OUTDOOR ACTIVITY BREAKS IN IRELAND’S ANCIENT EAST
CYCLE A GREAT GREENWAY
IRELAND used to have thousands of kilometres of railway lines but as the 20th century wore on, more and more of them were taken out of commission. In recent years, a number of them have been reconverted for the exclusive use of walkers and cyclists and the one that connects Carlingford with Omeath in Co Louth has proved to be highly popular.
It’s comparatively short — just over 6km in length — but there’s much to see along the way — and it’s especially popular with pet owners. A reminder that dogs must be kept on leads.
Carlingford is a medieval town of considerable distinction and the nearby Carlingford Adventure Centre makes the most of its spectacular setting on the Cooley Peninsula. There are several water-based activities as well as thrilling combat games to try.
TACKLE A MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL
IF you’re a mountain bike devotee you’ll know all about Ballyhoura, Co Limerick. These forested mountains close to the Co Cork border boast 98km of dedicated mountain bike trail — more than anywhere else in the country — and there are routes to test all abilities, including the demanding Castlepook loop, which is over 50km in length. You can bring your own wheels or hire a bike from Trail Riders.
Those with a passion for ancient history will find much to enthral them in the eastern part of Co Limerick. Lough Gur was first settled at least 6,000 years ago and several remnants of our ancient forebears have been well preserved. It’s free to explore, but you’ll get so much more out of the experience if you opt for a guided tour.
DISCOVER NATURE
NATURE lovers are spoiled for choice in Ireland’s Ancient East and the Lough Boora Discovery Park in Co Offaly offers a magnificent introduction to the rich plant and animal life of the midlands. There are five distinct walking routes to explore and all manner of kid-friendly activities, including the Fairy Avenue where the little ones need to keep their eyes peeled for tiny creatures and their cute fairy doors.
Offaly also has a monastic site of national importance. Clonmacnoise was founded by St Ciarán in the sixth century and was on the itinerary of Pope John Paul II the first time Ireland received a papal visit.
Elsewhere, whiskey lovers will want to visit the distillery and interpretative entire at Tullamore Dew in Offaly’s capital town, while Birr Castle will appeal to people of all ages — the kids will love the amazing tree house on its grounds.
QUICKEN YOUR PULSE IN MONAGHAN
ANYONE who has tried quad biking will know what a thrilling experience it can be. These four-wheeled vehicles are capable of negotiating the toughest of terrain.
Irish Country Quads is located in Co Monaghan and the specially reconfigured bikes can handle whatever the Irish weather and landscape throws at it. The organisers proudly point to a 100pc safety record since setting up their company 22 years ago.
Those after a more genteel Monaghan experience should try the opulent afternoon tea served at Castle Leslie, one of the most notable Big Houses in the area — Paul McCartney once got married here.
And if you’ve a passion for history, the Glaslough Village Heritage Trail is captivating — it gives a sense of the impact of the Great Famine and includes a tour of the grounds of Castle Leslie.
MAKE TIME FOR ADVENTURE
ARDMORE may have been put on the map by Saint Declan and his round tower remains one of the country’s great examples, but the coastal town is also a go-to place for those keen for adventure. The team at Ardmore Adventures will take you sea-kayaking or abseiling and if you’ve never tried stand-up paddling, this might just be the location for you.
The Co Waterford coastline is a place to discover and rediscover. The Copper Coast Geopark is an area of international importance and some of the rocks here hold geological data going back hundreds of millions of years.
A wonder of a much newer vintage is to be found hugging the cliff. The aptly named Cliff House Hotel is a five-star property boasting a Michelin-starred restaurant.
And farther along the coast, the county’s most celebrated seaside resort, Tramore, punches above its weight when it comes to food — try Moe’s or the Olive Cafe.
ZIP ALONG IN THE ROYAL COUNTY
LOUGHCREW Adventure Centre in Oldcastle, Co Meath, is one of the country’s primary destinations for daredevils in the open air. There’s archery, tree-climbing competitions and something called the Forest Crystal Maze, which will put your navigation skills to the test. The most thrilling feature here is the zip-line — and it’s no ordinary zip-line: it’s 12m high and, at 160m, it’s the longest in Ireland. Are you brave enough to try it?
The Royal County boasts numerous monuments that date back thousands of years. The most celebrated of them are to be found at the Brú na Bóinne UNESCO World Heritage Site — and archaeologists are continuing to discover more wonders there, including a new passage tomb at Dowth. The 5,500-year-old tomb was hailed recently as the ‘find of a lifetime’.