Big jump in visitor numbers to Mountlucas Wind Farm

Mountlucas Wind Farm has recorded over 45,000 people using its walkway amenity in 2020, an increase of 25% on 2019.

The biggest increase in visitor numbers to Mountlucas Wind Farm was in March, the beginning and of the lockdown when the most stringent restrictions were implemented. That month, visitor numbers to the site was up 78% on the same month in 2019.

Continuing the trend, the summer months as a whole saw increases of on average 37% versus the same period last year.

Catherine Swaine, Visitor Centre Manager at the Mountlucas Wind Farm, commented: “People have really embraced the wind farm and the walkways this year. The trails through our peatland allow people to exercise and enjoy nature in a place with plenty of space, no traffic and lots of plants, birds and animals to see. People have found it a great resource during the difficult times of 2020 and one woman told me she would have been lost without it”.

Over 180,000 people have used the amenity since 2016, when the first 7kms section of the Mountlucas track was opened to the public. The full 10kms route was completed in 2018, when outdoor exercise equipment was also installed. People also use the tracks and information boards to learn about biodiversity on the site, local history and archaeological monuments found there. Offaly’s only Park Run is also hosted on the site.