Lough Boora Discovery Park
A unique natural attraction, this park’s boglands are now a habitat for a wide range of flora and fauna including over 130 species of bird. There are many walks to be enjoyed including Mesolithic Walk, Boora Lake Walk and the Sculpture Walk. ‘Sculpture in the Parklands’—a collection of 24 outdoor sculptures is also on display here and worth a visit.
The park is open 365 days a year. There is so much on offer: walking routes, cycling and bike hire, bird watching, fairy trails and angling. The park is also home to a sculpture park. The artists have been inspired by the boglands and have created a series of permanent sculptures, which have been developed from industrial materials such as rail lines, locomotives, timber and stone. Check website for opening times of the visitor centre and café.
Slieve Bloom Mountains
The rolling hills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains are a land of forests and blanket bog rich in archaeology, history, tradition and culture. Enjoy one of the many day treks, eco walks and looped walks. Stop off points along the marked walks include waterfalls, ring forts, eskers and much more. Maps are available from local tourist information offices/points. All maps are available to download on the website.
The Slieve Bloom Mountains form a link between Co. Laois and Co. Offaly and the easiest way to reach them is to take Exit 18 from the M7 and follow the R422. Looped colour coded walking trails have been developed at 6 trail heads—Glenbarrow, Clonaslee, Cadamstown, Kinnitty, Glenafelly Forest Car Park and Glen Monickew. Green easy, blue moderate and red most difficult.
Lough Boora Parklands: on the R357 between the villages of Cloghan and the Blueball. Slieve Bloom Mountains: Trailheads of walks are located at various points around the mountain. See website for details www.slievebloom.ie