Cuilcagh Boardwalk in Fermanagh now has an online car park booking system.
It will offer visitors three-hour slots to ascend the mountain.
The easy-to-use online car park booking system for public was launched at the weekend.
The booking system will operate on a first-come-first-serve basis and marks the beginning of new, sustainable development plans for the popular Irish attraction.
The Cuilcagh walking trail, which is four miles in length and ends with a final ascent via a steep section of wooden steps locally nicknamed “The Stairway To Heaven”, has seen a steady rise in the number of visitors each year since it opened, thanks to its Instagram-worthy views.
As summer approaches, and with lots of outdoor adventure-lovers expected to descend on the Co Fermanagh walking trail as COVID-19 restrictions ease, the car park booking system has been created to better manage crowds within social distancing regulations, limiting numbers during the peak season and ensuring the safety of all staff and visitors.
Lower daily numbers will also ensure the protection of the grounds and surrounding habitat, the original cause that led to the construction of the boardwalk by UNESCO-endorsed Marble Arch Caves Geopark, with the paths meandering through one of the largest blanket bogs in Northern Ireland.
Landowner, John Sheridan said the safety of our staff and of our visitors is of the upmost importance, and the introduction of timeslots will facilitate social distancing regulations, while also protecting this area of Special Conservation.
“Our plans are helping to futureproof Cuilcagh Boardwalk so that we can continue to welcome tourists from across the globe for years to come,” he added.
To book a slot, hikers must visit www.theboardwalk.ie and select the desired timeslot. Bookings will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis and will be available for three hour slots. Customers will then receive a booking confirmation to gain entry to the premium car park close to the trail, offering an enhanced visitor experience.
With the enforcement of the new booking system, premium car parking will be limited to pre-booking only, unless there are timeslots remaining on the day.
The new online car park booking system comes as part of early development plans for Cuilcagh Boardwalk as it gears up for the full return of the tourism industry in the coming months and years, and is determined to remain a sustainable, environmentally mindful area for all to enjoy.
The project has been supported by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.
