Page 169 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Ireland

DRIVE 16: Heart of the Lakelands 167

4 Slieve Bloom Mountains
Co Offaly
The Slieve Bloom Mountains rise unexpectedly from the flat
landscape of Offaly. Crisscrossed with walking trails and dotted with
picnic areas and viewpoints, they include blanket boglands, forests
and farmland, and are rich in wildlife. Kinnitty Forest offers a variety
of signposted walks from the entrance in the northern foothills.

A two- to three-hour walk in woodland, following the blue arrow
Kinnitty Forest and the Slieve Bloom Way.
From the car park 1 at the entrance On reaching a forestry road, turn
to Kinnitty Forest, follow the path into right and after 200 m (656 ft) turn left
the forest. At the Y-junction keep left, at a three-way junction, veering left
following the Glinsk Castle Loop Walk, almost immediately afterwards, still
the trail marked with the blue arrow following the Slieve Bloom Way.
(the green arrow is for the shorter Climb the hill and turn right at the Above Kinnitty Castle, a Gothic Revival
Kinnitty Castle Loop and the yellow track junction. After another 600 m mansion in Kinnitty Forest
arrow marks the Slieve Bloom Way, (1,968 ft) leave the Slieve Bloom Way
an 84-km/52-mile and turn right onto a
loop). After about 1 km woodland trail leading
(half a mile), the trail to Glinsk Castle 3,
reaches a three-way now little more than
junction with a wooden stone pillars and walls.
gate to the left. Pass Follow the trail
through the gate and through the pillars and
into the grounds of over the hill, and keep
Kinnitty Castle 2, a on downhill through
Gothic Revival castle in the trees, rejoining the
extensive parkland, Slieve Bloom Way at a
for a long time run forest track. Turn right
as a luxury hotel. The stables at here and, after a short
Returning to the Kinnitty Castle distance, turn left onto
gate, follow the trail a forestry trail. Follow VISITING ATHLONE
right, walking uphill the track downhill,
along a forest track for 1 km (half a through mature trees, and cross Parking
mile) to a right bend and then to a two forestry tracks back to the Plentiful pay-and-display on-street
parking is available.
Y-junction. Keep right, following the starting point. Tourist Information
green and blue arrows. ª Return to Kinnitty and turn right Athlone Castle; 090 649 4630; open
Turn left after a short distance onto the R421 for Tullamore, passing Easter–Oct
heading uphill through mature through Cadamstown. River Cruises
Viking Ship Cruises, The Quay; 086 262
0 metres 500 1136; www.vikingtoursireland.ie
0 yards 500
Kinnitty
Castle
EAT AND DRINK IN ATHLONE
Sean’s Bar inexpensive
Glinsk Castle
Dating back to 900 AD, this is the
oldest pub in Ireland. It has a cosy
atmosphere and lots of interesting
features, including a sloping floor in
case of flooding from the river.
13 Main St; 090 649 2358;
www.seansbar.ie
Left Bank Bistro moderate
Sophisticated restaurant on the banks
of the Shannon near the Athlone lock.
Forest Loads of great seafood alongside
Entrance
some Asian-influenced dishes.
Fry Place; 090 649 4446; www.
leftbankbistro.com; closed Sun & Mon
Eat and Drink: inexpensive, under €25; moderate, €25–€50; expensive, over €50
166-169_Back_Roads_Ireland.indd 167 11/09/17 12:30 pm