The Slieve Bloom
I climbed the snowy road to the spot known as The Cut and I knew then I had discovered one of those lesser-known areas of beauty with which Ireland abounds. That scene has stayed with me ever since...
I climbed the snowy road to the spot known as The Cut and I knew then I had discovered one of those lesser-known areas of beauty with which Ireland abounds. That scene has stayed with me ever since...
Bob Montgomery, The Irish Times, April 2005
Bob Montgomery, The Irish Times, April 2005
The Massif Central of Ireland!
The Slieve Bloom, along with the Massif Central in France, are the oldest mountains in Europe. They were once also the highest at 3,700m but millions of years of weathering has reduced them to 527m. Nonetheless, from the top on a clear day, one can see the high points of the four ancient provinces of Ireland.
The area is picturesque, unspoiled and peaceful. Blanket bog covered in pretty heather, dark green forests with mossy paths, ruins of long forgotten villages, delightful picnic sites, & crystal-clear mountain streams and waterfalls make this a wonderful touring destination.
Flora & Fauna…
The Slieve Bloom Mountains are, at over 2,300 hectares, Ireland’s largest state-owned Nature Reserve & boast a diverse flora & fauna that includes many threatened species. The eco-system is a classic & intact example of blanket bog, a globally rare habitat that is mostly found in Ireland, as well as parts of the United Kingdom.
Two bird species found in the Slieve Bloom, that deserve particular attention, are the hen harrier & the red grouse. Both species nest on the ground on the blanket bog & both are under threat. The hen harrier is now, in fact, one of Ireland’s rarest birds of prey. For information on the best birding spots in the Slieve Bloom Mountains please click HERE…
Adventure Beckons...
Reconnect with nature in the Slieve Bloom Mountains where you will find a great choice of walking trails to suit all levels of fitness. Serious hill walkers will love The Slieve Bloom Way, an 70-kilometre (43-mile) circular route which can be completed in four days & can be started & finished at Glen Monicknew, a 12 minute drive from Roundwood.
For those that like fast action there are excellent purpose-built mountain bike trails. Enjoy challenging climbs up to peaks with panoramic views of the Irish midlands, before heading down into deep valleys & beautiful forests in twisty, single-lane, fast descents. Other popular mountain activities include horseback riding, road cycling & fishing. For more information visit our ACTIVITIES page.
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The Slieve Bloom Mountains have everything: great climbs, great descents, valleys, pretty villages, waterfalls, forests and blanket bogs. Accessible from all parts of Ireland, they are a place of peace, solitude and bird song.
The Slieve Bloom Mountains have everything: great climbs, great descents, valleys, pretty villages, waterfalls, forests and blanket bogs. Accessible from all parts of Ireland, they are a place of peace, solitude and bird song.
Turlough O’Brien, The Irish Times, June 2017
Turlough O’Brien, The Irish Times, June 2017