Ballyfin Demesne | Activities in County Laois Ireland

Slieve Bloom Mountains

The gentle rolling hills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains very near Ballyfin are among the most unspoilt and least explored areas in Ireland.

..the area is "rarely explored" by those on their first visit to Ireland and therefore is "wonderfully free of tour buses and souvenir stalls."

Lonely Planet

Slieve Bloom Mountains

The area is made up of forests, blanket bog of a type unique to Ireland, interspersed with hidden valleys of great character, and interest to the nature lover. The natural colours of the landscape are remarkable in any season. Much of the higher reaches of the mountains have been designated as an Environmentally Protected Area for special preservation as an amenity for generations to come.

Our Butlers will be happy to recommend suitable walks, print maps and provide information on local areas for you during your stay.

It is said that you can see half the counties in Ireland from the top of the Slieve Blooms. Alternatively wander around the foothills of the mountains, visiting the quaint villages, taking your time to stop along the way. These are places where people will take the time to talk to you, where tourists are not so common and where the locals will have a genuine interest in you.

The Slieve Bloom Mountains are a hill walkers paradise. The mountains are not so high as to be dangerous, yet are not so low that they can still provide a challenge to every grade of walker. There is a wide choice of looped walks and long distance way-marked walks to help you to explore and enjoy this beautiful area.

The quiet roads and forestry trails and the range of gentle and challenging slopes of the Slieve Blooms also make the mountains a cyclists paradise.