Minister visits Gortin Glens to see £1.1 million improvements

VISITORS to Gortin Glens Forest Park will benefit from a wide range of new facilities following the completion of extensive enhancements costing £1.1 million.

The re-development includes a destination play park; trim trail; 13 kilometres of exhilarating mountain bike trails; five waymarked walking trails of varying lengths for all abilities; a modernised café and accessible toilet provision; a forest educational centre and campsite, which Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council have funded.

Touring the new facilities at Gortin Glen Forest Park recently, Minister Poots said, “On my visit to Gortin Glens it is easy to see how visitors will benefit from these new first-class enhanced facilities at the forest.

“The benefits of this investment is clear to see from the massive increase in visitors to over 160,000 visitors in 2021 clearly demonstrating the interest in, and use of the local park.

“Attracting such numbers helps to create a sustainable living, working, active rural landscape valued by everyone.”

The minister added, “The development of effective partnership arrangements with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has been critical to providing this range of facilities for people to enjoy. I warmly congratulate the council on their ongoing endeavours in providing better services and facilities for users of Gortin Glens Forest Park.”

The improvements form part of council’s plans to develop the forest into a must visit family friendly destination which will have significant appeal for residents and visitors alike and has to date resulted in five jobs being created. Council have received funding of £1.1million of DAERA funding through its budget.