A 179-acre Coillte forest on the shores of Lough Gowna with three waymarked walks, a children's playground and picnic benches — free to visit and open all year.
The shortest loop, about 30 minutes (1.2 km). It leaves the inner car park, crosses a stone bridge and follows the river past a second bridge to a beech grove with lake views, then returns over low esker hills left by the ice age.
At weekends, a colourful converted horsebox by the entrance serves Irish-roasted Cloud Picker coffee and locally handmade baked treats before or after your walk.
A 45-minute, 2.3 km loop past the site of Derrycassin House (built 1760, demolished 1939) to the ruins of its walled garden — high brick walls, ornate gates and rhododendron. The house stones were later reused for the village church.
The longest route, about an hour and 3.3 km, hugs the Lough Gowna shoreline with viewing points and benches, passing an old boat house and summer house. Easy grade; dogs welcome on a lead.
A children's playground, picnic benches and toilets sit by the Mullinalaghta GAA pitch near the forest entrance — an easy base for a family day out.
Hunt out the remains of a rath (ringfort) dated 500–1500 AD amid 20 tree species, and look for bluebells and wildflowers in spring. The river bank holds laurel, holly and periwinkle.
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