Quiet canals, walking trails that weave through peaty bogland, the flash of a kingfisher darting from a riverbank. This is Ireland's Hidden Heartlands, a destination defined by its connection to both water and land and celebrated for its pure beauty. A trip here is an escape into nature, with under-the-radar experiences that feel like you’re getting to the real heart of Ireland.
Amid a natural wonderland of rivers, canals and lakes in the very centre of the island, the world slows down and so can you. Calm your soul with a paddle along glass-blue waters; walk centuries-old canal paths once used for horses drawing barges; cosy up over candlelit dinners in waterside thatched pubs; and unearth thousands of years of history in heritage parks, historic abbeys and monasteries. In Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, it pays to take it slow.