Activities
Mountain Biking
The Ballyhoura mountain bike trails are the biggest trail network of its kind in Europe at 96km and provides loop trails for all cycling abilities. Part of the trail tracks were designed by the worlds leading trail designer Dafydd Davis combining the forest trails with newly built single trail tracks. The trail begins in Ardpatrick in east limerick and a full range of visitor services such as map boards, parking, showers, toilets and bike washing facilities are available.
Bike hire will also be available soon in a purpose built unit on site, and can currently be arranged with the lads at www.trailriders.ie
The Trails
Excellent maps and info at www.trailriders.ie or info@ballyhoura.org
Green or Greenwood trail is 6 km long and will take about 30-60mins on your ability and extremely scenic trail.
Brown or Mount Russell trail is 17km long and will take about 1.5 -2.5 hours due to its more technical and physically demanding trail of climbing and descending.
White or Garrane trail is 35km long and will take approx 2.5-4.5 hours with some long, fast demanding climbs and decent, with some of the single tracks too.
Blue or Steamhill trail is 41km long and will take 3.5- 5.5 hours and builds on the Garrane trail with longer trails.
Red or Castlepook trail is 51km long will take approx 5- 6 hours and will take you right through everything these trails have to offer…so be prepared!
Walking Trails
Traversing a landscape rich in geology, archaeology and wildlife, Ballyhoura country offers spectacular walking in the ancient and unspoilt landscapes of north Cork and east Limerick.
Whether your interests lie in short looped walks or long hikes along the Ballyhoura way, whether you prefer guided walks or to organise your own walks independently, walkers of all abilities will be invigorated by the sheer beauty and tranquillity of the area.
info@ballyhoura.org
Info@pathwayporter.co.uk is a unique service that will transfer your luggage to your next nights accommodation along your walking route holiday. Kevin can also organise guides along the way should you so wish and walking suggestions.
Go Eco - Electric Bike Hire - Go eco offer electric bikes from 1, 3 & 7 day hire and is a fun and enjoyable way to see the area with peddal and electic power. (Looks like a normal cycling bike)
Cycling - Ballyhoura's Cycling Hub
Route 1 – 70 kms: 5 hours; Route 1A – 22 kms: 1½ hours
Route 1 is a circuit around the periphery of the Ballyhoura Mountains . The road follows the contours of the mountain foothills to the town of Doneraille, where there are ample opportunities for refreshment. There is one major climb on the eastern leg of the circuit; the mountain pass between Glenosheen and Glenanaar. Ascending to 307 metres you will encounter breathtaking scenery here to reward your efforts.
 Route 2 – 83 kms: 5½ hours; Route 2A – 16 kms: 1 hour Route; 2B – 41 kms: 3 hours; Route 2C – 64 kms : 4+ hours
Route 2 is a trip east to the Glen of Aherlow. There are fine views of Seefin, the highest peak of the Ballyhouras and of Galtymore Mountain. Having negotiated the first hill at Slievereagh you arrive into the beginnings of the Glen of Aherlow where you can decide which of the shortcut options is appropriate. Continuing on into the heartland of the glen, past the villages of Galbally and Lisvarane you will finally encounter the iconic and very steep climb of Aherlow. Although not a particularly long climb, the tortuous hairpins and the magnificent views from the Christ the King statue make this “one to remember” for those who complete the entire circuit.
Route 3 – 62 kms: 4 hours
Route 3 is a leisurely spin to the amenity area at the scenic Lough Gur. The neolithic peoples who first settled there have left behind their ceremonial stone circle for us to ponder. Other castles and archaeological remains are also to be seen nearby. Nowadays you will encounter the locals strolling and enjoying a picnic. The area between Lough Gur and Knockainey is composed of short steep hills, but elsewhere on the route the gradients are gentle. The roads are quiet and relatively traffic free. Watch out for the De Valera cottage, childhood home of Ireland’s third president.
Route 4 – 70 kms: 3+ hours
Route4 is a shorter spin around some pleasant wooded hills near the townlands of Glenroe and Castle Oliver. You will pass the ornate gatehouses of the privately owned castle as you cruise along these secluded roads. Refreshments may be had at Ardpatrick or Kilfinane.
www.ballyhourabikehire.com
Equestrian
There is two equestrian centres within easy driving distances of the house, Athlacca Polo cross Centre and O' Donnells Horse riding Centre in Galbally who offer guided cross country trails.
The region is famed for its hunting clubs.
Limerick Race Course at Patrickwell offers a combination of day and evening meetings as does Limerick junction in Tipperary.
Golf
The house is a golfers paradise, with a number of of highly recommended golf course within close distances.
Limerick County Golf and Country Club at Ballyneety (8 miles)
Charleville Golf Club (10 miles)
Adare Golf Club- Irish open 2007/2008 (14 miles)
Ballykisteen golf course at Limerick junction (13 miles)
Clay Bird Shooting
Lazy Dog Ltd. is a clay bird and indoor rifle range centre located in the Ballintubber, Kilfinanne, Co Limerick and is a perfect way to be introduced to the sport. The centre offers a variety of shooting layouts catering for novice shooter and the very advanced. A qualified shooter is available for tuition, covering everything from safety to gun handling.
lazydogshooting@eircom.net
Water Activities
Limerick is ideally located for many water based activities and all centres are within easy car distances.
For fishing Ballyhass lakes offers a catch and release fishing and tackle hire at there fresh spring fed lakes. Castleconnell has long being prestigious for salmon fishing in Ireland.
Also on the Castleconnell river is Limericks wake and ski centre that offers this water adventure sport in a private stretch of the river Shannon. Tuition is offered in sessions or small groups to suit beginners to advances levels and all equipment is supplied.
www.limerickwakeandski.com
Close by in Killaloe is UL training activity centre. Activities on offer include sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, power boating, dragon boat racing, archery, orienteering and the impressive high ropes course.
info@ulac.ie
Kilfianne Education Centre located close to home offers a large range of water based activities and adventure sport courses such as cannoning at Lough Gur, kayaking and land activities such as rock wall climbing, orienteering, hill walking, river walking and team challenges.
info@kilfinnaneoec.com
Children Activities
Take the children to our local Donkey Sanctuary, Mallow or to Buttercup Farm Croom, Parsons Green Farm Mitchelstown and Fota Wildlife Park Cork.
Swimming pools are close at hand with an excellent one in University of Limerick (15 mins) and in Tipperary (30 mins).
Explore our nearby caves in Mitchelstown or just shop until you drop in our wonderful Department Stores in Limerick.
Local Gardens
It's fair to say that at Terra Nova, Deborah and Martin Begley's Co Limerick garden, near the village of Dromin, plants come first - and people fit in wherever there's a bit of free space. Of course, that's not unusual where the garden belongs to keen collectors. Twelve years ago there was little more than a half-acre field with a workaday vegetable plot; now there are numerous interlinked gardens daisy-chaining through the space. Here there is a river of swaying ornamental grasses, there a waist-high bed of liquorice-allsorts auriculas, over there a parade of sherbetty cannas and begonias, while yonder a pair of monstrous, hairy echiums have slipped out of their allotted space to march conquistadorially towards the gate that gives into the neighbour's field.
Terra Nova Garden is open to visitors from April to September. Please phone first on 063 90744. Admission €5 each. Sorry, no children under 12.
Other garden attractions:
- Boyce's Gardens, Mountrenchard, Foynes, Co. Limerick May - October 10-6pm
069 65302
- Doneraile Court and Wildlife Park 022 222444
Download/View Ballyhoura Cycle Hub Map (pdf file, 3.72Mb)
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The world famous archaeological site and visitor centre at Lough Gur is located only 2 miles from the house and is open from May to September from 10.30 am to 5 pm. The centre tells the story of the first arrivals of the Celts through interpretative panels and audio visual means, and guided tours are run once a week through song and story telling of the crannogs, church sites, megalithic tombs, stone circles and ring forts.