Slieve Bloom Mountains

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About

Among Europe's oldest mountains and still one of its least explored ranges, the Slieve Blooms rise to 527m between Offaly and Laois, laced with 17 waymarked loops and a 70km long-distance way.

Things to Do

Mountain biking

Ride 100km of one-way waymarked trails graded from blue to red, with trailheads at Kinnitty and Baunreagh. The Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Centre in Kinnitty hires bikes and leads guided tours.

Bird-watching

The Slieve Bloom Mountains Nature Reserve, Ireland's largest state-owned reserve, shelters hen harriers and red grouse, plus merlin and wintering snow buntings. A Birdwatch Ireland site guide maps the best spots.

Looped walks and trails

Choose from 17 waymarked looped walks from 1.4km to 11.7km, with signed trailheads at Kinnitty, Cadamstown, Clonaslee, Glenbarrow and Monicknew. The 4.5km Kinnitty Castle Loop is also wheelchair friendly.

The Slieve Bloom Way

The 70.5km Slieve Bloom Way circles the range over about three days through forest, blanket bog and remote glens; the shorter 38km Offaly Way starts at Cadamstown. Organised walks run most weeks and cost €5.

Scenic drives

Three signposted driving loops – Village & Heritage, Glenbarrow/Capard and Glendine – thread wooded valleys and open hills, with viewpoints at Capard, The Cut and Glendine Gap.

Castles and heritage

Kinnitty Castle, now a hotel, stands by the village with its high cross and pyramid nearby, while Leap Castle, Birr Castle Gardens and the monastic site of Clonmacnoise are a short drive away.

Angling

The Laois Angling Centre at Coolrain has four spring-fed lakes for game and coarse fishing, with tackle hire and light refreshments. The Nore and Barrow rivers rise in these hills.

Horse-riding

Birr Equestrian Centre, an A.I.R.E.-approved yard with certified instructors, offers guided rides off the beaten track through the surrounding countryside.

Plan Your Visit

Parking: Parking places are marked across the area on the Slieve Bloom driving map, including at the Slieve Bloom Way trailheads (Glenbarrow, Clonaslee, Cadamstown, Kinnitty Forest, Monicknew, Baunreagh and Ridge of Capard).
Food: Restaurants and cafes are plentiful around the mountains. Kinnitty village has Giltrap's pub/townhouse with cafe, and Kinnitty Castle Hotel; the driving map marks 'Dining' stops.

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