Be enchanted in North Roscommon by Lough Key Forest & Activity Park
24/03/2010 Attractions: Frybrook House, King House, Boyle Abbey, Lough Key Forest and Activity Park, Arigna Mining Experience.
Activities: Cycling, Golf, Tennis, Fishing, Boating, Hillwalking, Outdoor Adventure==================ATTRACTIONS===========================
FRYBROOK HOUSE,BOYLE:
This Georgian house built around 1750 by Henry Fry features period furniture designed by John Nash. The Reception Rooms and Master Bedroom are open to the public. The gardens are currently being restored.
KING HOUSE, BOYLE:
King House (www.kinghouse.ie) was built around 1730 by Sir Henry King and became the barracks of the Connaught Rangers. The tour here is interactive taking you through five rooms with mock ups telling their story as you walk through each area.
There is also a museum and a restaurant & gift shop.
The Una Bhan Tourist Office is also based here.
On Saturday mornings there is a great Farmers Market here in the grounds of King House.
BOYLE ABBEY:
This Cistercian Abbey is one of the best preserved in Ireland. It was originally built in the 12th Century with additional building in the 16th and 17th Centuries. The gatehouse has a visitors centre which takes you through the history of this Abbey and there are also guided tours. Check in Una Bhan tourist office for opening times.
LOUGH KEY FOREST AND ACTIVITY PARK, BOYLE:
This 19th century park which lies between the towns of Boyle and Carrick on Shannon has many unique, natural and historic features. There are some magnificent majestic trees, follies, bridges and canals, a bog garden and numerous walks and trails through the native woodland.
From the Visitors Centre you can take the 'Lough Key Experience' which is a self guided audio trail of the Park's history, flora and fauna. It takes you through the 19th century underground tunnels, to the top of the refurbished 5-storey Moylurg viewing tower and along the Tree Canopy Walk.
The Boda Borg is a Swedish concept unique to Ireland and will challenge adults and children alike. It contains funfilled activities, imaginative puzzles and enjoyable tasks...but no instructions. Once you enter the Boda Borg it will take many skills including teamwork, ingenuity, trial and error to progress through its 47 rooms.
The Adventure Play Kingdom is a dynamic, colourful and safe environment that will keep kids entertained for hours.
There is also a landscaped Caravan &Camping Park with pitches for 52 touring caravans with a seperate area for tents.
ARIGNA MINING EXPERIENCE, ARIGNA(www.arignaminingexperience.ie):
Your visit here starts with a storyboard exhibition which covers the history of coalmining in this area. Throughout the day there are regular guided tours into one of the mines. From the moment you enter the mine leaving natural daylight behind you really do appreciate how difficult and dangerous working here was. If its been raining the experience is all the more real. The tour takes about 45 minutes.
=================ACTIVITIES==============================
BOYLE TENNIS CLUB: Beside King House.
BOYLE GOLF CLUB: About 2 miles outside the town on the N61(towards Roscommon). This lovely 9 hole offers both great golf and some lovely views of the surrounding countryside.
PEDAL PUSHERS: For bicycle hire or to plan a cycling trip contact Pedal Pushers at Mullens Xpress Stop in Abbeytown, Tel: 086 374 2371. Self guided bicycle tours from 10km to 40km. Detailed maps of your route and notes on the many places of interest are provided. Once weekly guided tours of the Arigna and Bricklieve Mountains.
BATTLEBRIDGE PAINTBALL(www.battlebridgepaintball.com): Battlebridge Paintball’s custom-built GameZones provides a superior gaming experience. Their army & outdoor adventure experience has enabled them to create & maintain GameZones which have a military authenticity that is second to none.
COOTEHALL ADVENTURE CENTRE(www.cootehalladventure.com):
Take part in a variety of group activites/educational programmes in the outdoors-Hillwalking, Kayaking, Canoeing, Wilderness Camping and so much more. All activities are guided by qualified instructors in a safe environment. Activities can be flexible and organised to suit individual groups. One to one instruction provided if required. Youth Summer Camps available from July– September.
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--------------Boyle-Carrick on Shannon-Drumshanbo-Arigna-Ballyfarnan-Keadue-----
BOYLE:
Visit KING HOUSE, BOYLE ABBEY and FRYBROOK HOUSE. The Una Bhan Tourist Office is beside King House.
From BOYLE take the N4 towards Carrick on Shannon turning off for LOUGH KEY FOREST PARK(www.loughkey.ie). This park is a great spot for camping with a landscaped camping and caravan park.
Marked walking trails bring you in a circle over the Fairy Bridge, through the Bog Gardens, past the Wishing Chair and along the Lough Key shoreline.
There are some great views from The Tree Top walk and The Moylurg Tower.
The whole family will enjoy The Boda Borg challenge.
Take a boat-trip on Lough Key which has approx 32 islands. The most well known of these are Castle Island, Church Island and Trinity Island. There is reference to Castle Island in the annals of Lough Ce as early as 1184. During this time the park was called Moylurg and the Kings of Moylurg were the McDermotts. They actually lived on Castle Island but also had a residence where the Moylurg Tower is now.
In the 17th Century the estate was granted to the King family under the Cromwellian Settlement. They renamed the estate Rockingham and built a mansion which was burned in 1957. The Moylurg Tower now stands on its site. They also rebuilt McDermotts Castle on Castle Island as a folly.
Back on the N4 and on to Carrick on Shannon passing Carrick Golf Club(18 hole) on the left hand side.
CARRICK ON SHANNON:
The bridge across the Shannon is the Roscommon/Leitrim border. Across the bridge and to the right is the Quays. Here you will find both The Tourist Office and The Moon River Pleasure Cruiser. Moon River run daily trips from here. There is also a lovely walk along the river which takes you to the Boardwalk.
For a small town there is quite a lot to see and do.
COSTELLO CHAPEL on Bridge Street is believed to be the smallest church in Ireland and the second smallest in the world.
MOONRIVER PLEASURE CRUISER has daily trips on the Shannon from the Quay. Great way to spend an hour or so.
THE DOCK & LEITRIM DESIGN HOUSE on St. Georges Terrace: Exhibitions, Workshops, Performances, Crafts and Gifts, Coffee Shop.
ST. GEORGE'S HERITAGE & VISITORS CENTRE on St. Mary's Close: The Telford Organ here is the second oldest in Ireland.
ACTIVITIES: In town there are Tennis Courts and the Aura Leisure Centre. Close by there is Paintballing in Battlebridge, Outdoor Adventure in Cootehall and an 18 hole Golf Course.
RELAXATION: Cinema, Restaurants, The Dock Arts Centre, Bars, Nightclubs.
ARIGNA:
From Carrick on Shannon take the R280 for Drumshanbo and after Leitrim Village follow the signs for The Arigna Mining Experience.
From The Arigna Mining Experience turn left for the wonderful drive across Kilronan Moutain to Ballyfarnan. This road offers great views over the valley, before veering sharply left. Following this road will take you through some isolated bogland and then its a steep descent into Ballyfarnan. The views of the surrounding counties and Loughs Skean & Meelagh are spectacular.
Turn left for Keadue, passing Lough Meelagh and Kilronan Castle Hotel & Spa on your right.
KEADUE is known for it's annual O'Carolan International Harp Festival in August. This festival features traditional music concerts, sessions and workshops, craft demonstrations and exhibitions, side by side with the International Harp Competition, School and Recitals. It was here in Keadue that Turlough O'Carolan came under the patronage of the McDermottroe family at Alderford House. His remains now lie here in Kilronan Cemetery.
This pretty village has also won Irelands Tidiest Town Award twice.
From Keadue its on to Leitrim Village passing Beirne's of Battlebridge which has great camping facilities.
For more details search Roscommon or Leitrim on our home page for links to these and other places of interest in this area.
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