Portumna Forest Park

Coillte's Portumna Forest Park is located on the northern end of Ireland's largest lake Lough Derg. There is an extensive network of walking trails bringing you into all parts of the forest. As part of the former Clanrickarde estate, Portumna Forest Park has many features dating from the old estate. The Forest Park is next to the historic Portumna Castle and Abbey. Today Portumna Forest Park is linked to the town with numerous walking, cycling and multi-access trails. From the quiet remote Bonaveen and Rinmaher headlands, to the busier central core of the Park, there's a route for everyone here. Toilets are located beside the car-park. Local services are available in Portumna town centre. Scattered throughout the coniferous woodland there are occasional patches of semi-natural woodland which tend to be dominated by ash and beech with silver birch frequent along the lake shore. A notable feature of the park is the presence of occasional individuals of Yew and Juniper in open woodland along the lake shore. Perhaps the most noteworthy animal species of the park is red squirrel which is frequently encountered in woodland areas. There is a large population of Fallow deer in the Park and other animal species include fox and badger. A recent visitor is the white tailed sea eagle that has nested and raised chicks on an Island close to the Forest Park Visitors can get excellent views of the birds from the recently developed bird hide on the lake shore.