The Irish midlands play host to some wonderful outdoor activities.

Golf
Walking
Outdoor Pursuits
Birdwatching


GOLF

REDUCED GREEN FEES TO THREE OF THE MIDLANDS' TOP GOLF COURSES

BIRR GOLF CLUB The Glens, Banagher Road, Birr, Co. Offaly. Tel. 0509 20082

ESKER HILLS GOLF CLUB Ballykilmurray, Tullamore, Co. Offaly Tel. 0506 55999 Fax: 0506 55021

PORTUMNA GOLF CLUB Ennis Road, Portumna,Co. Galway. Tel. 0509 41059

There is a myriad of excellent golf course within easy reach of Banagher. The closest, the 18 hole Birr Golf Course is only 5 miles away. Other notable courses include: Roscrea Golf Course, Tullamore Golf Club, Esker Hills Golf Course, Glasson Golf and Country Club. There is a fine pitch and putt course in Banagher itself.



WALKING
The landscape of West Offaly offers a range of walking routes to cater for all levels. the Grand Canal Way and the Offaly Way are leisurely routes, that take the walker along the canal which runs from Dublin to the shannon at Shannon Harbour, and through offaly's bogscape respectively. The Slieve Bloom mountains nearby offer more chalenging routes in a different setting again.


Walking is one of life’s greatest pleasures as it provides not only a source of relaxation and pleasure but also exercise for keeping healthy and fit.
For those who wish to walk with wildlife, to observe nature unawares and unlock some of her well hidden secrets West Offaly provides the key.

The West Offaly landscape is made up of a variety of distinctive and unique natural habitats. Our walks will take you to undisturbed bogs, forest parks, rolling moorland, callows, canal towpaths, eskers, demesne gardens and along a dyke which bounds the River Shannon.

Walking Routes in West Offaly

Sliabh Bloom
The Sliabh Bloom way follows forest roads, tracks, fire breaks, riverside paths and open mountain. Here are some of Ireland’s largest tracts of blanket bog as well as an abundance of natural and archaeological interest.
Inland Waterways

Eskers
The Irish word Eiscir refers to the long winding sand hills left after the ice sheets melted at the end of the last ice age. As in ancient times the eskers are still used as travel routes providing a lofty foundation for a maze of attractive country roads. One of these, the Pilgrim’s road, winds along the esker for 10 km before ending with a dramatic view of the monastic site at Clonmacnois.

Bogs
Several of Europe’s last remaining and best preserved raised bogs are in West Offaly, including Clara Bog and Mongan Bog (Clonmacnois). A myriad of bog roads provide opportunities to observe the unique flora and fauna of such bogs.




OUTDOOR PURSUITS
Nearby facilities include horseriding, canoeing, rock climbing and more.