A Walk for the Weekend: Lough Key Forest & Activity Park, Co Roscommon

Recently, with the papers full of a planned Forest Activity Park at Newcastle Woods in County Longford, I decided to explore the one which already exists on the old Rockingham Estate on the shores of Lough Key.

I was so glad I did as the variety of experiences resulted in a fascinating day. I called in at reception where I met Bertie, one of the guides, whose infectious enthusiasm persuaded me to try the self-guided audio tour.

Rockingham House was built by the King Family in 1809 on the site of the residence of the McDermotts, Kings of Moylurg for a thousand years. It was designed by John Nash who was the architect of both Regent Street and Regent's Park in London.

Destroyed by fire in 1957, probably deliberately, the house was razed to the ground in 1971. Part of the design of the house consisted of two long tunnels which allowed suppliers and tradesmen to enter the house without the residents having to endure the distasteful sight of the hoi polloi.

The audio tape led me up one of the tunnels and I emerged into the open area which would have been the basement kitchens, to be confronted by the rebuilt Moylurg viewing tower. It is a five-story concrete structure containing stairs and a lift.

At the top I soaked up the surrounding vista. It all looks natural but the lawns and woodlands were laid out by the famous landscaper John Sutherland. This type of gardening is effectively landscape painting and he has created a stunning picture with the natural elements and one which changes with the seasons.

Looking out over Lough Key, my eye was inevitably drawn to a small citadel on Castle Island. The islet was the original fortress of the McDermotts and is mentioned in the Annals of Lough Ce in 1184. The present building is a Folly built on the site of the McDermott fort. Exiting via the second tunnel, I returned via a tree canopy walkway which winds through the trees 10 metres above the ground.

Back at the centre Bertie introduced me to the “Boda Borg”. Hugely popular with both adults and children, it is an indoor complex of 47 rooms, each of which presents physical and mental challenges which you have to solve before the door into the next room will open. You even have to work out what the challenge is, as there are no instructions.

This type of thing is my worst nightmare as I am completely devoid of lateral thinking skills so I quickly headed outdoors where there are climbing walls, a rope bridge and a zip wire as well as a variety of walks

I opted for the Miners Way where I came across the most magnificent red cedar and a majestic ancient oak as well as lime, ash, beech and Norway spruce.

I came away with a smile on my face. This lovely spot has thrown off the shackles of grim history and become a happy place.

Map:

OS Discovery 33

How to get there:

The entrance is on the N4 Boyle to Carrick-on-Shannon Road, 3 km east of Boyle

Start & Finish:

The car park across from the Activity Centre (Grid Reference 849 039)

Time

: Anything from one hour to all day. For full range of activities check out

[  loughkey.ie ]

Distance:

Walks vary from 2 to 5 kilometres and can be combined

Ascent:

None

Suitability

: Easy. There are wheelchair friendly trails