The first of four Irish walking trails selected for a pilot government scheme has officially opened.

The Sheep's Head Way in West Cork is the first walkway under the new publicly-funded Walks Scheme, unveiled in March by the Irish minister for community, rural and Gaeltacht affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív.

Landowners along the Sheep's Head Way will receive funding from the Irish government under the optional scheme to develop, maintain and enhance approved National Waymarked Ways (NWMW) and Looped Walking Routes that pass through their land.

The scheme is a partnership between the Irish government, local development integrated companies, the Irish Sports Council and Fáilte Ireland, together with local authorities.

Once the scheme is established at the pilot areas, which also includes Bluestack Way in Donegal, Suck Valley Way in Roscommon and Galway, and Eamonn a'Chnoic Loop Walk in Tipperary, it is anticipated that the initiative will be extended to a further eight trails before the end of the year.

It is expected that the scheme will eventually be available to landowners along all existing NWMWs and Looped Walking Routes. New trail projects may also be included.

Speaking at the scheme's launch in March, Ó Cuív said: "There should be no cost burden on landowners for the maintenance of permissive ways that are open to the public at no charge. The introduction of the scheme will allow landowners to work an agreed number of hours, on an annual basis, on the section of walkway that passes through their land."