Offaly Way

The Offaly Way is a 38 kilometre linear walking route in the midlands of Ireland that links the Slieve Bloom Way at the old village of Cadamstown with the Grand Canal Way and ends a few kilometres north of the canal at the ancient monastic site of Lemanaghan. This short route takes in a rich collection of features that will ensure many walkers will want to linger along the way, including the scenic Silver River and an old bridge that Red Hugh O'Donnell's army is said to have crossed en route to the Battle of Kinsale in 1601, a rare Mesolithic site at Boora, and St Manchan's holy well and St Mella's Cell, a tiny early Christian church at Lemanaghan. The terrain consists of mainly quiet side roads and a couple of riverbank paths that are often wet and muddy in places. There is a shortage of overnight accommodation in the area, but Cadamstown is served by public transport. There are two or three loop walks in Boora Parkland including one which is wheelchair friendly. In this area there are a number of recreational projects and amenities, and experiments are being carried out on how to best use the landscape that has been stripped of its peat. For information follow external link to Shannon Region Trails