September 2024 – December 2024
Out of this world & into the woods
About
The Dublin Mountains Visitor Centre will act as a gateway to the built and natural heritage of the Dublin Mountains.
Hellfire is a development led by South Dublin County Council, supported by Coillte that will create a new gateway to the Dublin Mountains to accommodate a larger number and wider range of users, and to enhance the experience of the Dublin Mountains for the population of South Dublin, as well as visitors from elsewhere in Ireland and abroad.
Hellfire is intended to provide access to wider leisure and tourism opportunities available in the Dublin Mountains. It will offer visitors a place of orientation and interpretation, informing them about the geography, archaeology and history of the area – both of the immediate vicinity around Montpelier Hill, Massy’s Wood, and the Hellfire Club, as well as the wider Dublin Mountains region to the south.
The proposal will expand the mountains’ current recreation and cultural offering, while conserving the landscape, ecology and heritage in a manner that is socially, economically and environmentally sustainable. Proposed improved walks, access and parking facilities will expand the mountains’ recreation contribution.
By offering visitors a café, shop, toilets, walkers lounge and an interpretative exhibition and education facility, the Visitor Centre building will provide services for walkers and other visitors to the mountains which will truly enhance their experience and showcase both the natural and built heritage of this area in a way that ensures it can be enjoyed and preserved for generations to come.
The project proposal also includes essential preservation works to the Hellfire Club building, tree-top walkway providing access to Massy’s Wood and upgrading access works.
The various elements comprising the proposed development are as follows:
- Construction of tree-top walkway from Montpelier Hill to Massy’s Wood.
- Provision of new/improvement to existing walks/trails.
- Construction of the visitor centre building and supports.
- Conservation works to architectural and archaeological heritage features on the site.
- Road improvements and construction of a new footpath along the R115 — Killakee Road and the R113 — Mount Venus Road.
- Increase in the capacity and size of the existing Hellfire Wood parking area.
- Improve the existing vehicular entrance to the Montpelier Hill car park and mountain road.
- The provision of new utilities and drainage infrastructure to serve the proposed development.
- The maintenance and management of key areas of trees and forestry in Montpelier Hill and Hellfire Wood.
Our Vision
Awaken your curiosity
By making it easy to access and experience, we want to awaken a curiosity in our visitors that inspire them to discover more, here and in the wonderful places that surround it. We are determined to provide a gateway for visitors that supports our need to maintain ecological integrity of the area and the safety for residents and visitors alike.
Hellfire will be a way for people from across the area and further afield to get out of this world and into the woods. Our mission is to deliver an engaging, sustainable and accessible experience that invites visitors, old and new, to be closer to nature and the colourful histories of Hellfire Club and Massy’s Estate.
This mission directly stems from our vision, that by making it easy to access and experience, we want to awaken a curiosity in our visitors that inspire them to discover more… here and in the wonderful places that surround it.
This is an exciting time for this project, and we are ready to bring new life to the area in a managed, environmentally-focused and sustainable way.
Milestones
August 2024 – August 2024
April 2023 – January 2024
Technical and Environmental Surveys
Technical and Environmental surveys have been carried out to provide baseline environmental data and technical data to aid the design process.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the facilities at Hellfire be open to the public?
What facilities will be available at Hellfire?
Will there be free parking?
Why are trees being felled at this location?
What are you doing to combat anti-social behaviour?
Are you replanting trees at this location?
What are the biodiversity implications of this project?
When will the facilities at Hellfire be open to the public?
We are presently at detailed design stage of the project. Once this stage of the project is completed, timelines will be developed, and we will have an anticipated open date.
What facilities will be available at Hellfire?
The aim of Hellfire is to serve as a gateway to the amenities, activities and opportunities available in the Dublin mountains. The newly developed centre will offer visitors a chance to learn more about the history and biodiversity of the area, a café to make the most of their visit and much-needed restrooms. There will also be a walker’s lounge, a shop and an interpretative exhibition and educational facility to provide services which elevate the visitor experience. Alongside Hellfire this project will enhance the availability of car parking spaces and accessibility to all to ensure a safe and easily accessible visit and give visitors an exciting opportunity to access Massy’s Wood from Montpellier Hill through a new tree-top walkway. Keep an eye on our website for more updates to come.
Will there be free parking?
Yes, parking will be available at Hellfire to visitors free of charge for their visit to the area.
Why are trees being felled at this location?
In partnership with Coillte, Hellfire is felling trees in line with the granted planning permission to facilitate aspects of the project. Attention and care has been paid to ensuring that the trees felled on this site will cause no damage to the biodiversity of the area or the natural landscape and are subject to the implementation of the mitigation measures proposed, as set out in in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR), and, subject to compliance with the planning conditions.
Coillte is undertaking a large project in the forests of the Dublin Mountains to improve their biodiversity and recreation values. You can read more about here.
What are you doing to combat anti-social behaviour?
We want to ensure that this area remains a safe place for visitors and families to enjoy for generations to come, for this reason we are taking every measure we can to ensure that we tackle any anti-social behaviour that may arise.
For example, for security and health and safety, access barriers will be kept in place to prevent vandalism, dumping, anti-social behaviour, rallying and overnight parking, car parks will close during the night and minimal lighting is proposed along some of the paths, at the visitor centre and at the car park to facilitate staff, departures at dusk.
Are you replanting trees at this location?
Biodiversity planting is to take place on the eastern slopes. This area now has a significant amount of regeneration therefore only a small amount of tree planting will take place. The aim is to support the development of a mixed woodland (broadleaves and conifers) that favours the Red Squirrel. The biodiversity planting is in line with the approved Landscape Strategy submitted as part of the granted planning permission.
What are the biodiversity implications of this project?
An Bord Pleanála completed an Environmental Impact Assessment in relation to this project and determined that the development was acceptable and would not have an adverse effect on the integrity of this site. The project was granted subject to the implementation of the mitigation measures proposed, as set out in in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR), and, subject to compliance with the planning conditions.
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We are presently at detailed design stage of the project. Once this stage of the project is completed, timelines will be developed, and we will have an anticipated open date.
-
The aim of Hellfire is to serve as a gateway to the amenities, activities and opportunities available in the Dublin mountains. The newly developed centre will offer visitors a chance to learn more about the history and biodiversity of the area, a café to make the most of their visit and much-needed restrooms. There will also be a walker’s lounge, a shop and an interpretative exhibition and educational facility to provide services which elevate the visitor experience. Alongside Hellfire this project will enhance the availability of car parking spaces and accessibility to all to ensure a safe and easily accessible visit and give visitors an exciting opportunity to access Massy’s Wood from Montpellier Hill through a new tree-top walkway. Keep an eye on our website for more updates to come.
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Yes, parking will be available at Hellfire to visitors free of charge for their visit to the area.
-
In partnership with Coillte, Hellfire is felling trees in line with the granted planning permission to facilitate aspects of the project. Attention and care has been paid to ensuring that the trees felled on this site will cause no damage to the biodiversity of the area or the natural landscape and are subject to the implementation of the mitigation measures proposed, as set out in in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR), and, subject to compliance with the planning conditions.
Coillte is undertaking a large project in the forests of the Dublin Mountains to improve their biodiversity and recreation values. You can read more about here.
-
We want to ensure that this area remains a safe place for visitors and families to enjoy for generations to come, for this reason we are taking every measure we can to ensure that we tackle any anti-social behaviour that may arise.
For example, for security and health and safety, access barriers will be kept in place to prevent vandalism, dumping, anti-social behaviour, rallying and overnight parking, car parks will close during the night and minimal lighting is proposed along some of the paths, at the visitor centre and at the car park to facilitate staff, departures at dusk.
-
Biodiversity planting is to take place on the eastern slopes. This area now has a significant amount of regeneration therefore only a small amount of tree planting will take place. The aim is to support the development of a mixed woodland (broadleaves and conifers) that favours the Red Squirrel. The biodiversity planting is in line with the approved Landscape Strategy submitted as part of the granted planning permission.
-
An Bord Pleanála completed an Environmental Impact Assessment in relation to this project and determined that the development was acceptable and would not have an adverse effect on the integrity of this site. The project was granted subject to the implementation of the mitigation measures proposed, as set out in in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR), and, subject to compliance with the planning conditions.
Mission
Deliver an engaging and sustainable experience that invites visitors, old and new, to be closer to nature and the colourful histories of Hellfire Club and Massy’s Estate.
News
Massy’s Wood Conservation Works
Hellfire is a development led by South Dublin County Council, supported by Coillte.
Archaeology Investigation Works
Hellfire is a development led by South Dublin County Council, supported by Coillte.
Ground Investigation Works
Hellfire is a development led by South Dublin County Council, supported by Coillte.
Documents
If you wish to learn more or review the granted planning application, all project-related documentation is accessible on the South Dublin County Council's website.