With charming riverside towns and villages, majestic forests and sparkling waterways, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands is slow-travel perfection.
Escape into nature in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands
It’s the satiny sheen of a quiet canal that cuts through rolling green fields. It’s the walking trails that weave through peaty bogland where ancient Celtic rituals once took place. It’s the flash of a kingfisher darting from a riverbank. Defined by its connection to both water and land and heralded for its pure beauty, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands is a destination that basks in nature, with under-the-radar experiences that feel like you’re getting to the real heart of Ireland.


Fowley Falls, County Leitrim
Sublime surroundings
Here, amidst a natural wonderland of rivers, canals and lakes, the world slows down. Calm your soul with a paddle along glass-blue rivers, lakes and canals; 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.
Castles
- Castles
- History
- Nature
- On the water
- Pubs
- Sights


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Ireland's Hidden Heartlands highlights
Get out and about with these great experiences




Crafts of Ireland
Crafts of Ireland is a heritage craft studio set on a family farm and located on the scenic Cavan and Meath border, close to the Loughcrew Hills. Visitors can experience home baking and a selection of traditional craft workshops.
Cavan
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Cavan Adventure Centre
Cavan Adventure Centre is an outdoor activity centre located just outside Cavan Town in the heart of County Cavan. Enjoy discovering the area's natural beauty with kayaks, canoes, boats and bikes for hire. They have everything you need to explore the outdoors.
Cavan
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Lough Key Forest and Activity Park
Head to Lough Key Forest and Activity Park in Boyle, County Roscommon and enjoy its spectacular views, abundant wildlife, historic buildings and evocative islands. Choose from gentle leisurely activities or more energetic pursuits.
Roscommon
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The National Famine Museum | Strokestown Park
Visit Strokestown Park House, Gardens and National Famine Museum, County Roscommon, to discover the intimate and intriguing links between dramatically different Irish lives.
Roscommon
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Viking Tours
Viking Tours in Athlone, County Westmeath runs two main sailing routes down the River Shannon to Lough Ree and Clonmacnoise. The ship departs from the quayside of Athlone Castle.
Westmeath
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Thyme Restaurant
Thyme Restaurant, Athlone, County Westmeath, was opened in 2007 by John and Tara Coffey with a focus on highlighting the fantastic food producers the region has to offer.
Westmeath
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Belvedere House Gardens & Park
Belvedere House Gardens & Park are located in Mullingar, County Westmeath. Nestled within Ireland's Hidden Heartlands, there are many layers of life and history to be discovered in and around the big house.
Westmeath
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Athlone Castle
Athlone Castle in County Westmeath is a 12th century castle and family friendly attraction in the heart of Ireland. Witness Athlone’s history, people, castle and battles, explored and brought to life at Athlone Castle Visitor Centre with modern exhibitions.
Westmeath
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Royal Canal Greenway
The delightful Royal Canal Greenway runs along the old canal towpath beside tranquil waters, wending its way for 130km from cosmopolitan Maynooth in County Kildare, through unassuming Enfield in County Meath, lively Mullingar in County Westmeath, and on to charming Cloondara in County Longford.
Kildare
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Cloughan Farm & Cookery School
Visit Cloughan Farm & Cookery School in Cloughan, County Longford and dive into sustainable farm living. Get hands-on cooking experience using farm ingredients. Learn, laugh, taste great food and fall in love with farming life.
Longford
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Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre
See an ancient Iron Age trackway, or togher, at Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre in County Longford. Learn about the importance of the structure and look at a section of the original trackway.
Longford
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Wild Food Mary
Discover how deeply Irish culture is connected to the land with Wild Food Mary in Birr, County Offaly. Experience food foraging, tasting and cooking on this edible and sensory adventure.
Offaly
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Birr Castle Gardens
Birr Castle Gardens, located in County Offaly, is famed for the beauty of its unusual landscapes. V...
Birr
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Derg Isle Adventure Centre
Experience a diverse range of land and water-based activities at the Derg Isle Adventure Centre at Scarriff in County Clare. It is nestled along the leafy western shores of Lough Derg and within Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands.
Clare
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Killaloe River Cruises
Explore the River Shannon and Lough Derg with Killaloe River Cruises. Sit back and listen to the commentary provided, taking in the magnificent scenery, wildlife and heritage.
Clare
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McKernan Woollen Mills
McKernan Woollen Mills is a small family-run business located between Killaloe and Mount Shannon in County Clare. Specialising in richly-coloured scarves, each design is consistently contemporary, distinctive and soft to the touch.
Clare
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Athenry Arts and Heritage Centre
The award-winning Athenry Arts and Heritage Centre is set in the medieval walled town of Athenry, County Galway, providing a unique visitor experience. The heritage town is located close to the M6 motorway and is on the Dublin-Galway intercity train route.
Galway
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Portumna Castle and Gardens
Portumna Castle, built close to 400 years ago by the de Burgo (Burke) family, stands close to Lough Derg, the River Shannon, and Portumna Forest Park in Portumna, County Galway.
Galway
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Lough Derg Watersports
Spend an exciting day with Lough Derg Watersports at Kilgarvan Quay, County Tipperary, and discover the delights of this ancient lough with their instructors and guides by your side.
Tipperary
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Portumna Forest Park - Woodland Walking Trail
The Woodland trail is slightly longer than the Forest Friendly trail and can be used by family walking and cycling groups. The surface is gravelled and also has sections of tarred forest road and wide timber boardwalk.
Galway
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The Old Barracks
The Old Barracks Heritage Centre exhibition is situated in a former Royal Irish Constabulary Barracks overlooking the river and Cahersiveen Marina.
Kerry
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Ballyhass Adventure Group - Mallow
Ballyhass Adventure Group is one of Munster's biggest outdoor activity providers with two locations in County Cork, at Mallow and Coachford. There are over 20 different activities at each site, so there are many adventures not to be missed.
Cork
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Springfort Hall Country House Hotel
Springfort Hall Country House Hotel is an elegant property located just outside Mallow in North County Cork. The 4 star hotel is a wonderful choice for a relaxing break or elegant special event.
Cork
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Cuilcagh Mountain Park
Cuilcagh is a well established location for hillwalkers with an established network of trails that lead you in and around the Mountain Park. If reaching the summit is not for you, venturing someway into the park using one of the walking routes will give you a taste of the beauty that can be found there. The Cuilcagh Way is a waymarked 20 miles/33km route. The more popular Legnabrocky section, which will bring you to the summit and back and offers stunning views of the area is linear walk 9miles/15km which takes around 5 hours
Florencecourt
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The Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trails
The Ballyhoura Mountain Bike trails are nestled into the beautiful Ballyhoura mountains straddling the counties of Cork and Limerick. The trails were designed by Daffyd Davis and run over 90km of the most wonderful undulating hills and forests that Ireland has to offer.
Limerick
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Lough Gur
Experience Lough Gur Visitor Centre, head to the unique crannog-shaped heritage site and hear the story of pre-Celtic settlers who farmed and lived in the peaceful valley of Lough Gur in County Limerick.
Limerick
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Ballyhoura Way
Follow in the footsteps of Donal Cam O'Sullivan Beare, chief of the 17th century O’Sullivan clan, on this easy route through Cork, Limerick and Tipperary. You’ll take in rich pastureland, forest trails, river banks and more as you gently ascend 1,560 m.
Cork
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Knights and Conquests Exhibition Centre
Visit The Knights and Conquests Exhibition Centre in Granard, County Longford, where history comes alive in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. Pick up the Gauntlet of our Norman ancestors and walk on an interactive journey through time in the shadow of Ireland’s highest Motte and Bailey Castle. Discover if you were a Gael or a Norman and get to grips with Norman Armour and Weaponry.
Longford
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Dean Crowe Theatre
The Dean Crowe Theatre and Arts Centre is located in the ‘left bank’ area of Athlone, minutes away from the town.
Westmeath
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Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery Experience
The Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery Experience in Tullamore, County Offaly, celebrates the history of Tullamore D.E.W whiskey. Explore and discover the interesting heritage behind the whiskey.
Offaly
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Red Oak Restaurant
Red Oak Restaurant, County Galway is a small, cottage style restaurant, with an open fire all year round, seating about 20 persons comfortably.
Galway
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Castle Oaks House Hotel
Experience country elegance at the Castle Oaks House Hotel, set in a dream location in Limerick on 26 acres of beautiful mature gardens that lead down to the banks of the River Shannon. Offering warm attentive service and fabulous home cooked food.
Limerick
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The Maria Edgeworth Visitor Centre
Set in Edgeworthstown, County Longford, The Maria Edgeworth Visitor Centre is rich in literary legends, inventive intellects, and enlightened educationalists. Explore the life and work of Maria Edgeworth and her family and discover where the story of Ireland's national school system began.
Longford
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