The NEXT PHASE of Blessington Greenway will complete the route around the entirety of Poulaphouca Reservoir. Explore the #WicklowOutdoors without a car! MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW ퟙ. Enjoy a lovely waterside stroll along the Poulaphouca Reservoir on this walk in Blessington, County Wicklow. Poulaphouca Reservoir Poulaphouca Reservoir, officially Pollaphuca, is an active reservoir and area of wild bird conservation in west County Wicklow, Ireland.It is also known locally as Blessington Lake. This will be in excess of 35Kms and will contain car-parks, toilets, and refreshment facilities. Work is due to commence on site Q3/20 and be completed Q4/21 or Q1/22, including an upgrade to Phase 1. It connects to the ‘lower’ pathway around the municipal reservoir. Leading you from idyllic Blessington along the southern shore of the magnificent Blessington Lakes/Poulaphouca Reservoir, you’ll explore verdant forest and woodlands. 2500′ of natural wooded area. ESB advises that, due to increased levels at Pollaphuca and ongoing heavy rainfall, it has been necessary to increase discharges of water from the reservoir into the River Liffey. The Reservoir Nature Trail is an 8’ wide, multi-use trail extending from the Defiance Reservoir parking lot through aprox. A compilation of our drone footage of Blessington Lakes / Poulaphouca Reservoir from Winter 2020 In the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains, Blessington Lakes is a 5,000-acre reservoir formed over 70 years ago by the building of the Poulaphouca dam and hydroelectric power station. 4 Wonderful Wicklow Walks you can reach by public transport from Dublin. The reservoir at Poulaphouca has been designated as a Special Protection Area by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and is of international importance for its Greylag Goose population. The reservoir is often referred to as two 'lakes' as it lies in two river valleys - that of the Liffey and, primarily, that of the King River. The dam is not accessible or visible from the road, unfortunately, but there are lakeshore activity centres offering kayaking, surfing and sailing. This walkway offers opportunities for recreational uses such as bird watching, leaf-peeping, or just enjoying quiet walks through nature. The new Government at the time decided to create a reservoir in Blessington to provide Dublin with water. Discharges are currently at approximately 40 cubic metres per second (cumecs). The river is dammed at Poulaphouca, and the reservoir supplies water to Dublin city, as well as being a wildlife reserve. Coordinates Poulaphouca, officially Pollaphuca (Irish: Poll an Phúca, meaning "the Púca's hole"), is the name of a waterfall and bridge on the River Liffey between County Wicklow and County KildareIt is primarily known for its hydroelectric generating station and artificial lake, known as Poulaphouca Reservoir, Poulaphouca Lake, or Blessington Lake. The reservoir was created in the late 1930s and early 1940s by damming the River Liffey as part of a collaboration between the ESB and Dublin City Council to build a second hydroelectric station in … As well as being the main source of drinking water for Dublin, it’s a popular base … This nifty 90-minute walk guides you through some of County Wicklow’s renowned beauty spots. The lake was therefore man-made with the construction of the Poulaphouca Dam and hydroelectric station.