Mullaghmeen Forest — Attraction in County Westmeath

I got my first county top achieved Review of Mullaghmeen Forest Reviewed February 5, 2021 Luckily there was a break in the weather and we finally got a good day for a change. I wanted to start the County Top Challenge and I read that Westmeath's highest peak was in Mullaghmeen, through the Forest. It is 258 metres so its actually the lowest county top in Ireland. A good one to start with I think!

The morning was lovely, and the walk through the forest was very relaxing. I brought the son and he loved it, a nice and gentle walk through the forest, with the sun shining through the trees, and the pathway very easy to navigate. We started out on the red route, which is the easiest and shortest of the three routes. It takes you through the forest in a loop back to the car park. The white loop is the longest, and goes right around the forest, and by all accounts is a long walk. The blue walk is the route you need if you want to do the county top, as it leads straight to the summit. I took this one after I was told by some locals that this is the one to take if you need to see the peak. I had started out on the red route so it was lucky I had met some people who put me right.

I went up the peak myself, up a small gravel path that leads right to the top. Up there I got to see the surrounding hills and lakes (Lough Lene) of North Westmeath. On a lovely day with a clear blue sky it was a lovely scene in the fresh air, reinvigorating.

I joined the gang back at the red route, they took a break waiting for me near the famine grave garden.

Overall we spent about an hour and a bit and it was a very enjoyable time walking through the forest. And I got my first county top achieved. One down, 25 more to do! (some counties...

Mullaghmeen forest is a nice forest park beast in between Oldcastle and Castlepollard.

Mullaghmeen is known especially for its beach trees and its scenic walkways and bike trails.

It has on-site car parking as you enter the forest park.

There is sometimes a coffee van available on site at this car park. (But it wasn't there on my last visit which was a pity as it would have been nice to have a coffee/drink for a walk around the walkways and trails)

It has long trail routes all around the forest and some very scenic areas along the way and is well sign posted.

It also has a number of benches along the way so you can sit down and enjoy the scenic views and tranquillity of the forest.

Only thing about Mullaghmeen is that it is a very remote forest park and quite a bit out from the local town, so it will be recommended to bring food and drinks to the park.

But if you're looking for a peaceful place this is definitely a...

A forest full of beech trees and several walks. There's a yellow, blur, red and white trail with yellow being only 20 mins at 1.5km. However, if it is a longer walk you're after that's where the remaining three colored trails come in all of which are sign posted.

There is one picnic bench we used to cook food. It would be nice to see a few more.

It is definitely the nicest forest I have visited in a while teaming with lots of birds, plants and wildlife to keep an...