Outdoor Recreation NI / What We Do / Current Projects / Feasibility and Scoping Studies, Innovative Product Planning Design and Development / Slí Cholmcille Scoping Study, Economic Appraisal and Design Toolkit Preparation

Slí Cholmcille Scoping Study, Economic Appraisal and Design Toolkit Preparation

Client: Donegal County Council in collaboration with Derry City and Strabane District Council and Slí Cholmcille CLG

The Challenge

Slí Cholmcille is a 250 km pilgrimage route linking key Colmcille related sites across Donegal and Derry. It will support cross-border tourism and recreation and connect communities through the shared heritage of Colmcille – a unifying figure and strong symbol of cooperation on the island of Ireland.

The proposed Slí Cholmcille route stretches from Gleann Cholm Cille in West Donegal through to Derry and onto Shroove in Inishowen where Colmcille departed for Scotland. It will traverse a blend of country roads and off-road trails to take the walker through stunning scenery in the footsteps of one of Ireland’s most important Early Christian Saints. This body of work is considered the initial phase or primary arterial route with the aspiration to link further into Northern Ireland and across the Irish Sea to Argyll in Scotland.

The Role

Donegal County Council has been awarded funding through the Shared Island Local Authority Development Funding Scheme towards feasibility assessment of the proposed initiative. ORNI has been appointed to deliver the project and is leading a consortium of fellow industry professionals consisting of Tandem, the paul Hogarth company, and Cogent Management Consulting to produce:

  1. Scoping Study – to appraise and finalise the route, engage with stakeholders and identify capital and marketing investment requirements.
  2. Business Case/Economic appraisal – to Public Spending Code that clearly demonstrates return on investment, commercial potential, economic viability, financial sustainability and critically assesses options, while ensuring strong governance arrangements.
  3. Design Tooklit – to provide a suite of designs and construction specifications based on the infrastructure requirements identified, to ensure consistency of design and branding across the entire route and for all phases of work.

Project Partners

Donegal County Council through Shared Island Local Authority Development Funding Scheme