Coillte has reported a 10 per cent increase in visits to its most popular recreational forests, with more than three million people exploring its top 50 woodland sites last year.

Avondale Forest Park in Co Wicklow was the most visited site, attracting almost 345,000 visitors in 2024. The park, which is home to the Beyond the Trees Avondale attraction and Ireland’s longest slide, has become one of the country’s leading outdoor destinations since opening in 2022.

Rossmore Forest Park in Co Monaghan followed closely in second place with 343,000 visits, while Ticknock in Co Dublin ranked third with more than 260,000. Donadea Forest Park in Co Kildare and Tintern in Co Wexford completed the top five.

Coillte, which manages 440,000 hectares of primarily forested land, said the growth in visitor numbers reflected a strong public appetite for outdoor recreation and local nature experiences. The company operates 260 recreational areas, including 12 forest parks and six mountain-bike centres, and plans to double that number to 500 in the coming years.

Daithí de Forge, Coillte’s head of recreation, said the rise in visitors demonstrated the value people place on access to nature.

“Storm Éowyn caused unprecedented damage in January to our productive and recreational forests as well as biodiversity areas,” he said. “Almost 100 recreation locations were closed after the storm and we’re pleased that 92 have since reopened following significant efforts by our teams.”

Eight sites remain closed due to extensive damage.

Earlier this year, the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of the Gaeltacht announced funding of more than €4 million to repair storm damage and improve facilities across Coillte’s recreational network. The investment will go towards trail upgrades, maintenance and safety works.

Coillte said its most visited forests continue to draw families, walkers and cyclists, with a wide range of activities including fishing, horse riding and ziplining available at many sites.