Bray-Greystones Cliff walk

Xian

Does anyone know what's being done to save the cliff wak from Bray to Greystones? IMHO it's the most impressive walk on the east coast (especially going up Bray Head and following the path down (treachourous at times, the path being illl-defined in parts) to the main path). Coastal erosion is the main culprit towards the Greystones end with the old railway bridge recently falling victim (the original track for the Bray-Greystones line, showing how much land has been lost since the line was originally built a hundred years ago). Surely it should be actively preserved and promoted as a tourist attraction. Every time I walk it there are foreigners on the path enjoying the unique scenery. Turning a corner to see Greystones is a marvel (especially when you know you haven't got long before you can have the reward of a pint at the Beach House). I'm envious of the UK's National Trust that would jump on the opportunity of preserving a resource like this. Does anyone in power care?

Caesar_Bojangle

You should find out the latest happenings here but i think you have to register http://www.unison.ie/bray_people/index.php3?ti=33&issue_id=5067

Caesar_Bojangle

I agree with you it is quite impressive but the council are letting it go to hell. You'd think they would try preserve it but instead they let it deteriorate.

pork99

Does anyone in power care?

I think its possible funds were available but some Ray Burke clone stole them all

Victor

I thought that Irish Rail were doing some work at the moment.

However, you have to be careful when "protecting" a cliff. If you interfere too much with nature you contribute to the erosion of nearby parts of the coast - in this case the sands at Greystones and Killiney Bay.

Xian

Safety concerns over erosion of Wicklow cliff
Irish Times, Tuesday, December 31, 2002
by Tim O'Brien

Concern has been expressed for the safety of walkers using what has been described as one of Ireland's finest marine walks, the cliff walk between Bray and Greystones in Co Wicklow.

This follows rapid coastal erosion which has left the walk leading directly over the cliff at a number of points. Protective fencing at a number of places was yesterday dangling above a 100-metre(sic.) precipice.

The five-mile coastal trek around Bray Head is popular with hill-walkers, families, tourists and bird-watchers.

The mayor of Greystones has expressed concern that visitors might easily follow the path over the cliff in the dim light conditions at this time of year. "There is nothing to stop you. If you follow the path between the fences you will go straight over the cliff, as the fence is hanging across the chasm at two locations," Cllr Derek Mitchell told The Irish Times.

The soft clay cliffs at Redford on the southern slopes of Bray Head have been losing ground to the sea for decades - estimated by a report in the early 1970s to be as much as one metre a year. Recently this has risen to about four metres a year, according to Mr Mitchell. "Wicklow County Council initiated a study of the erosion a few years ago," he said, "but this was never completed."

In the last two weeks 20 feet more of cliff has collapsed on to the beach, and concern is now being expressed for the integrity of the DART line, which at one point is just 80 metres from the mud cliff.

Iarnród Éireann said yesterday it was constantly monitoring the situation at Bray Head an that last year it carried out significant remedial works at 11 locations, costed at several million euro(sic.).

Mr Mitchell said plans for a new marina at Greystones include an element of coastal protection along the cliff walk valued at €3 million, but the additional cost to protect the walk where erosion was at its worst would cost up to €10 million.

"The problem is that the State policy is not to protect agricultural land. The Department of the Marine and Natural Resources has also had its budget for coastal protection works cut by 40 per cent for the coming year, and the total amount available now is only €3 million for the whole country," he said.

Wicklow County Council has set up a monitoring committee consisting of two councillors from each of Bray, Greystones and Wicklow councils. On a visit to the site yesterday, Mr Michell said he had asked for the path to be closed.

"We saw a number of French tourists here and they were clutching the fence as they walked. It is just too dangerous to remain open like this, the path needs to be moved again."

The only solution was for the State to carry out a major coastal protection scheme. "It will not cost any extra to protect it now as against waiting for it to reach the DART line," he said.

hedgetrimmer

I agree that it is a beautiful walk and should be preserved. I think Dept Environment have the brief for walkways now, but it could be Dept. Tourism. I'll try to check it out and see what's happening

MDR

Chris,

I have never seen the National Trust undertake major costal protection schemes. Britain too is plagued with the problem of costal erosion, so i don't know if there is too much to be envious of.

From what I understand the problem with costal erosion, is that you have be very careful where you protect as costal protection schemes often result in exaggerated erosion elsewhere. I do readily agree that this is a lovely part of the esat coast and moves should be made to have it protected.

To properily do it would require an indebt environmental impact study beofre any move could be made and I could easily see costs going way over the 10 million projected in the article, after all that it would certainly be a year or two.

I wonder if Bray is eroding as an indirect result of the construction of the Bull Wall .... v.interesting ...

Victor

Originally posted by MDR
I wonder if Bray is eroding as an indirect result of the construction of the Bull Wall .... v.interesting ...

Only seeing this now. the two have nothing to do with each other. First off the cuerrent is going the wrong way. Bull Island is formed from silt and sand from the harbour being scoured by the tides and then deposited on the island.

Bray Head is being eroded by what is essentially the Gulf Stream as it goes up the Irish Sea. It takes a battering and deposits / protects at Killiney Bay and on the offshore sand banks.