Ecotrails

Ecotrails seek to promote a knowledge and understanding of, and responsibility to, the local natural and built environment by using the 'outdoor classroom' of the countryside. The ecotrails available on Forest Service land comprise both environmental and wayfaring trails. Environmental trails provide an opportunity for people to learn more about the cultural history and environmental features of the local forest. Wayfaring trails are an excellent introduction to the sport of orienteering. All trails have been purposely designed to allow participants with limited map-reading skills to follow maintained paths between control sites.

Ecotrails is an initiative of the Countryside Access and Activities Network and NI Orienteering. The Parkanaur and Gosford forest sites have been funded by Blackwater Regional Partnership – Natural Resource Tourism Project supported by Forest Service. Blackwater Natural Resource Tourism is part-financed by the European Union through the Interreg IIIA Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body by the ICBAN Partnership.

There are 14 other sites across Northern Ireland which are detailed on the main ecotrail website www.ecotrailsni.com.