A network of community trail hubs are to be developed in the Slieve Croob area.
Up to 14kms of public trails could be laid out – subject to the funding becoming available.
And at Monday’s meeting of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s healthy communities committee, councillors will be asked to agree expenditure to cover the design of the trails.
Slieve Croob district electoral area, in the Mournes, lies between Dromara and Castlewellan and is popular with tourists.
Outdoor Recreation NI is currently working on the development of the seven community trail hubs.
The sites identified are at Drumkeeragh Forest, Tievenadarragh Forest, Bohill Forest, Million Tree Wood at Seaforde, Ballynahinch Rugby Club, Corry Wood and Hollymount Woodland.
Council has been told there is a high demand from the community for such a development and permission, in principle, given by the landowners.
Outdoor Recreation NI estimated the cost of £15,400 to design the trail hubs.
The aim is to have the design completed – and the project costs for each of the seven sites identified – by the end of March.
That means, if capital funding becomes available later in the financial year, these schemes will be ‘shovel ready’ with the designs already completed and approved.
