Lough Boora Parklands
Lough Boora Parklands encompasses some 250 acres of cutaway bog which has been carefully restored to a wonderful wildlife sanctuary.
The magnificent wetlands and wildlife wilderness of Lough Boora now host some of the most innovative land and environmental sculptures in Ireland. The artists, inspired by the rich natural and industrial legacy of the bog lands, have created a series of large-scale sculptures that are now part of the Parklands permanent collection.
Click here for more information.
Mid Ireland Adventure
Mid Ireland Adventure lies on the banks of the River Shannon in the beautiful country town of Banagher 30 minutes from our hotel in Tullamore.
Get off the beaten track and enjoy a guided kayak safari or stand up paddle board safari and discover the inland waterways of Ireland. There are also a range of guided hiking and biking tours available with the company too to explore the monastic sites along the river. Enjoy 10% off when you stay at the Bridge House Hotel for bookings of four or more.
Log onto https://midirelandadventure.ie/ for more information on activities in Offaly.
Mountain Biking
Along with the Massif Central in France, The Slieve Bloom mountains are the oldest in Europe. Reconnect with nature and explore the beautiful, picturesque eco trails ranging in distance from 4km to 70km. Organised walking and hiking tours are available and for those who enjoy cycling, the Slieve Bloom now boosts 80KM of trails making it one of the biggest in Ireland and the UK!
Enjoy 10% off bike rental from The Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Centre when you book your accommodation at The Bridge House Hotel.
For more info on the Slieve Bloom mountains, check out https://slievebloom.ie/
Equestrian - Annaharvey Farm
Interested in learning to ride or maybe you’re a pro already?!
Whether it’s a gentle stroll around the fields, show jumping, cross country or dressage- the Annaharvey equestrian centre has something to suit all disciplines.
Boasting over 330acres of farmland, indoor and outdoor arenas, together with their carefully constructed cross-country fences and large farmland trekking area are all designed to make your horseback riding holiday in Ireland a truly memorable occasion. Click here for more information on Annaharvey Farm.
Other equestrian centres in the area include: Athlone Equestrian Centre & Birr Equestrian Centre
Cruise the Shannon
Explore the river Shannon & hop abord your own cruiser. Start your riverside adventure in Banagher and cruise on one of the finest natural inland waterways in Europe as the unspoilt River Shannon meanders through beautiful countryside, past historic towns offering the best in Irish hospitality.
Decide whether to head north or south. If you choose a northerly direction, you’ll take in; Shannonbridge (great for angling by day, music, and banter by night) and Clonmacnoise monastic site one of the most popular attractions in Ireland, let alone on the Shannon and explore the ruined churches, the cathedral and the round towers, then on to Athlone the largest town on the river. Or opt instead to steer southwards and you’ll encounter Portumna (check out the Forest Park and Portumna Castle), Terryglass (enjoy some great pub grub), eventually arriving at Killaloe, a picturesque town once home to Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland.
Either direction, you’ll take in the beautiful towns and villages along the Shannon, maybe pausing along the way for a spot of fishing or birdwatching from a unique water-side perspective. From youngsters to teens, they’re sure to enjoy the novelty of boat-living and seeing the world from a completely different water-side perspective! And all from the comfort of your own fully kitted-out cruising boat.
https://silverlinecruisers.com/
https://www.cruise-ireland.com/
Walking
Step into adventurous trials, tranquil canals, mossy peat lands and flowing waterways. The midlands is full of hidden magical places for walking. Renowned for being the birthplace and early home of legendary Finn MaCool along with being the spawning ground of the Salmon of Knowledge which brought him the wisdom of the world, the Slieve Blooms rolling hills inspire. There are plenty of trials to keep both the gentle strollers and high paced walkers happy.
Try out the the Offaly Way which takes walkers 29km from the slopes of Slieve Bloom, along the dramatic valley of the Silver River through nature reserves of Boora Bog to meet the Grand Canal Way at Shannon Harbour or step it up a gear along Grand Canal Way which provides a popular corridor which runs for nearly 70km through County Offaly, visiting small Canal ports before meeting the River Shannon, at the village of Shannon Harbour. A series of looped walks were developed at various trailheads in the region following a mix of forest tracks, riverbanks, old roadways, and grassy trails.
There are a few rough and rugged sections - but they rarely rise to high altitude and do not demand great stamina. This loop is one of three which start and finish at the Kinnitty Forest trailhead - key features include the grounds of Kinnitty Castle, the ruins of Glinsk Castle, and spectacular broadleaf woodlands. The Grand Canal Way is a 114Km, long-distance walking trail. It is divided here into 9 sections each representing a half days walking.
Kilbeggan Racecourse
Looking for a thrill with the horses, look no further than the Kilbeggan Racetrack which is only 10 minutes away from the hotel. They host regular race meetings throughout the year. For more information log onto https://kilbegganraces.com/
Fishing
Tales of the Shannon River emerge from the mists of Gaelic myth and legend. Irelands largest river enthrals enthusiasts of angling, sailing, rowing, fishing and caters just as well to those who simply want to relax lazily on its banks. Wild fish thrive in our sparkling waters. Spring salmon and trout attract anglers to our rivers, while pike, bream and perch can be fished in our lakes. The angler has many waterways to choose from with fish in abundance in the Shannon and Grand Canal, while Offaly is criss-crossed with smaller rivers including the River Brosna, the Silver River, Gageborough, yellow river and the Camcor.
Karting
Take a spin to Pallas Karting. Here you can be in the driving seat, jostling for pole position in one of the fastest and most exhilarating sports in Ireland today on Europe’s largest Karting Centre. At Pallas Karting you can experience the thrill of real motor racing firsthand at our kart circuits. Whatever the weather, Pallas Karting has the green light for an action-packed non-stop race programme for everyone. For more information click here.
Sky Diving
Experience one of the most exhilarating sports in the heart of Offaly. The Irish parachute club and skydiving centre offers something for all types of thrill seekers from tandem jumps at 13,000ft, accelerated free fall courses to charity jumps. Individuals and groups can be catered for, so why not take a parachute and jump!!!! For more information click here
Shooting
Midlands rifle and pistole club and National Rifle Association of Ireland is based in Leabeg, Blueball-just a short drive from the hotel.
Facilities include the following
- Rifle ranges from 50 to 600 yards
- 51 sheltered shooting bays
- Gallery rifle and pistol range
- Bench rest and prone position
For further information and group bookings you can contact the hotel directly
Clara Bog
Clara Bog is one of the best remaining examples of a relatively intact raised bog in Western Europe. It has been said that you can experience ten thousand years of history in the ten square kilometres that accommodate Clara Bog and its surroundings. This refers to the influence that the last Ice Age had on the Irish landscape. To the north of the bog, an esker runs in an east-west direction. Eskers, steep ridges of layered sand and gravel, were laid down by retreating glaciars over 10,000 years ago. This esker impeded the drainage of glacial melt water from a low-lying area south of Clara which became a large, shallow lake.
For full details Click here.
Paint Balling
For those of you that fancy some adventure through a 32 acre forest terrain this is the perfect activity for you and your group! There is also a laser tag option! Packages can be tailor made for your group, for more information and special offers please click here
Explore Ireland's hidden gems here at the heart of Irelands hidden heartlands.
Baysports
Right on the shores of Lough Ree is Baysport, experience the World's Largest Inflatable waterslide at Ireland's Biggest Inflatable Waterpark. Here you can sail, paddle, canoe, slide, splash and jump on a must do experience that all ages will love. Just over 30 minutes from the Bridge House Hotel.
For more details Click here
