A 243-hectare woodland escape on a former Anglo-Norman estate, where castle ruins, a serene lily-covered lake, and Ireland's only woodland 9/11 memorial sit alongside easy walking trails just 30 minutes from Dublin.
Three waymarked loops suit all abilities. The fully accessible Lake Walk (0.8 km, ~30 mins) circles the duck-filled lake. The Nature Trail (1.6 km, ~1 hr) winds past estate-era features. The Aylmer Walk (5.7 km, ~1.5 hrs) is a Slí na Sláinte route taking in the whole park through mixed woodland.
A scaled limestone replica of the Twin Towers stands along the Aylmer Walk, honouring Sean Tallon, a New York firefighter killed in the 2001 attacks whose family emigrated from Donadea. It's the only woodland 9/11 memorial in Ireland.
Explore the ivy-clad remains of Donadea Castle, built by the Aylmer family between 1581 and 1624. Also find St. Peter's Church (1626), the restored walled garden with picnic tables, an ice house, boat house, and the 19th-century Lime Tree Avenue.
The ornamental lake at the heart of the park is home to mallards, waterhens, coots, and dabchicks. In summer the surface is covered with white water lilies. A short boardwalk gives the best views and is wheelchair- and buggy-friendly.
Zipit Donadea is a treetop adventure course with rope bridges, platforms and zip lines suspended through the forest. It's a separately-run attraction within the park, ideal for families and groups looking for an active challenge beyond the walking trails.
Three permanent courses are marked through the forest: Short (1.8 km), Medium (3.4 km), and Long (4.6 km). Download the maps and answer sheets from the Coillte website before you go.
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