Things To Do

From Golf to Horse Riding, Theatre to Water-sports, a stay at Castlecor is the ideal base to explore Irelands Ancient East and Hidden Heartlands.

Gourmet Food Experience

The area is renowned for wonderful restaurants;

  • Ballymahon; Jolly Boys, Cooney’s, Skellys, Wilder & Gold and
    various Takeaway possibilities.
  • Numerous options in Athlone, Longford, and Mullingar. For further information about Longford visit longford.ie/en/visit/food-drink
  • Glasson Village, a 10 minute drive away has excellent choices; Grogans, The Villager, Wineport Lodge, The Chalets, and Glasson Lakehouse
  • Enjoy a hands-on farm & cookery experience with fionaegan.com
Places To Visit

Corlea Trackway this Iron Age Bog Trackway in Kenagh, is somewhat of an enigma. The interpretive centre is well worth a visit. A number of marked walking trails surround the attraction.

Athlone Castle Visit this 13th century castle and experience history brought alive. First built to defend the crossing point on the River Shannon and evolved into a bold defensive structure over the centuries. Follow up with a visit to

Sean’s Bar (reputed to be Europe’s oldest bar) located in the shadow of the Castle.

Belvedere House The house & gardens located just outside Mullingar are open to the public. Don’t miss the spectacular folly wall and a Victorian walled garden.

Strokestown Park House The National Famine Museum & Victo- rian walled garden, located 30mins away in Co. Roscommon, are open to the public.

St. Mel’s Cathedral Built in Longford, in 1840 & destroyed by fire on Christmas Day 2009, the Cathedral has been fully restored.

Check out the Harry Clarke stained glass windows.

Loughcrew Cairns The Loughcrew Complex is believed to have being constructed 3,500 B.C by our Neolithic ancestors as burial chambers. Hiking to the cairns affords spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. Why not combine with a visit to Fore Ab- bey (built by St Fechin in 630AD) near Lough Lene at Fore Village. This is one of the best yet lesser-known Christian monastery ruins in Ireland.

Clonmacnoise One of the most important historical sites in Ire- land, this Early Christian site founded by St. Ciarán in the mid-6th century on the eastern bank of the River Shannon. The site in- cludes the ruins of a cathedral, seven churches (10th -13th centu- ry), two round towers, three high crosses and the largest collection of Early Christian graveslabs in Western Europe.

Whiskey Visit Kilbeggan and/or Tullamore distilleries to learn about whiskey making.

Award-winning villages The nearby villages of Abbeyshrrule, Ardagh & Newtowncashel are all previous winners of “Ireland Tidi- est Village”. All are well worth a visit.

Uisneach The Hill of Uisneach, Loughnavalley, Co. Westmeath has played a part in just about every significant Irish event, be it political, cultural, religious, mythological and geographical. The centre of Ireland in many ways, the enigmatic hill is reputed to be the burial site of the Earth Goddess Ériu & the Sun God Lugh and is one of the most sacred and historic sanctuaries in Ireland.

Center Parcs, Longford Forest Woodland resort with Subtropical Swimming Para- dise with indoor and outdoor activities and a wide range of dining experiences. State of the Art Forest AquaSana Spa.

Exit Athlone Escape Rooms Presents a selection of unique, stimulating creativity - escape rooms. Games and themes are de- signed for different audiences and ages from mysterious and scary atmosphere to strategy games, exitathlone.com

For more information about visiting Longford and county attractions visit www.longford.ie/en/visit/

Theatre & Entertainment
Sporting Activities

Golf  Several fine courses are within easy reach: Glasson, Mount Temple, Athlone, Mullingar, Moate & Longford Golf clubs all offer green fees.

Horse Riding The surrounding area contains numerous stables, a number of which offer horse riding. Please enquire for details.

Horse Racing Roscommon & Kilbeggan race courses are both an easy commute. Evening & weekend meets occur throughout the summer.

Fishing With both the River Inny & Lough Ree close by, there are numerous options for coarse fishing.

Flying Enjoy a bird’s eye view of the area with a flight from Abbeyshrule Aerodrome.

Baysports Water Sports Centre Located on the shores of Lough Ree in Hodson Bay and is home of the World’s Tallest Floating Slide. This water adventure centre covers almost an acre of inter- linking walkways, slides, towers and obstacles. Baysports is a play- ground for children and adults alike.

Lough Key forest Park The Lough Key Experience will take you on an engaging audio journey of Lough Key Forest and Activity Park. 19th century underground tunnels, the refurbished Moylurg viewing tower and Tree Canopy Walk will introduce you to the history, flora and fauna of the estate.

Viking Tours The Viking Ship departs from the quayside at Athlone Castle. The Lough Ree Cruise is a return journey (approx 75 minutes) that goes upstream to the lake, calling en-route to Hodson Bay.

Walking Cycling & Hiking

Royal Canal Greenway Ireland’s longest greenway (from Dublin to the River Shannon) @228km passes within 1km of Castlecor House. Ideal for cycling, hiking, running or a leisurely stroll.

Newcastle Wood Planted with a mixture of coniferous and broadleaf trees, the wood extends to 400 acres and is managed as a commercial forest. The wood extends to both sides of the River Inny, which is a main tributary of the Shannon. It is called after the mythological Princess Eithne who drowned and was cre- mated downstream at the rapids at Tenelick. From the road there are 3 suggested routes in the wood, the Access for All walk, the River Inny Walk, the recently developed Newcastle woodland looped walk which brings you right around the forest property.

Day Trips

Sliabh Bawn Mountain Nearby in Lanesboro, Sliabh Bawn (Slíabh Bághna na Tuatha – the mountain district of Bághna) is located in Doughill Forest, also the home of the Sliabh Bawn Wind Farm. Throughout the forest are looped walks, a trim trail for fitness, an equestrian trail and a raised viewing platform. The walking trails range in distance from 2.7km to 6.5km and graded as either easy or moderate difficulty making them suitable for family groups to enjoy. Site maps are located throughout the forest, pinpointing historical areas of interest, the submit viewing point and picnic areas.

Portlick walk A wonderful walk exploring the wooded glades and farmlands of Portlick and the Whinning peninsula. Most of the walk is close to the lake shore. Return by Portlick Castle. Arguably the most enjoyable walk by Lough Ree.

Rindoon & St John’s Castle “Camelot on the Shannon” was built in 1227 by King Henry III of England and was populated by up to 1000 people in it’s heyday. With its town wall, castle, medieval hospital, church and mill, there is nothing that compares to it in either Ireland or the UK and it is one of the most important medie- val town sites. However, during the Gaelic resurgence of the late 13th and early 14th centuries the town was destroyed, ruined and forgotten.

The Shannonbridge Fortifications Loop A short tour of the Napoleonic Fort with some gorgeous panoramic views of the River Shannon.

Guest Reviews

(+353) 87-231-2420
Castlecor House, Ballymahon, Co. Longford, N39 A023
info@castlecorhouse.com

Request Callback

Enjoy Ireland's Hidden Heartlands with us
Check Availability