Slieve Bloom bike trail: The Waterford Greenway and other trails have proven a huge tourism winner. And with the construction of a new 73km cycling trail in such a stunning part of Ireland now about to get underway, the Midlands looks set for a boost.
Slieve Bloom bike trail will take cyclists 73km through Laois, Offaly
By Graham Gillespie
Coillte Teoranta has confirmed the construction of the Slieve Bloom bike trail is set to get underway in May.
The trail will be 73km long and will include parts of Laois and Offaly. It will span across the mountains from Baunreagh to Kinnitty.
The estimated cost of the trail is €4 million. It has already received €1 million in the form of a government grant last July.
However, it is hoped the trail can give Laois-Offaly tourism a major boost and that any monies invested would soon be recouped.
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The first phase will be 35km of off road cross country cycling trails throughout the forests of the region. It is hoped that section will be ready for public use by October
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The second phase will involve the construction of amenities at both ends of the trail; in Baunreagh, Co Laois, and Kinnitty, Co Offaly.
Some of the amenities set to be constructed include cafés and bike hire facilities.
Daithi de Forge from Coillte said construction will begin as soon as the tender procurement process is finished.
"We have selected an applicant but we cannot disclose details until the procurement phase is complete in two weeks,” he said.
“We expect to break ground in May, with construction to run right through until October.”
He was also quick to stress that the October timeline could easily change depending on a number of factors.
"All going well, the indications are it will be open in October, but there are lots of caveats to that, we need good weather," he said.
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