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Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands travels through 9 counties in Ireland – Leitrim, Roscommon and Longford as well as parts of Clare, Westmeath, Cavan, North Tipperary, Galway, and Offaly .
This touring route runs through the middle of the Island and includes exciting waterside towns, picturesque rural villages, hidden tracks and trails as well as fascinating Blueways. It’s a place where you will find everything. There are a plenty of places to overnight or park up for a few nights in one of the many great top quality graded caravan parks in the areas. Check out Camping Ireland for loads of options on places to pitch up for a few nights.
Here are some ideas on great things to do and experience during your holiday in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands.
Take to your bike or don your walking shoes
The Royal Canal Greenway, Ireland’s longest greenway, starts in Maynooth, with some of the most scenic stretches and idyllic spots found between Mullingar and Longford. The Royal Canal Greenway is flat throughout making it a great option for walkers and cyclists of all ability levels. Enjoy the 90 minute walk between Coolnahay Harbour and Ballynacarrigy, stopping to watch boats navigate their way through the lock. Or plan an unforgettable multiday walk stopping off in gorgeous villages for lunch and savouring this magical part of Ireland.
Cycle the Royal Canal Greenway from Mullingar to Longford for a day out that the whole family will enjoy. The 53km route takes experienced cyclists just under three hours to complete, but the rest of us can hop on at any of the seven trailheads or access points on this stretch. Spend the day alongside the Royal Canal freewheeling under bridges and zipping through the countryside on the old towpath.
The Old Rail Trail Greenway begins in Athlone and meanders along for 40km to the market town of Mullingar. Naturally, the scenery and length – taking just over two hours – make it a perfect route for cyclists of all levels. As part of the Midlands Great Western Railway route, you cycle past flourishing small towns and lush countryside.
Experience an epic and remote walk or cycle on the quiet country roads and forest trails of the East Clare Way. The enormous 180km long loop has options for walkers and hikers of all ability levels. Stroll along the edge of Lough Derg outside of Killaloe, climb the foothills of the Slieve Aughty Mountains to Flagmount and explore the forests near Broadford on a mountain bike. The entire route can take eight days to complete, but don’t worry it can be broken up into smaller sections to suit your needs.
Pitch up in Westmeath Leitrim Roscommon or Clare and explore the some of these great trails.
Spend the day surrounded by the trees
Enjoy a family walk in this forest friendly trail in Portumna Forest Park. The Forest Friendly Walking Trail is on wide and smooth forest road and timber boardwalk. It winds gently through trees to a viewing platform close to the shore and on to the duck pond before returning to the car park. The viewing platform looks out across Lough Derg and its islands and southwards towards Terryglass while to the right the main expanse of the lake can be seen.
Explore Lough Boora Discovery Park in County Offaly. See sculptures on the looped walks, hire a bike to check out the cycle route, try a spot of angling or bring the kids on the fairy trail. Lough Boora Discovery Park offers walking and cycling trails of varying lengths and minimal difficulty. This includes the Sculpture Park, nationally important Mesolithic settlement and the fairy trail for children.
Explore Birr Castle Demesne in Co. Offaly and discover fun family activities, tour the castle, explore the glorious gardens and stop off at the Historic Science Centre to see the incredible Great Telescope. Take in spectacular views of the castle from the outdoor terraces. Find peaceful moments by the lake, waterfall and rivers dotted throughout the grounds. Visit the Historic Science Centre and learn about the Great Telescope, built by the Third Earl of Rosse and still functioning today. The I-LOFAR consortium have built a cutting-edge astrophysics observing facility in Birr Castle that connects to the International LOFAR Telescope and one of the most advanced astrophysics research projects in the World. The Castle tour includes a one hour guided tour of the reception rooms of Birr Castle with access to the Science Centre, the Great Telescope and the gardens.
Cavan Burren Park is a unique place where geological and archaeological features are gently revealed in an open and natural setting. Peaceful birdsong, intriguing nature, stunning views, a Visitor Centre and five marked trails are waiting to be discovered. One of the marked trails is multi-access, so this a fantastic place for everyone to explore (and it’s dog friendly too). Enjoy a special landscape which has evolved from its formation in a tropical sea south of the equator, through the various ice ages to the parkland it is today. Take time in the park’s Visitor Centre, with imaginative displays of the Burren’s story and learn about the geological, archaeological, mythological, natural, and cultural history of this intriguing landscape.
Head to Lough Key Forest and Activity Park in Boyle, County Roscommon and check out its spectacular views, abundant wildlife, historic buildings and evocative islands. Discover one of Ireland’s most extensive and picturesque forest parks. Enjoy the scenic nature walks, beautiful bog garden, enchanting wishing chair, magical underground tunnels, ice house and epic views from the observation tower.
Wander along the tree canopy trail or get a team together for the Boda Borg Challenge. Bring the kids to the Adventure Play Kingdom and explore the grounds with glorious woodland, a pretty lake and several islands. Go on a guided history tour, try the thrilling zipline, and drop by the Visitor Centre. You can also pitch up for a few nights at Lough Key Caravan & Camping site located within the woodlands of the forest park.
The key to Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands is the River Shannon
Go swimming in Mountshannon – During the summer months the harbour area is used for boating, kayaking and paddle boarding, and there is a shallow swimming area nearby. Visit the stunning award winning beach in Clare and go swimming in Lough Derg. The chilly and clear waters of Mountshannon Beach are perfect for an exhilarating swim.
Walk the floating boardwalk on Acres Lake, Drumshanbo – Head to the Shannon Blueway just outside of Drumshanbo and experience one of the most unique walks in Ireland. Making up part of a larger 6.5km walk is a wonderful 600m long stretch where you stroll on a floating boardwalk across Acres Lake.
Baysports located outside Athlone is where you will find Ireland’s largest inflatable waterpark. It is an outdoor adventure centre proud to hold the Guinness World Record for the tallest inflatable floating waterslide in the world: the round tower slide. The most popular attraction is the waterpark, where patrons can enjoy the dizzying heights and the challenging climbs of the tower slides. There are junior waterpark and main waterparks in which you can gain and build your confidence in and around the water with the safety of wetsuits and lifejackets no matter your level of swimming ability. Kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, pedal boating, rafting, dragon boating, boat trips, and powerboat courses are all on the menu at Baysports, and wetsuits are available to hire.
If you are looking for a great day out in Cavan, then a visit to Carafin Activity Park is the perfect choice. Why not try out the Hydrobikes which are 100% pedal powered, easy to ride, lightweight and be enjoyed by everyone young and the not so young. Or take out one of their Pedal Boats suitable for 4 people and you can explore the waterways of County Cavan. The Dragon Boat originates from China and is ideal for a group.
Pitch up in Clare, Letirim or Westmeath and take in the thrills and excitement of these great activities.
These are just a few ideas for your trip to Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. So whether you are planning a few days away or a longer break there is plenty to see and do as part of your caravan & camping holiday.
It is time to get planning and booking for your next trip away. Camping Ireland has so much information to help you plan your caravan & camping trip away. Our website is very user-friendly and has a number of great features which makes it very easy to navigate. One of the new features is that you can now add filters to your selection. This will allow you to get information on parks that are specific to your needs.
You can now filter for sites as follows:
Camping type – camping, glamping, mobile home hire, etc.
Holiday type – beach holiday, countryside, family-friendly, dog friendly, etc.
Facilities – beach nearby, playground, games room, shop, etc.
County
Region – Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, Dublin or Northern Ireland
Also, many sites are now offering online booking which will help you secure your pitch at the click of a button.
Whatever you want Camping Ireland has something to suit everyone. Enjoy the independence and flexibility that camping in Ireland can offer in quality approved sites. We look forward to welcoming you to Ireland’s outdoor living.
