Raheenleagh Wind Farm Walks Question

g0g

Can't find a thread on this anywhere on boards. I assume these new trails are open year round? (i.e. we could do it next week). Has anyone walked the loops yet and can you confirm if it's buggy (big-wheeled) friendly?

Thanks!

g0g

I'll answer my own question as we headed up there today and in case anyone comes across the question! Google Maps was fine to find the exact entrance. Space for maybe 10 cars to park at the gate and a couple of other spots nearby. We did the shortest (green) walk and it was just about buggy-able. Surface was a bit dodgy in parts and one steep hill for pushing 40kg of double-buggy with two kids, but defo doable. Granted we had a Phil & Ted with bigger wheels - wouldn't recommend for a small-wheeled buggy.

I'd highly recommend the walks anyway. I couldn't believe how close you could get to the turbines, pretty much right up to the base of each and under the blades (sails?). You really appreciate the size of them when you're up close. I'd say the higher (longer) walks have incredible views on a nice day! Saw a few deer around the place and all trails clearly marked. No toilets or picnic tables or anything, but we brought food and had picnic in car with kids.

vicwatson

Any idea walkin time to top of croghan mountain?

Water John

BTW, they must be nearly the biggest turbines in Ireland. Siemens, with a 54 metre 'blade'.

g0g

vicwatson wrote: »

Any idea walkin time to top of croghan mountain?

Green loop was an hour and a bit with kids (i.e. slowing us!). At a guess I'd have said maybe 1:30 to climb to top (plus whatever back down), but that's purely a guess!

g0g

Water John wrote: »

BTW, they must be nearly the biggest turbines in Ireland. Siemens, with a 54 metre 'blade'.

Interesting! Standing directly under "G10" I couldn't picture the blades ever fitting on the back of a truck each like you see in those construction videos, and based on 54m it must therefore have been multiple parts!

g0g

Attached to show how close you can get plus size. Right up to small fenced area at base of turbine.
IMGP1303.jpg
[IMG][/img]IMGP1303.jpg

Water John

Blade comes complete, on a rear steering truck. Tower comes in sections.
Looks like a nice walk. Most turbines are about 400 metres apart. Roads are built to bring them in and service them. Ideal for using more of them for walks.

vicwatson

Like this -

g0g

Water John wrote: »

Blade comes complete, on a rear steering truck. Tower comes in sections.
Looks like a nice walk. Most turbines are about 400 metres apart. Roads are built to bring them in and service them. Ideal for using more of them for walks.

If the blades come complete no way could they be 54m surely!? Is that the diameter of finished setup as opposed to radius maybe? I get that they have specialised trucks and close roads, but a normal container on truck is 40' = 13m approx. That would make this 54m trailer (well, granted part sticks out the back so wheels might not go back that far) more than four times as long!? The roads on the land they could widen to accommodate but no way the roads to get there would fit that surely!?

Water John

What would be considered the standard turbine blade are now around 40/45 metres. Diameter 80/90 metres. The tower would be 80/100 metres in height.

With rear steering, it's amazing how they can manuouvre.
It's hard to realise the scale when you are up close.
Would love to have more walks open around them. The tracks are already in place. Lovely safe walks with no traffic hazard.
It also might quieten the anti wind turbine groups.

vicwatson

Like this

Water John

In that pic, going through a built up street, the second driver would walk behind with a hand controller to steer the rear axle.

Might take a few shunts to get around a corner.

vicwatson

Or this

vicwatson

This gives a good idea of the rear driver

vicwatson

Tight fit

vicwatson

And when it goes tits up

Water John

Great pics.

vicwatson

Water John wrote: »

Great pics.

Even though the last two are of the upright section still shows how difficult it is to transport them by road :eek:

St Senan

Moved from the Wexford forum to Wicklow
http://visitwicklow.ie/item/croghan-mountain-walks-raheenleagh-windfarm

recedite

Some great photos there of the transport. (Almost) unbelievable stuff.

On the site itself, its great to see the collaboration between ESB and Coillte on the mountain. Its now producing timber, electricity and at the same time becomes a nice recreational amenity opened up to the public. Triple whammy!
That kind of joined up thinking is all too rare in this country. Well done to all involved.

vicwatson

Navarre wrote: »

Moved from the Wexford forum to Wicklow
http://visitwicklow.ie/item/croghan-mountain-walks-raheenleagh-windfarm

Those wicklowites robbing this attraction - the entranceway is in County Wexford

g0g

vicwatson wrote: »

Those wicklowites robbing this attraction - the entranceway is in County Wexford

Yeah that's why i posted under Wexford!!! Although looking at a map now it looks like everything beyond the entrance is in Wicklow!

arturguz1984

g0g wrote: »

I'll answer my own question as we headed up there today and in case anyone comes across the question! Google Maps was fine to find the exact entrance. Space for maybe 10 cars to park at the gate and a couple of other spots nearby. We did the shortest (green) walk and it was just about buggy-able. Surface was a bit dodgy in parts and one steep hill for pushing 40kg of double-buggy with two kids, but defo doable. Granted we had a Phil & Ted with bigger wheels - wouldn't recommend for a small-wheeled buggy.

I'd highly recommend the walks anyway. I couldn't believe how close you could get to the turbines, pretty much right up to the base of each and under the blades (sails?). You really appreciate the size of them when you're up close. I'd say the higher (longer) walks have incredible views on a nice day! Saw a few deer around the place and all trails clearly marked. No toilets or picnic tables or anything, but we brought food and had picnic in car with kids.

Do You remember where You saw deers out there ? I looking for some place to take some photos of deer in croghan mountain.

g0g

arturguz1984 wrote: »

Do You remember where You saw deers out there ? I looking for some place to take some photos of deer in croghan mountain.

Around here from memory