County Cavan is a land known for its scenic beauty and vast waterways. It’s the perfect location to get away from fast paced modern life. It’s said there are 365 lakes in Cavan, one for each day of the year, and it is these many lakes that provide a setting of utter tranquillity. You could spend an entire day wandering the vast forests surrounded by the calming sounds of running water.
The focal point of the region is Cavan Town where you’ll find charming medieval features alongside plenty of things to do and see. There’s also ample accommodation options in the town as well as a host of bars and restaurants making it the ideal place to use as a base while exploring County Cavan and further afield.
The great outdoors of County Cavan contribute to the never ending list of activities. On the lakes you can partake in various water sports such as kayaking, paddle boarding, wakeboarding and more. The fish below the surface are one of Cavan’s highlights as these waters are internationally reputed for coarse and pike fishing in particular. On dry land you’ll find many beautiful walking trails that bring you through various landscapes that can also be enjoyed on horseback. The Slieve Russell Golf Club is one of the top courses in the country and has featured in several international and PGA events.
River Cruising:
The Shannon Pot, just outside Blacklion, is the source of the Shannon, the longest river in Ireland. So why not rent a boat for a week or two and cruise up and down it at your own place. Ballyconnell and Belturbet are but two of the highlights visitors enjoy on the Co. Cavan leg of their river cruise. And it’s not just the destinations that make floating along the Shannon such a joy. The peaceful riverbanks and quiet countryside are perfect for walking, cycling, fishing, nature watching or anything you can think of. Self-drive boat tour operators can be found in many towns along the waterway.
In the village of Ballyjamesduff, about eleven miles from the town of Cavan, is the Cavan County Museum that tells the story of Co. Cavan itself and contains materials and artefacts collected from the Stone Age, right up until the twentieth century. With over 6000 years of history to recount, exhibits include the Killycluggin stone and the Corleck Head – two of the most well-known ancient Celtic religious icons still around today – a medieval Dug-Out boat, displays that examine the Great Famine, and galleries depicting county life right up into the early nineteenth and twentieth centuries. There are activities for younger visitors too, as well as a cafe and craft shops.
Killykeen Forest Park
The picturesque Killykeen Forest Park can be found about five miles outside of Cavan, within the Lough Oughter lakes. Popular among visitors for walking, fishing and bird watching, the forest park also includes picnic spots, cycling trails and a swimming area. The forest is made up of an enchanting collection of ash, beech, oak and spruce trees and is conserved and protected by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Windsurfing and canoeing are also popular pastimes on the lakes, as are visiting the nearby twelfth century Cloughoughter Castle or the Gartnanoul megalithic tomb.
