2025 Summer League #8

Summer League #9 Fota House and Gardens, Fota Tuesday July 15th

The 9th event in the CorkO Summer League will take place at Fota House & Gardens on TUESDAY JULY 15TH.

Fota House was the former home of the Smith-Barry family.  Fota House was originally a hunting lodge and became the family's main residence in the 1820s.  Fota Gardens are in the grounds of Fota House. These consist of a structured arboretum, walled garden and terraces. The layout and structure of the arboretum and gardens date largely from the tenure of the Smith-Barry family, who recognised the significance of Fota's sheltered location.

The development of the arboretum and gardens coincided with the great plant hunting expeditions around the world bringing back specimens from places such as Asia, South America and the Pacific coast of northwest America. Some of these rare plants found their way to Fota within a few years of their discovery.  There is an extensive network of paths around the arboretum.  The terrain is practically flat with little or no elevation change.

Please note that there are a good few controls in the gardens on similar features such as trees and thickets so check the control code (i.e. 204 / 208/ etc.) prior to punching to avoid a mispunch.

Please also note that on the Long Course the Scout Centre on the northwest corner of the map is out of bounds.  An alternative route to the wooded section near the Scout Centre is marked on the map.  Please use this route and avoid entering the Scout Centre.

COURSE INFO

Long: 4.7km Negligible Climb 31 Controls

Short: 2.6km Negligible Climb 23 Controls

The short course is generally buggy suitable with some short deviations from paths in wooded areas.

The Long course is not buggy suitable.

START TIMES

Competitors can start any time between 5:30pm and 6:45pm.

DIRECTIONS

Coming from Cork City by road:

Take the Midleton/Carrigtwohill dual carriageway eastbound and take Exit 3 for Cobh / Carrigtwohill West.  Follow the signs for Cobh until you get to the entrance to the Wildlife Park / Fota House.

Coming from Cork City by train:

You can take the Cobh train from Kent Station Cork, which takes around 15mins to get to Fota Station.  The Registration, Start and Finish will be at the Wildlife Park Car Park which is around 1km from the train station.  Follow the signs for the House and Gardens and then continue to the Wildlife Park Car Park. Train timetables are available from irishrail.ie

PARKING

Registration, Start and Finish will be based in the Wildlife Park Car Park.  If this is full then please use the House & Gardens Car Park which is around 400m north of the Wildlife Park Car Park.  Please do not park on the roads and please watch out for walkers / runners on the roads.  There is a charge of €3 when exiting and this can be paid by coins or by card at the exit barriers.

Hope you can join us.