A 500-acre community-led raised bog restoration project on the edge of Abbeyleix, with two looped walking trails that follow an old railway line and a volunteer-built 600m boardwalk deep into recovering peatland.
A 3.6 km easy loop (green arrows) along gravel paths, woodland tracks and the old railway line, with a section of boardwalk crossing the bog. Flat with minimal grade — allow about 1–1.5 hours. Marked with interpretative signs about flora and fauna.
A 7.5 km loop (purple arrows) that extends the shorter route with extra boardwalk sections, the new bog bridge track, and broader views across the recovering peatland. Allow 2–3 hours. Includes riverbank, woodland and old railway line sections.
Look for skylark, snipe, woodcock, grey heron, little egret and the rare Devon Carpet moth. The bog supports up to 25 moss species, plus sundew, bog rosemary, heather and lichens. Active raised bog — a priority EU habitat — has increased over 1,100% since 2009.
Wooden seats and picnic benches are dotted along both loops, with bug motels and information boards about birds, insects and plants. A great spot for a quiet break surrounded by the colours and sounds of the bog.
Scan QR codes along the walk to access a free audio-visual guide featuring drone footage of the restoration work and short films on the bog's history, habitats and biodiversity, created by local filmmaker Brendan Phelan.
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