Abbeyleix Bog Project — Attraction in The Municipal District of Portlaoise

This is a special place. There are two easy looped walks (3.5km and 7.5km) on a mix of grass and gravel tracks, boardwalk and woodland trails. Each route brings you through an extensive area of restored bog. It is a great example of how, with the right attitude, determination and some funding, areas of bog that were drained for peat harvesting in the past can be re-wetted and restored. There are carpets of sphagnum mosses (maybe ten different varieties) along with dozens of habitat specific plants like bog asphodel and the carnivorous sundews. You can also see many pioneer trees such as Birch, Scots Pine, Mountain Ash and Willow. This is the start of the regeneration of native Irish forests that were lost many centuries ago.

Take your time and enjoy the solitude of nature and the company of many species of butterflies, dragonflies, bees, hover...

It’s a very beautiful walk! You have the option of different types of trails, so you can do the shorter one and walk around for an hour if you’re not really a sport person - but it is completely worthy the visit! The views are amazing, the piece and quiet. The place is really well maintained and you see people do care about keeping it very organised and tidy. There are also signs all the way, so you don’t get lost. The walk is easy - all the way we walked it was well maintained. The board walk was probably my favourite part - but everywhere the nature and beauty is amazing! I went early in the morning and it was very quiet - I could not find a toilet around, so do keep that in mind. There’s a lovely bakery in town, just a couple of minutes from the entrance of the bog. Pairing the walk with a breakfast there...

The parking at the Manor hotel spacious,entrances well signed out. Great walking even with walking aids,but only partly with wheelchairs. The information boards are great,the nature to observe beautiful. Afterwards even a small rest at the cafe,which serves several choices of diets,hot and cold. Very friendly,helpful staff,toilets available,clean. Also wheelchair accessible. The only downturn I found,within the walks could be more signs or boards to show where you are at present and options to go . With a distance and advise of walking or driving difficulties. Well kept...