Video: Bike your way through wild Ballyhoura

The Irish Times is on the hunt for The Best Place to Go Wild in Ireland, asking members of the public to nominate their favourite spots to experience nature. To inspire you, we’re also making videos of some of them.

Several people have written to us about the area of Ballyhoura on the Cork, Tipperary, Limerick border. “For fantastic walking trails this area is second to none,” writes Stephen Ryan.

“Apart from the walking trails there are mountain bike trails and also orienteering. The views of the surrounding hills are gorgeous and despite the fact that it is only 30 minutes from Limerick city it feels very much removed from it. It truly is a hidden gem.”

Eoghan Mc Carthy is similarly enthustiastic about nearby Ballyhass lakes: “Why go where everyone knows? Why follow the crowds? Ballyhass Lakes in the Ballyhoura region of Ireland is an old limestone quarry with holiday homes, fishing, an activity centre and now Ireland’s largest wakeboarding centre – something for all ages and abilities in one hidden location. Go wild, go local, go Irish, go Ballyhass.”

In the accompanying vid, Daniel O’Connor and his camera take to the Ballyhoura mountain bike trails. It’s wild alright.

For more info see www.visitballyhoura.com, www.ballyhasslakes.ie, www.ballyhasswakepark.ie.

You can nominate your own favourite place to #gowild – and learn more about the competition – at www.irishtimes.com/gowild.