A diminutive 19th-century folly-castle hidden in Coillte woodland beside the Glenary River, reached by a short 500m trail from the car park. Free to visit, with a picnic site at the trailhead.
The ruins of Carey's Castle are the main feature of the site, about 500m from the car park down a mixed woodland trail that leads to the river. It was built during the 1800s by the Carey family, local schoolmasters, and later abandoned; the Glenary River flows right past the old walls.
Several styles survive in the ruins: Gothic windows, a Celtic round tower, a Norman keep, and both Romanesque and Gothic arches, plus two flanking towers and a portcullis-style entrance. A walled-garden remnant lies to the southern side and a stone-lined ice-house ('fridge') sits just off the trail beyond the castle.
There are about 2 km of forest walks. A pleasant riverside path runs along the bank for around 600m, and many visitors do a roughly 1 km loop back to the parking area. The setting is quiet, with birch, oak, beech and ash around you.
There is a small lawn with a picnic site close to the car park, with picnic tables near it. This is the only on-site food option, so bring your own supplies — Clonmel is about 4 km away.
The East Munster Way, a 75 km multi-day long-distance walk from Carrick-on-Suir to Clogheen, passes through this forest. Look out for the yellow man waymarkers.
The woods hold an abundance of birds and animals, including the red squirrel and fallow deer, and the sparrowhawk can sometimes be sighted. Dogs are welcome on site.
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