County Offaly - Environment

1. Nature Reserves

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The Silver River Geological Reserve

A visit to the Silver River Geological Reserve at Cadamstown will start you on a journey into a remote past and provide you with an insight into a landscape formed by seas and rivers over 400 million years ago. There has been little disturbance to the river valley over the intervening years and the Silver River gorge retains much of its ancient character. It is a special place and one of considerable beauty and interest. The first settlers came to the area about 3,000 B.C., but more recently the valley has been most frequently visited by those who have a special interest in geology and botany, to study the ancient rocks and native flora and fauna. The river takes its name from the particles of silver occurring naturally in the limestone rock upstream and washed down in the river.

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2. Walks

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Slieve Bloom Display Centre

One vast environment park is how best to describe the Slieve Bloom Mountains with seventeen major valleys, numerous amenity areas and hundreds of kilometres of accessible forest tracks. These gentle rolling hills now form the biggest forestry cover in Ireland. And hills they really are rather than mountains, as the highest point, Ard Eirinn, rises just a little over 529m (1700 ft). All of the glens, walks and viewing points are easy to discover from the large scale Slieve Bloom map, available throughout the area. For the more energetic, a sign-posted Slieve Bloom Way walking route (31mls/50kms) circles the mountain range. STAGE 1: Glenbarrow to Monicknew about 12km (7.5miles) takes about 3.5 hours. STAGE 2: Monicknew to Glendine East about 13km (8 miles) takes almost 4.5 hours. STAGE 3: Glendine East to Forelacka about 17km (10.5miles) takes almost 5.5hours. STAGE 4: Forelacka to Glenkeen about 20km (12 miles) take 6 hours. STAGE 5: Glenkeen to Glenbarrow about 16km (10 miles) takes about 4.5 hours.

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2. Tourist Attractions

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Clonmacnoise

Ireland's premier monastic site, in a tranquil and inspiring setting on the banks of the River Shannon, Superb Visitor Centre and museum display. Multi-lingual audio-visual presentation. Coffee shop and tourist information office.

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3. Sightseeing Tours

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Guided Bog Tours by Rail

The Clonmacnois and West Offaly Railway gives you a unique opportunity to enjoy a guided 9 km circular tour in a luxury train coach which will give you an insight into the internationally important raised bog - the Blackwater Bog in County Offaly. The forty-five minute train tour covers a circular route of nine kilometres. During this time, the story of the bog form its formation many thousands of years ago to its preservation in the 1990's, unfolds itself in an interesting manner.

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4. Open Farms

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Annaharvey Farm

The Deverell family thoroughly enjoy the outdoor life, and are aware that Annaharvey Farm is a particularly nice place to live. We can now look forward to giving you the opportunity of savouring a little of what life here is all about. Our Equestrian Centre offers excellent tuition in our indoor or outdoor arenas. The imaginative and challenging cross-country course traverses 300 acres of the finest farmland in the midlands, or simply trek around the farm and country lanes at leisure. Trail ride through the beautiful Slieve Bloom mountains and end the day with a sumptuous meal in our dining room, followed by a drink at the fire. All ages are welcome at Annaharvey Farm. We cater for every range of horse riding ability. Whether you're a complete novice and have never ridden a horse before or a seasoned horseman looking for something more challenging, you will find the experience at Annaharvey Farm both rewarding and highly enjoyable. Clay Pigeon shooting also available. Three are numerous routes through the magnificent Slieve Bloom Mountains for the walking enthusiast, form the gentle river walk at Cadamstown, to the strenuous climb at the cut. Clara Bog offers the naturalist a wealth of information during the two and a half hour guided tour over the eskers and through the bog, giving a glimpse of times past which have helped shape the present. Annaharvey Farm offers a peaceful walking route which can be enjoyed at leisure. Armed with a packed lunch and detailed cycling route, the cyclist can pedal his way around the quiet country lanes, enjoying a wealth of wild flowers and birds abounding in our hedgerows. The serene route along the Grand canal can then lead you through the rural townlands to Locke's Distillery, Kilbeggan and another trip into our past. The golfing enthusiast has an abundance of courses from which to choose. Come for a week and play a different course every day. The courses on offer range from short 9 hole courses to top class 18 hole championship courses designed by international golfers.

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5. Rivers

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Silver River Nature Trail

A visit to the Silver River Nature Trail takes you on a journey into the remote past and provides an insight into a landscape formed by seas and rivers over 400 million years ago. There has been little disturbance to the river valley over the many intervening years and the Silver River gorge retains much of its ancient character. It is special place and one of considerable beauty and interest. The first settlers came to the area about 3000 B.C., but more recently the valley has been visited most frequently by those with a specialist interest in geology and botany, to study the ancient rocks and native flora and fauna. The river takes its name (in Gaelic, Abha Airgid - the Money River) from the particles of silver occuring naturally in the limestone rock upstream and washed down in the river.

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6. Walks

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Annaharvey Farm

The Deverell family thoroughly enjoy the outdoor life, and are aware that Annaharvey Farm is a particularly nice place to live. We can now look forward to giving you the opportunity of savouring a little of what life here is all about. Our Equestrian Centre offers excellent tuition in our indoor or outdoor arenas. The imaginative and challenging cross-country course traverses 300 acres of the finest farmland in the midlands, or simply trek around the farm and country lanes at leisure. Trail ride through the beautiful Slieve Bloom mountains and end the day with a sumptuous meal in our dining room, followed by a drink at the fire. All ages are welcome at Annaharvey Farm. We cater for every range of horse riding ability. Whether you're a complete novice and have never ridden a horse before or a seasoned horseman looking for something more challenging, you will find the experience at Annaharvey Farm both rewarding and highly enjoyable. Clay Pigeon shooting also available. Three are numerous routes through the magnificent Slieve Bloom Mountains for the walking enthusiast, form the gentle river walk at Cadamstown, to the strenuous climb at the cut. Clara Bog offers the naturalist a wealth of information during the two and a half hour guided tour over the eskers and through the bog, giving a glimpse of times past which have helped shape the present. Annaharvey Farm offers a peaceful walking route which can be enjoyed at leisure. Armed with a packed lunch and detailed cycling route, the cyclist can pedal his way around the quiet country lanes, enjoying a wealth of wild flowers and birds abounding in our hedgerows. The serene route along the Grand canal can then lead you through the rural townlands to Locke's Distillery, Kilbeggan and another trip into our past. The golfing enthusiast has an abundance of courses from which to choose. Come for a week and play a different course every day. The courses on offer range from short 9 hole courses to top class 18 hole championship courses designed by international golfers.

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7. Gardens

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Birr Castle Gardens

Birr's best-known feature is undoubtedly the great Gothic frame of the 'Leviathan', the world's largest nineteenth-century telescope - one of the many achievements of a remarkable family whose varied tastes over fourteen successive generations are reflected in the development of this magnificent parkland garden. In order to get a feel for the geography and planting of Birr, visitors should head straight for the River Garden, passing the massive ramparts below the castle. Here in the garden's heartland along the banks of the River Camcor some of Birr's most prized plants can be found, perhaps none more beautiful than a tender collection of magnolias cushioned by a blue carpet in spring. On the High Walk above the River Garden visitors will come across a large specimen of the rare Chinese tree characterised by its broad corymbs of small fragrant white flowers in June. Arboretum on the Tipperary side of the river is divided by an avenue of recently planted prunus 'Accolade' the walled Garden is divided into a kitchen garden to the north and an ornamental area to the south. On the main north-south axis of the garden an impressive pair of thirty-foot high box hedges - planted over 200 years ago and claimed in the Guinness Book of Records to be the tallest in the world - looms upwards. Before leaving the Walled Garden, visitors should seek out Birr's most famous plant; Paeonia 'Anne Rosse' - a tree peony with large ruffled yellow flowers, streaked with red.

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8. Scenic Drives

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A Drive Through South Offaly

The southern thumb of Offaly, incorporating the neat villages of Dunkerrin, Moneygall, and Shinrone, is Ely O'Carroll land, an area rich in history. Mount Saint Joseph Abbey is on the road to Roscrea. This Cistercian Abbey has a renowned guesthouse where visitors are always welcome. It is a gret place to relax and ponder on the meaning of life. The monks invite the public to join with them in the Daily Offices. From the Monastery, as Mount Saint Joseph is locally called, we travel along the road to Birr to Gloster House. Go up the avenue of limes to the late seventeenth century mansion, now a convent and school. Lough Roe, an amenity park, is to the rear of Gloster. Take the minor road north through the rolling landscapes of Coolderry to Leap Castle. At Leap the view across to Slieve Bloom Mountains is spectacular. Leap Catle was once the principle stronghold of the O'Carrolls of Ely. It is late 15th Century towerhouse with later buildings on the wings. This countryside is full of reminders of the past: a hill fort at the road from the castle and many ring forts. The pre-Patrician monastery of Sier Kieran is a few kms further on. This monastic site still retains the earthen ramparts and many vestiges of its former importance: a holy well and bush, and fragments of a round tower. Kinnity is next on route. This attractive mountain village was also once the site of an important monastery of St. Finan. An unusual early grave slab is on display inside the door of the Church of Ireland church. In the mountain foothills lies castle Bernard, an early 19th century neo Tudor houe by the Pin brothers. On the terrace of the castle is a 9/10th century high cross. Here the is surrounded by much natural beauty. From Kinnity the choice is to cross the Slieve Blooms into Laois or travel east to Birr.

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