The Blueway Experience N Lough Derg North
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N Lough Derg Blueway NORTH Blueway Derg Lough The Blueway Experience N Lough Derg North Map 1 of 4 Welcome to Ireland’s Blueways Do it your way and mix and match these Lough Derg Blueway • Lough Derg Blueway (North) itineraries. Portumna, Terryglass and Woodford. Whether you’re into paddling, walking, cycling, or simply hooked on • Lough Derg Blueway (West) the outdoors, make yours a trip to remember on Ireland’s Blueways. Mountshannon, Scarriff and Ogonnelloe The multi-activity trails on the Lough Derg Blueways provide a scenic • Lough Derg Blueway (South) perspective into the heart of the Irish landscape. From leisurely strolls Ballycuggeran, Killaloe/Ballina and gentle paddles to adrenaline-filled days on land and water - Blueways offer tailor-made trips like no other. • Lough Derg Blueway (East) Timelessness meets ‘time of your life’ when you arrive on a Blueway. Garrykennedy, Nenagh and Dromineer So create your own adventure or take it at your own pace and do the Blueways your way! Also check out the themed guides for Food, Culture, Arts & Crafts and Outdoor Activities along the Lough Derg Blueway. Enjoy this Blueway to the max by using the following range of four local itineraries to explore where and how to get outdoors at Lough Derg: www.bluewaysireland.org BLUEWAY ITINERARIES The Lough Derg Blueway is an opportunity to begin or bring you on a mountain bike tour of the surrounding areas or hone continue your explorations on-water and land, guided and your mountain-bike skills at Coillte’s Portumna Forest Park. If you are an unguided. No experience needed, just bring your sense of experienced mountain-biker call into Bike Park Ireland where there are adventure. serious black downhill bike routes as well as a pump track, jumps-park and more accessible red and green cycle routes. They will also hire bikes there Toe in the water and best of all a bike uplift service is included so that you make the most of If you want an engaging day with the Lough Derg Blueway in the Portumna your day. area then start with a gentle stroll down to the water recreation park or For walkers who want some distance and beauty, the nearby Hymany way the marina, dip a toe in or go for a swim, skim a stone or have a picnic. A is a walking route which offers half-day, full day or multiple days of walking lifeguard is in place during the summer months. Or if you contact Lough alongside or close to the river Shannon. Derg Watersports or Mid Ireland Adventure in advance they can bring you for a paddle on a kayak or a Stand-Up Paddle Board on one of the Lough Blueway Trails Derg Blueway trails where you can experience the glory of the lake and its Check out the Lough Derg Blueway Kayaking, Walking and Cycling trails watery community. They supply all of the equipment including buoyancy overleaf if you want to put together your own outdoor itinerary. Or the aids. Lough Derg Blueway Paddling Trail Map at www.bluewaysireland.org If that sounds a bit too active, then step on-board with Joe and Avril of www.bluewaysireland.org. Shannon Cruising for a beautiful motor cruising experience on Lough Derg accompanied by a three-course meal, or take their passenger boat to or from Terryglass. LOCAL SECRETS Nearby Portumna Castle and Gardens is a must see, you can dodge indoors There are white tail eagles in the to their guided tour or wander around their gardens. If you want a slightly area and a bird hide to watch longer walk there are also local historic sites such as Portumna Castle and these from at Portumna forest Portumna Abbey. A child and pram friendly route can be followed using park. the Portumna Heritage Trail App on your smartphone. Keep an eye out for the Heritage Trail signs around the town. The Heritage Trail includes the Want to picnic or park your Irish Workhouse Centre a unique interpretive experience where you can camper van for the night, call to discover what life in a workhouse was really like. the marina in Portumna, toilets, showers and what a view. Why not explore an enchanting drive along the shoreline of Lough Derg www.discoverloughderg.ie/lough-derg-drive/ Also checkout www.visitportumna.com for further information on things to do in the area. Floating along If you want a more full-on Blueway day and you have some experience of canoeing, kayaking or SUP, you may want to take on one of the Blueway Paddling Trails. These trails are suitable for different levels of ability, have a look at the paddling section of this map and choose one which matches your ability. Alternatively, Kenny’s of Palmerston Stores can provide you ORIENTEERING AND GEOCACHING with an angling experience. Kenny’s rent out the fishing equipment you need and they will point you in the direction of the best place to catch the Want to run with purpose, go to Portumna Forest Park and look for one of finest of fish on the lake. the Coillte orienteering information panels at the car park and then find the permanent orienteering course markers, on your own or with your friends. Burgos bike hire at Podumna offer a land alternative, cycle a kilometre or There are three fixed orienteering courses to suit primary/secondary so to Portumna Forest Park which is one of Coillte’s recreation forests and schools and adults, one Wheelo wheelchair orienteering course. which includes both walking and cycle trails. You do not need to be an experienced mountain-biker to use the three cycle trails. They twist and Geocaching is a type of treasure trail. There are hidden caches in all sorts of turn and require a bit of thinking and effort in places to navigate them places, all you have to do is go to https://www.geocachingireland.com/ and but they bring you to beautiful views and into the heart of the forest. If a their interactive map. You are provided with clues as to where the cache is bike is not your thing then you can walk along these routes and immerse hidden and when you find it you write your name and in some caches take yourself in the forest at a more leisurely pace. a small gift and leave a gift. No charge you just need a smart phone and an adventurous mind. Or why not try a horse? Flowerhill or Milchem Equestrian Centres can bring you on a short or day-long cross-country experience in the area, suitable There are three caches in and near Portumna town, go find them!’ for an absolute beginner or an experienced rider. Full immersion For experienced kayakers, canoeists and SUP’ers, Lough Derg offers some160km of possibilities -with 14 access points around the lake, the Blueway is also a paradise for experienced paddlers. If you do not have your own equipment and require some guiding, local providers can bring you to the hidden secrets, just turn up with your sense of adventure and go. Contact Lough Derg Watersports or Mid Ireland Adventure in advance and arrange for a tour along one of these trails. Alternatively, contact Jonathan of Mid Ireland Adventures who can 1 2 3 Introducing the Lough Derg Blueway – Switch off, engage with nature Hymany Way through amazing paddling trails, fantastic scenic walking and cycling B 4 5 routes, then replenish your soul with good food and magical experiences. 6 7 8 9 Portumna 10 11 12 13 A 14 Lorrha N65 16 15 Slieve Aughty R352 Mountains A Portumna Forest Park Walking Trails rg De C Carrigahorig ugh Terryglass 17 18 19 Lo Cloonmoylan 20 21 22 R493 Woodford Drominagh Point 23 R351 N65 Ballinderry R493 24 Rossmore Quay Kilgarvan R352 C Borrisokane Find information for Dromineer, Garrykennedy and Nenagh in the Lough Derg Blueway East map Goat I. B 25 Portumna N65 Slieve Aughty R352 Mountains Carrigahorig Cloonmoylan Terryglass R493 Woodford R351 Bushypark N65 Ballinderry Connagh R493 Rossmore R352 Quay Kilgarvan Borrisokane Connagh Coolbaun N52 Find information Mountshannon, Scarriff R493 Williamstown and Tuamgraney in the Lough Derg rg e Dromaan D Blueway West map. Coolbaun Mountshannon h Dromineer R461 g ou R352 L Scarri Garrykennedy N52 N52 Tuamgraney Castlelough R495 Newtown R463 Portroe R494 Ballycommon Ogonnelloe Mountshannon N52 Nenagh Ballycuggeran Killaloe/Ballina Garrykennedy R493 (Two Mile Gate) Dromineer R463 R445 Scarri Illaunmore I. Killaloe/Ballina Williamstown KEY An extensive network of Blueways trails are being developed throughout the region, refer to www.bluewaysireland.org for up-to-date details and places to eat, stay and go. Information Restaurant Toilets Dromaan Mountshannon LakeDromineer Boat Hire Accommodation Playground The project partners are not advocating or affilliated to any of the commercial operators in this trail guide. The Cycle Trail Boat Trips Seasonal Lifeguard Beach publisher is not responsible for any errors or omissions which R461 may inadvertently occur. Nor for any information given 11 or any claims made in editorial text or advertisements. All Paddling Access Point Tennis information this guide is subject to change. All imagery is 3 copyrighted. Walking Trail Golf R352 Holy I. A Scarri 4 N52 Garrykennedy Tuamgraney Castlelough R495 1 Portroe D Newtown R463 Ogonnelloe Ballycommon R494 6 3 M7 N52 1 Nenagh 7 8 M7 A 9 Ballycuggeran B (Two Mile Gate) 11 R463 D 10 R445 C Killaloe/Ballina PADDLING TRAILS travel on the water can experience the world-class views and environment New to the Blue? with a total of 160 kilometres of trails on Lough Derg.