leitrim ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht and is part of the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the village of Leitrim, County Leitr ...

References

{{Irish long-distance trails Lists of hiking trails Pedestrian infrastructure in the Republic of Ireland