Lee’s Road or ‘Active Ennis Sports and Amenity Park Lee’s Road’ is a recreational complex location in Ennis, County Clare. The complex has a wide variety of facilities available to the public such as an athletics track, football and soccer pitches, tennis courts, skate park and a playground. There are a selection of trails that go through the woodland. The trails generally have small changes in elevation and are predominantly gravel paths with some forest track in places. Lee’s Road is accessible to a wide audience. Smooth tarmac paths accommodate wheelchair users and strollers. Lee’s road also has accessible parking and toilet facilities.
Section 1: Car Park to Forest
The first section of the trail, from the car park to the forest, spans 481 meters. The car park offers accessible parking bays and toilet facilities. Starting at an elevation of 21 meters and ending at 30 meters, the path is mostly smooth tarmac for the first 214 meters, with no significant elevation changes. The path is wide enough for wheelchair users, measuring over 2 meters in width. At the 118-meter mark, the surface changes from tarmac to fine gravel, and by 180 meters, the trail narrows slightly. From the 210-meter point, the route follows a forest track with undulating terrain, uneven ground, and some narrow sections. At the 290-meter mark, the forest track ends, and the gravel path resumes. The elevation reaches 54 meters at the 350-meter point, followed by a downhill section that lowers to 20 meters by the 400-meter mark.
Section 2: Forest Track
The trail begins at an elevation of approximately 15 meters and ends at around 22 meters at the 465-meter mark. Early in the trail, there is a sharp incline, reaching a peak of about 35 meters between the 31 and 62-meter points. The elevation then fluctuates between 25 and 35 meters, with several smaller peaks and valleys between the 100 and 279-meter marks. A significant drop occurs around the 341-meter mark, where the elevation falls sharply to approximately 10 meters. The trail then rises back to around 30 meters by the 403-meter mark before gradually descending towards the end.
The trail is predominantly gravel with some sections of forest track, and overall, it remains level and relatively smooth. It maintains a width of 2 meters in most areas, though it narrows slightly in a few spots due to the natural terrain. Along the trail, there is a bench with a backrest and armrests located at the 123-meter mark, and another similar bench can be found at the 360-meter mark.
Section 3: Forest Track
The elevation profile of the trail begins at around 15 meters and gradually increases, peaking at approximately 35 meters by the 62-meter mark. The elevation then fluctuates between 20 and 35 meters, with several minor rises and falls throughout the middle portion of the trail. Around the 341-meter mark, there is a notable drop to just under 20 meters, followed by a steep incline, reaching another peak of about 35 meters around the 403-meter mark. The trail finishes with a gradual decline, settling at around 30 meters at the 466-meter point. Overall, the trail shows moderate elevation changes, with a few significant drops and rises, creating an undulating terrain.
The trail is generally 2 meters wide, with a surface primarily consisting of fine gravel and some sections of forest track. At the 62-meter mark, there is a narrow wooden bench without back or armrests. The trail surface changes from gravel to bark mulch at the 279-meter mark. Overall, the trail maintains a consistent width and surface, with a few natural variations.
Section 4: Forest Track back to Lees Road
The trail begins at an elevation of approximately 20 meters. Early on, there is a steep incline, reaching a peak of around 32 meters between the 15 and 30-meter marks. After this point, the trail sharply descends back to about 22 meters by the 60-meter mark, followed by a series of smaller undulations. From around 90 meters onwards, the elevation stabilizes, hovering between 22 and 26 meters, with only minor fluctuations. The trail maintains this relatively flat profile from the 150-meter mark through to the 270-meter mark, where it ends around 22 meters. This makes the majority of the trail fairly level after the initial incline and descent.
The path is generally smooth and made of gravel, maintaining a width of approximately 2 meters throughout. It joins the main path around the athletics track at the 90-meter mark. At the 187-meter mark, there are two picnic benches available for use. Accessible parking and toilet facilities are located at the end of this section.
Conclusion
Lee’s Road provides a well-rounded recreational experience for people of all abilities, with its variety of sports facilities and scenic walking trails. The paths, primarily made of gravel and forest track, offer an accessible and enjoyable experience, with minimal elevation changes, making them suitable for wheelchair users, strollers, and casual walkers alike. The smooth tarmac sections and accessible amenities, including parking and restrooms, further enhance its appeal to a wide range of visitors. With benches strategically placed along the trail, and a mix of open and wooded areas, the trail provides a pleasant environment for both exercise and relaxation. Overall, Lee’s Road is a valuable resource for the community and a welcoming destination for those looking to engage in outdoor activities or simply enjoy a peaceful walk in nature.