Take The High Road

Tourist hotspot Windgates Hill

ith the Cliff Walk saga now dragging on for over three years, the latest diversion is something of a surprise.

Basically, Wicklow County Council are telling hikers, hey, hit the road, Jack.

New signs just posted along everyone’s favourite collapsing seafront trek advise people to head over to Windgates and use the main road, from St Crispin’s Cell to just beyond the peak, at Killruddery Cottages. A diversion that brings the walk to 10km, almost 50% more than the original length.

As pointed out here before, the main sticking point on the Greystones end has been the purchase of fields to move the original walk further inland, with at least one farmer holding out for more money.

On the Bray end, it’s rockfalls, with the original tender coming in way over budget. The job has gone out to tender once again.

It’s all beginning to feel as though our April Fool’s joke of the council having decided to build boardwalks around the danger spots might just be the most logical step forward. Done properly, it could be a lot more future-proof too.

In the meantime, you can go explore a little Cliff Walk history right here.