Book a Hotel near Slieve Bloom Mountains
The Slieve Bloom Mountains are a stunning mountain range located in the central plain in the Midlands of Ireland. Due to weathering and erosion, the mountains only rise up to 527 metres which is not very high. The mountain range is covered in trails, making it perfect for all hiking enthusiasts. On a day with clear skies, you are able to see the high points of all the four provinces in Ireland.
Slieve Bloom Looped Walks
There are 16 looped walking trails that start and finish from 6 different trailheads, and all are colour coded: green meaning easy, blue being moderate and red as the most difficult trail. Looped walks are a great way to enjoy the outdoors, they start and end in the same spot, meaning you can return to your car without having to double back on your path or find an alternative way back to the beginning.
There are plenty of other things to do in the Slieve Bloom Mountains other than walking, including cycle paths, equestrian activities, bird-watching, scenic drives and angling activities. No doubt, Slieve Bloom has it all!
Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Trails
There are currently 35km of new mountain bike trails, with trailheads at Baunreagh in Laois and Kinnity in Offaly. These trails, which are waymarked in one direction and designed specifically for mountain bike use, vary in difficulty. In Baunreagh, Co Laois, the trails take riders through beautiful forest and open land with fantastic views over the Baunreagh Valley and guaranteed to keep you smiling.
This red grade route is difficult throughout with numerous severe sections along the route. The trails vary from fast and flowing to tight and technical. Frequently steep and narrow, with variable surfaces including rock, roots, mud, loose stones and gravel that may become slippery when wet. This trail is not for novice mountain bike riders.
Trail Information
Trail Name: Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Trail (Laois)
Start/Finish Point: Baunreagh Car Park, Co Laois
Full Route: 9km with 215 meters climbing
Time: 60 to 90 minutes
Degree of Difficulty: Difficult to severe
Trail Waymarking: Red
Nearby Places to Visit
Other popular attractions in the area are the Clonmacnoise Monastic site, Lough Boora Parklands, Monaincha Abbey, the Rock of Danamaise, Timahoe Round Tower, Damer House, Kinnitty Pyramid and Mountmellick Heritage Museum. The wonderful castles of Slieve Bloom are all from the early Anglo-Norman period and are each worth a visit, as each castle will be finer than the last! Even though castles have been destroyed and rebuilt to have since fallen into decay yet again, there are many still intact in the area today.
