Hiking Europe Project
Promote your business along the Gaeltacht Way
The Hiking Europe project aims to promote rural hiking routes across four European countries, namely Ireland (Donegal), Spain (Catalonia), Italy (Emilia- Romagna) and Croatia (Dubrovnik-Neretva). This project is led from Catalonia by the Catalan Tourist Board and is delivered in conjunction with a number of European partners; Pirineu Emoció (business partner), the University of Girona (academic partner), three regional partners: Regione Emilia-Romagna (Italy), the Regional Development Agency Dubrovnik-Neretva (Croatia) and Donegal County Council (Ireland), as well as NIT, a German Research Institute, and NFI, an Austrian NGO specialized in nature and sustainability. The project is funded by the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises programme (COSME) of the European Commission.
Hiking Europe will be implemented over a period of 18 months (commencing April 2016) and will oversee the creation of a network of hiking trails measuring 1,170 kilometres. The goal is to offer visitors a wide range of walking trails where hikers can experience local traditions, taste local cuisines, visit shops and museums or discover the local fauna, flora and hidden landscapes.
Donegal County Council is delighted to be associated with the Hiking Europe Project and is utilising this project to focus on the promotion of the Bealach na Gaeltactha (the Gaeltacht Way). The Bealach na Gaeltacht comprises of four circular long-distance trails in West Donegal namely Slí an Earagail, Slí na Rossan, Slí na Finne and Slí Cholmcille plus the smaller walks in the three islands (Arranmore, Tory, & Gola).
This project provides small and medium sized local businesses (accommodation, restaurants, shops, etc.) located on or within close proximity of the Bealach na Gaeltachta routes with the opportunity to market their services and products to the visiting hikers. Should you wish for your business to be included in the Project’s promotional material, Donegal County Council has created a user-friendly on-line expression of interest form where your brief details can be entered and your location plotted onto an electronic map. Please click on the link and the tab most relevant to your business to complete your details.
Further information on the project can be obtained at www.hikingeurope.net
or by contacting (074) 91 53900
Francis Conaghan (Paths & Trails Development Officer)
Donegal Trails Office
Letterkenny Public Services Centre
Caroline Britton (Project Officer)
Donegal Public Services Centre
