Southern Ireland

DUBLIN CITY

National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, On Botanic Road, North of the city centre, Dublin, County Dublin, S.I.
01 837 4388 – botanicsv@duchas.ie
Summer (Mon-Sat) 09.00-18.00, (Sun) 11.00-18.00 Winter ( Mon-Sat ) 10.00-16.30 ( Sun ) 11.00-16.30
This relaxing Botanic garden includes a “Yew Walk” that contains trees that date from the 18C, a palm house and a number of attractive glass houses that date from between 1843 and 1869.

St Stephen’s Green, Top of Grafton Street, Dublin, County Dublin, S.I.
01 475 7816
Open daylight hours normally Mon-Sat 08.00 – dusk Sundays 10.00 – dusk
A 22 acre park landscaped with a fountain and a lake, trees and flower beds and a band stand that was built in 1887.

The Grand Canal, Dublin, County Dublin, S.I.
Access at all time
The Grand Canal joins the River Liffey at Ringsend where 1796 locks still stand. In the North West corner of the Dock is Misery Hill where criminals used to be publicly executed. Further upstream there is the Waterways Visitor’s Centre.

SOUTH WEST

Fota Arboretum, Fota Island, Carigtwohill, County Cork, S.I.
021 481 2728 – fotaarboretum@eircom.net
April – Oct Mon-Sat 10.00-18.00 Sun 11.00-18.00 Nov – March Mon-Fri 10.00-17.00 Sun 11.00-17.00
The arboretum has a wide range of exotic plants and trees that are both diverse in their collections as well as rare.

Doneraile Forest Park, Doneraile, Near Mallow, Doneraile, County Cork, S.I.
021 425 5100
Free on weekdays
An 18C landscaped park with a special attraction of a herd of deers.

Keyser Hill, South Main Street, Proby’s Quay, Cork, County Cork, S.I.
Access at all times
Great views of Cork from top of Keyser Hill. At the top of the hill is an Elizabethan Fort, a star shaped ivy covered building. The fort houses the Garda station. For the best views of the surrounding area climb the stairs inside the main gate of the fort.

WESTERN

Knockpatrick, The hill between Foyes and Shanagolden, Shanagolden, County Limerick, S.I.
Access at all times
The hill between Foyes & Shanagolden gives great views of the Estuary. The hill is named after a ruined church that was said to have been built by St Patrick.

The Cliffs of Moher, The Burren, County Clare, S.I.
Access at all times
One of the most impressive stretches of the coast in the West of Ireland. The best views can be seen from O’Brien’s Folly which leads off left from the main road.

Moore Bay, Kilkee, 13km NW of Kilrush, Killkee, County Clare, S.I.
Access at all times
This bay is protected from the full fury of the Atlantic by a reef known as Duggerna Rocks, the sandy beach resort offers good bathing opportunities.

Spanish Point, In the centre of Mal Bay, Miltown Malbay, Just N of Quilty, Miltown Malbay, County Clare, S.I.
Access at all times
The point is famous for the fact that numerous bodies were washed ashore here from the Armada and buried at the point.

Benwee Head, following the road to Portacloy, Portacloy, County Mayo, S.I.
Access at all times This is a fabulous cliff with views towards Archill and the Donegal Coast.

Lissoughter Hill, Immediately North of Recess, Recess, County Galway, S.I.
Access at all times
A walk on the slops of this hill/mountain gives great views of the Maumturk Mountains, the most obvious summit of which being Letterbreekaum, and the Twelve Bens.

Dromore Wood, Off the Ennis / Galway Road, Ruan, Ennis, County Clare, S.I.
Wood open daylight hours
1000 acres of diverse habitat including river, lakes, woodland, flooded meadows and reed beds. Within the wood there is also the 17C O’Brien’s Castlem 2 ring forts a church and a lime kiln.

EASTERN

Lough Ennel, 3 miles South of Mullingar, Mullingar, County Westmeath, S.I.
Access at all times
This is a major bird sanctuary favoured by trout fishermen. The Lough is 3250 acres in area, 4.5 miles long by 2.5 miles wide.

Carlingford Lough, Near Carlingford, Cooley Peninsular, Carlingford, County Louth, S.I.
Access at all times
This particular spot on the Lough which faces the Mountains of Mourne has some of the best scenery in the area, and is a delightful spot to take in the view.

Glendalough, Near Roundwood, Glendalough, County Wicklow, S.I.
Within Wicklow Mountains National Park – Park Open May – August Daily 10.00-18.00 April & Sept Weekends 10.00-18.00
This is one of the most important and best preserved monastic sites in Ireland. The site also includes many numerous walks that start from Glendalough and venture off into the nearby mountains.

Bray Head, Bray, Wicklow Coast, Bray, County Wicklow, S.I.
Access at all times
A piece of rock pushing into the sea. A huge cross was erected here in 1950 to remind you that you are now in Catholic Europe. There are also many secluded coves in the area where you can swim.

Hill Of Uisneach, On the road to Kilbeggan, Kilbeggan, County Westmeath, S.I.
Access at all times
The summit of this hill was an ancient assembly point. The hill gives some stunning views of the surrounding area.

Clara Bog, Clara, County Offaly, S.I.
Access at all times
This is one of the largest and well preserved raised bogs in Ireland. It is the perfect habitat for a wide variety of plant and moss species which flourish in the area.

The Cavan Way, From Dowra to Blacklion, Dowra, County Cavan, S.I.
Access at all times
A 17 mile walk that gives some fabulous views over Lough MacNean, The Fermanagh Islands and the Sligo and Lentrim Mountains. Along the walk is the Shannon Pit the source of Ireland’s mightiest river.

SOUTH EAST

Kilkenny Castle Rose Gardens, The Parade, Kilkenny, County Kilkenny, S.I.
056 772 1450
Summer 09.00-20.30 Winter 09.00-15.00
A 52 acre landscaped park that adjoins the nearby castle. Unfortunately the castle has an entrance fee but you can enjoy the relaxing grounds for free.

Ardmore Cliff Walk, Ardmore, County Waterford, S.I.
Access at all times
Free map and guide pamphlets for the walk are available at the Tourist Information Centre. This 3 mile cliff walk has some great views of the ocean and encompasses most of Ardmore’s historic sites, including the cathedral, St Declan’s Stone, St Declan’s Well and St Declan’s Way.

Stradbally Cove, Stradbally, County Waterford, S.I.
Access at all times
This beautiful beach has a spectacular location as a result of its lush oak and ash covered slopes.

Glenshelane River Walk, 0.5 miles E out of the village take the right fork by the statue of the Virgin Mary, Cappoquin, Cappoquin, County Waterford, S.I.
Access at all times
The walk flows through a deep valley lined with pine trees. 3 miles along the walk is Mount Melleray a Cistercian Monastery that welcomes visitors in search of solitude.

The Raven Nature Reserve, R741 North from Wexford, 1 mile from Curracloe, Wexford, County Wexford, S.I.
Access at all times
This Nature Reserve contains a long walk through the forest that brings you out on dunes where there are Greenland white fronted geese and various waders.

Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, North Slob, North 3.5km from Wexford, Wexford, County Wexford, S.I.
035 23129 – cwilson@duchas.ie
Apr-Sep (Daily) 09.00-18.00, Oct-March 10.00-17.00
Throughout the year there is a wide selection of wildlife including, mallards, pochards, godwits, mutes, berwick swans, redshank, terns, coots and oystercatchers. There is also a visitors centre, and observation tower and an assortment of hides.

Curracloe Beach, 15km NE of Wexford, Off the Dublin Road, Curracloe, County Wexford, S.I.
Access at all times
The location of the Omaha Beach sequence from the film ” Saving Private Ryan ” A magnificent beach stretching over 11 Km and flanked by extensive dunes that provide shelter.

NORTH WEST

Letterkenny Town Park, High Road, Just off the Hospital Roundabout, Letterkenny, County Donegal, S.I.
074 919 4222
Access at all times
This park houses a Garden Of Rememberance, a herb garden and orchards, numerous walks and a play area for children.

Glenviagh National Park and Visitors Centre, North end of Lough Veagh, Letterkenny, County Donegal, S.I.
074 370 90 – glenveaghnationalpark@duchas.ie
Park access at all times
The park contains 14,000 hecatres of mountain, lakes and woodlands and is home to a large herd of red deer.

Lough Muckno Leisure Park, Castleblaney, County Monaghan, S.I.
Access at all times
This scenic 364 hectare lake and forest park has walks, picnic areas and many amenities. In the grounds of the park is Hope Castle.

Donegal Bay Walk, From Ballyshannon to Rossnowlagh, Ballyshannon, County Donegal, S.I.
Access at all times
An 8 mile walk which includes views of Kilbarron Castle and two beaches, which is rich in wildlife.