10 GREAT WALKS IN IRELAND’S ANCIENT EAST

5 WATERFORD GREENWAY

THE 46km stretch along the old railway line that ran between Dungarvan and Waterford city was completed earlier this year and is now the longest Greenway in the country.

It’s perfect for walkers of all abilities and for families with young children too and depending on how much of it you do, you can observe layers of history at every turn – there are Viking settlements, Norman keeps and historic big houses.

Walking here offers a reminder of how extensive the Irish rail network was until well into the 20th century and everyone who gets to walk through the brick-lined Ballyvoyle Tunnel is likely to marvel at what an engineering feat it is. It seems as perfectly made as the day it opened in 1878.

6 DONERAILE COURT, CORK

IRELAND’S Ancient East boasts a huge selection of big houses and one of the finest is located here, near the village of Doneraile in north Cork. Doneraile Court & Wildlife Park comprises approximately 166 hectares and is an outstanding example of an 18th century landscaped park in the style popularised by landscape architect Capability Brown. There is a large choice of highly accessible looped walks that showcase the beauty of the estate and the magnificent trees here. Three species of deer are also free to roam the parkland. Few who travel here fail to enjoy the treats in the tea rooms of the venerable Doneraile House.

7 BRAY TO GREYSTONES, WICKLOW

THE 7km coastal path travels from Bray train station to Greystones and takes in the Victorian promenade and a cliff walk that has been savoured by locals for generations.

The rail line – one of the first built in Ireland – can be seen below and views up and down the coastline are breathtaking.

There is the occasional steep incline and the path is rough here and there, but by and large, it’s a remarkably accessible route and many people opt to do a round trip on foot, after perhaps lunch in one of the many inviting cafés and restaurants in Greystones, including the Happy Pear. A Dart back to Bray taking in the sumptuous views en route works for those who want to rest their legs on a more relaxed return.

8 SLIEVE BLOOM MOUNTAINS, LAOIS/OFFALY

SITUATED close to the geographical centre of Ireland, the Slieve Bloom mountain range covers part of counties Laois and Offaly and is made up of forests, blanket bog and hidden valleys. It’s a much-loved location for walkers and is a place of fascination for aficionados of archaeology and nature.

The Slieve Blooms constitute the country’s only designated Environment Park, and its unspoilt beauty is still regarded as something of a hidden gem. The trails at Knockbarron Woods are especially inviting and are located close to the pretty village of Kinnitty in Offaly. A local landmark, Kinnitty Castle Hotel is a 19th-century mansion in the Gothic Revival style and is a popular stop-off after a long walk.

9 THE BARROW WAY, CARLOW

THE stretch of walkway close to one of the Three Sisters, the River Barrow, is particularly memorable from Graiguenamanagh to St Mullins. The 6km trail is accessible to most and takes in the prettiness of a woodland setting.

There’s a spiritual feel too in this part of the magnificent Barrow Valley as it was here that Saint Moling formed a religious settlement in the 7th century. Local lore has it that he performed miracles and had a gift for curing disease.

Walkers are encouraged to pack a meal – there’s a picnic area here that affords generous views of the countryside, and much like Saint Moling, you’re likely to feel completely at peace in a natural environment largely unchanged for centuries.

10 LOUGH BOORA PARKLANDS, OFFALY

THIS sprawling park used to be a commercial bog, but now it’s a 2,000-hectare nature lover’s paradise where otters and hares are plentiful and where bird-watchers come from far and near to catch a glimpse of the Merlin and grey partridge. It’s best appreciated on foot – and there are five looped walks to investigate.

Lough Boora is also the site of one of Ireland’s most remarkable Mesolithic remnants – dating back 15,000 years to the end of the Ice Age. The place really comes into its own in autumn when the Devil’s Bit scabious flower blooms and its purple colouring provides an unforgettable sight.