Bonaveen Trail 10.5km
Bonaveen Trail Start Point/Finish Point: Car Park Length: 10.5km Time: 2hrs Walk / 1hr Cycle Degree of Difficulty: Moderate Meters Climb: 10 Trail Way Marking: Red This trail is the longest loop in the park covering the western side of the Park, including the wonderful Bonaveen Point section by the lake. This loop brings the visitor into a multitude of habitats including mature Scots Pine forest and open lakeshore environments. It ventures into areas of the park previously unexplored by visitors. The trail, narrow and twisty in places, heads northwards from the car park towards the Scots Pine. It then winds through mature Beech forest and younger mixed broadleaves bringing you around the top of Portumna Golf Club. While crossing the Club car park watch out for traffic entering and leaving. The next section brings you above a large turlough on the western end of the Park. This is a feature typical of low-lying limestone areas where the water table fluctuates through the year. In winter this is a haven for water fowl such as duck, water hen and cranes. It leads onto a forest road to the south of the golf club and brings you near the disused Bonaveen Harbour and onto the long section around the lakeshore. This is some of the most attractive landscape in the park with great views out over the expanse of Lough Derg. This trail is exposed to bad weather at times so be prepared with suitable clothing and footwear. Woodland Trail 2km
Woodland Trail Trail Start/Finish Point: Car Park Length: 2km Time: 30mins walk/10mins cycle Degree of Difficulty: Easy Meters Climb: Level Trail Way Marking: Blue The Woodland Trail 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. There is minimal gradient on the trail making it suitable for buggies and children on small bikes. The trail starts from the car park and winds through large Spruce trees before reaching an open wild brass area. This is a popular area for fallow deer grazing and you may be lucky enough to see a family group here. There is a two way section of trail and you may meet cyclists or walkers coming back from the longer routes in the park. The trail continues on a section of narrow trail through Spruce and large Japanese larch and joins into the Forest Friendly Trail just before the viewing platform. Here you follow the Forest Friendly Trail homewards. |
Forest Friendly Trail 1.4km
Forest Friendly Trail Trail Start Point/Finish Point: Car Park Length: 1.4km Time: 20mins Degree of Difficulty: Multi Access Meters Climb: Level Trail Way Marking: White The trail starts from the car park and winds gently through a mixed plantation of Oak, Alder and Scots Pine to reach a viewing platform close to the shore of Lough Derg. From here, there are views south towards Terryglass on the Tipperary shore and across the main expanse of the lake. The trail then follows a boardwalk to the duck pond. Following the edge of the pond the trail passes some Monterey pines (Pinus radiata) at the pond and Monterey Cypress (Macrocarpa) trees near the car park. These huge trees are some of the oldest on the estate. The Forest Friendly Trail gradually loops around to bring you back to the car park to where you began. Rinmaher Trail 10km
Start Point/Finish Point: Car Park Length: 10km Time: 2hrs Walk / 1hr cycle Degree of Difficulty: Moderate Meters Climb: 10 Trail Way Marking: Green This trail will bring you deep into the park and allow you to explore areas that offer a real sense of exploration and solitude. It accesses the lakeshore area and loops into the farthest corners of the park. It offers longer options for walkers and cyclists, but has low gradients and is clearly marked to keep you on the right track. The trail begins along a two-way section of trail from the car park and overlaps with the Woodland Trail. You will experience the full diversity of wildlife in the Park on this trail and have good views along the lakeshore near Rinmaher point. This loop is mainly on narrow trails and is suitable for those looking for a longer walk or more challenging cycle. On this trail as with the others in the Park, cyclists give way to walkers when they meet. The compliment is usually returned by walkers allowing cyclists to pass by. Along by Rinmaher Point, you will pass through native birch stands which have withstood exposure along the lakeshore over the years. This area gives a very pleasant dappled effect to the views south towards Terryglass and east towards Portumna Bridge. You will approach some large fences on this route and these have been erected to protect the newly planted trees from overgrazing by the deer that roam freely in the Park. In these areas Coillte are converting the older conifer plantations to mixed broadleaf stands under the Native Woodlands Scheme - increasing biodiversity and nature conservation within the Park. |