The Slieve Bloom Way

Thingstodo information

The Slieve Bloom Way is a 77kms. (48mls) long, circular walking trail which stretches across counties Offaly and Laois through the wild and mysterious Slieve Bloom Mountains Environment Park - an area of undiscovered environmental beauty, boasting a fabulous array of flora and fauna, remarkable deep glens, rock outcrops and waterfalls, Truly 'a walk on the wildside' along forest paths to the heart of Ireland's midlands. This long distance circular walk, the 77km long Slieve Bloom Way, can be easily completed in five days. It explores several of the glens and also reaches much of the higher ground. Accommodation is available in Clonaslee, Ballyfin, Ballaghmore, Coolrain, Mountrath, Borris in Ossory, Mountmellick and Kinnitty. The Way starts in Glenbarrow at its eastern end and rises to nearly 450m to traverse the heathery slopes of a high ridge before descending by forest paths to scenic Monicknew Bridge. The second and third stages run along the lengths of several glens, crossing the high ground between them. In addition the third stage passes through a varied countryside littered with standing stones and other prehistoric remains. The fourth and fifth stages are along the northern side of the range; there is much forestry track to be walked, in the course of exploring some of the secluded valleys on this side of the range. At the end of the fifth stage there is a lovely stretch along the waterfalls and swirling cascades of a deep and narrow valley.