Promising an action-packed day for all the family, choose your Family Adventure Day below and give the kids a taste on what’s on offer in Bruff and our locality Ballyhoura Country.

Bruff has free activities such as feed the ducks in the park by the morning star river or a gentle stroll from our home is Bruff Playground, Across the road from the playground is Bruff Pitch n Putt club. Bruff pitch and putt offers a fun filled afternoon for the whole family or a group of friends. It is an 18 hole course which is well maintained to give you the best Pitch and Putt experience possible. They are open all year round and invite all visitors to the area to try out , you won't be disappointed!! The cost is €5.00 per person and clubs can be borrowed from the Old Bank reception.

Linking Bruff through the Slí na Sláinte walking & Cycling route to the North of Bruff is Lough Gur  a horseshoe lake and an area full of  rich archaeological and historical past and home to Ireland largest Stone circle- Grange Stone circle with burial mounds and Iron Age forts   Where there is nature there is of course an abundance of fairies. Lough Gur in particular is home to a great number and it is reported that the King of the fairies lives in the hill of Knockadoon. He is known as Fer Fí and to be sure that we stay on his good side you will find a purpose built fairy throne outside the front entrance to the Lough Gur Heritage Centre and a  miniature castle is also in place their for Aine who is Queen of the fairies.  A new lake view playground is located by the hillside offers you and your family much needed facilities while you enjoy your stay in the great outdoors.  On the hill behind the Heritage center you will climb 100 steps which takes you to the fairy village at the top. 

The new nature trail in Lough Gur will see children Eco hunting around the grounds to spot tree species, insects and wildlife with a fun activity sheet developed by artist Gemma O’ Mahony and tree expert Brian Collopy. The sheets will be available from the Lough Gur Heritage Centre as part of the exhibition tour that brings the tour of Lough Gur from the inside out. The newly developed Nature Trail is suitable for all levels from 4 to 12 years and is designed to develop a greater appreciation for the magnificent landscape that often goes unnoticed.

Closed for 2022 A short drive away is the magical Gardens at Terra Nova Garden  a dynamic space full of the unexpected. Home to an exotic Thai House with tropical plantings, a magical woodland where pixies, fairies and other elementals live in shady places, sensational seasonal plantings throughout the garden, a Hobbit Tea House based on Bilbo’s Bag End and Ireland’s Largest Fairy Gift Shop.

There are so many walks locally to be enjoyed with children- these two are my favourite.  The Cannon Sheehan Looped Walk  is a beautiful family walk mostly along a river in unspoilt landscape, this path is not suitable for buggies but you will have tierd kids.  The second walk is The river Keale walk again not suitable for buggies, there is a new sculpture and the walk brings you to a picnic area and is perfect for Fairy hunters. ( I suggest you return back the same pathway again)

Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trails are the largest trail network of its kind in Ireland. 98km of trails including forest road climbs, tight twisty singletrack with loads of ups and downs, board walk, tight turns and technical rocky sections are guaranteed to leave you smiling. The trails range from the moderate 6km Greenwood loop which is perfect for children aged 7+ to the demanding Castlepook loop, over 50km in length! The loops between are Mountrussell 17km loop, Garrane 35km loop and Streamhill 41km loop.
Facilities at the trailhead include map boards, car parking, toilets, showers and bike wash facilities. On arrival, there is a secure car park with monitored CCTV cameras. There are also snacks and tea and coffee available for a reasonable price. For bike hire & sales contact Ballyhoura Trailriders. There is a pay barrier at this Forest Park. Parking Fee: €5.00 Per Car (Coilte card only )  I often bring our own bikes to the park and our kids love the Training skill section and the Green loop.  (Make sure to bring a bag for your drinks)

Lots local attractions we have visited include Ballylanders wildlife bog which is situated at Griston Bog on the west side of the village. It is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, bees and insects and different types of water life, some of which are now in danger of extinction in many parts of the world. It is rich in insect life which in turn supports many birds and other animals such as frogs, newts and lizards.  This site is part of The Ballyhoura Outdoor Class room where activities can be Downloaded.

Experience the thrills of the inflatable aquapark in Ballyhass Lakes one of Ireland’s premier outdoor experience providers. Offering over 15 different adventure activities from kayaking, Rock climbing, Zip-linning, High ropes courses, low ropes courses, Raft building designed for groups of 10 or more.  Ballyhass Wakepark Irelands largest wakeboarding cable park. Offering 2 straight line wakeboarding systems with over 7 different obstacles to hit come down for 1 on 1 coaching with every booking and master Europe’s fastest-growing watersport. The newest addition to this already impressive venue is Munsters most Unique Aquapark. Think floating inflatable wipeout course with climbing walls, balance logs, trampolines, 3m slides and lots more.