Unusual Activities and Things to Do at Lough Key Forest & Activity Park

Michelle

May 1, 2023

zipit at lough key wooden tunnel

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Lough Key Forest & Activity Park in Boyle, Co Roscommon is a giant playground for families young and old. With vast woodlands, 8km of traffic free trails, islands, a lake, zip lines to speed along, tunnels and towers to explore you will be spoiled for choice.

Check out unusual activities and things to do at Lough Key Forest Park.

Things to Do at Lough Key

Puzzle Your Way Through Boda Borg

lough key boda borg kids

The weather independent Boda Borg is open year round and offers visitors aged 7+ 2 hours of puzzling fun. A Swedish concept, it is currently the only one in Ireland.

Challenge members of your group to different tasks and see how many you can complete in the allotted time. Be warned, there are no clues so you will need to use all your skills to come out victorious!

Check out what one family thought of Boda Borg.

Take a Trip Underground

servants tunnels horrible histories at Lough Key Forest Park

During the Rockingham Remembered Tour you walk through the old servant tunnels that ran under Rockingham House. The House once sat where the Moylurg Tower now stands. It was one of the largest mansions in the Boyle area, designed by the famous architect John Nash in 1809/10, and the King family lived here with a large household of many servants.

Unfortunately the house was destroyed by a fire in 1957 but the servant tunnels survived and have been preserved for you to explore. The self-guided audio tour will fill you in on all the history as you go.

Walk Through Tree Tops

lough key experience treetop canopy walk

Get a view of what it is like to be a bird when you take a walk along the unique Tree Canopy Walkway at Lough Key.

The 300m long timber and steel walkway gently rises 9m above the woodland floor, offering fantastic views of the estate, lake and surrounding countryside. It is fully enclosed and flat, so suitable for buggies or for little ones who like to run ahead!

Enjoy The Water

Jetty at Lough Key ICP courtesy Tourism Ireland

There’s plenty of opportunities to enjoy the water at Lough Key:

  • P Mac Kayaks offering tailor made kayaking sessions, which are fun for all ages, adults and children.
  • You can swim off the jetty at the park
  • For those who want to explore the islands surrounding Lough Key at their leisure, you can hire an 18 foot rowing boat for an hourly rate.
  • Enjoy Lough Key Boat Tours run by the Walsh / McGreevy family, spend an hour relaxing, meeting new people and simply just enjoying the lake and sights. You’ll hear interesting and quirky stories about Lough Key as well as taking you on a professionally guided tour of the greatest Lakes in Ireland.

Find out more about Lough Key water fun here.

Get Active in Nature

From open water swimming to tree top adventures, enjoying the outdoors has never been easier. See what Lough Key Forest & Activity Park has for you.

adventures at Lough Key Forest & Activity Park

Find the Fairy Bridge

fairy bridge at Lough Key

Take a woodland tour to enjoy the best of the wonderful outdoors that Lough Key Forest & Activity Park has to offer, there are tons of trails suitable for walking or cycling, perfect for exploring the woodlands at your leisure using the marked trails. And you can even hire electric bikes if you want!

Be sure to travel over the Fairy Bridge which is made up of unusual limestone shapes, some so small and intricate, it is thought only fairies could have created them!

Then battle your way through Cedar Grove, which is like a scene from Jurassic Park!

Test Your Orienteering Skills

wheel o orienteering and walking routes at lough key forest and activity park

Test your outdoor orienteering skills by using detailed maps to choose routes to navigate your way through different terrain and visit control points in sequence. The routes have been designed in conjunction with Coillte and offer basic and more skilled routes for you to enjoy.

Wheel-O offers visitors with limited mobility the opportunity to take part in orienteering on safe, specially designed trails.

Have a High Ropes Adventure

zipit at lough key wooden tunnel

Zipit Forest Adventures at Lough Key offers 1.6km of high ropes tree top activities suitable for all ages, heights and abilities. These are best suited to those aged 7+.

In total there are 88 activities connected by zip wires that run to platforms set at different heights from 1m to 10m. Participants have 4 hours to complete different circuits and enjoy exhilarating fun as they glide through the trees.

Climb a Tower

The Moylurgh Viewing Tower can be seen for miles around and offers panoramic views across the Lough Key Estate. You climb to the top via a staircase and at the top you will see the layout of the estate as it would have been back when Rockingham House was there.

You will also get fantastic views towards Castle Island and the sharp eyed amongst you will also be able to spot the folly built on the original site of the official residence of the McDermotts who ruled the area in the 17th century.

Sleep Under the Stars at Lough Key

lough key camping and caravan park tent and family

Lough Key Caravan and Camping Park has 51 landscaped, secluded pitches with electricity points and three large areas for campers to set up their tents. There is a recreational block with an indoor space for games or dining. There is a shower block with bathrooms and a small cooking area and a laundry room.

So why not stay the night, sleep under the stars, and enjoy even more fun the next day!

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