County Leitrim: Culture, Waterways and Landscapes

County Leitrim combines striking landscapes with distinct cultural and nature experiences: a restored castle on Lough Gill, exhibitions on regional history and waterside paths give your trip several possible focuses. There are also multi-day walking routes and exceptional viewpoints. When choosing your holiday accommodation, first consider whether you would mainly like to discover culture, spend time outdoors or combine both.

History and regional culture

Parke’s Castle is a restored early 17th-century castle on the northern shore of Lough Gill in County Leitrim. It adds a historical accent to a landscape that has its own appeal by the water. The Kiltyclogher Heritage Centre offers another way to explore history: an exhibition there tells the story of Seán MacDiarmada, a signatory of the 1916 Proclamation. Audiovisual installations and explanatory panels complement the display.

At the Sliabh an Iarainn Visitor Centre in Drumshanbo, audiovisual exhibitions about the Arigna and Sliabh an Iarainn mountain region take centre stage. Topics range from railways and canals to lakes and iron and coal mining; musical heritage is also covered. The St George’s Heritage & Visitor Centre in Carrick-On-Shannon brings together the history of St George’s Church and the workhouse. Those interested in ecclesiastical architecture can also visit Creevelea Abbey: the Franciscan abbey was built in County Leitrim in 1508.

Fenagh Visitor Centre also brings together different points of interest: it has a Heritage Centre, a café and an indoor play area. For a trip with children, the play area is a practical feature, while the Heritage Centre offers its own historical focus. The cultural attractions therefore differ not only in their subject matter, but also in their individual character.

Waterways and walking routes

The first section of the Shannon Blueway comprises 16.5 km of waterways and circular walking and cycling routes between Drumshanbo and Carrick-on-Shannon. This is a different way to experience the region from taking a longer hike: you can consider waterways and circular routes as separate options when planning your trip. The Acres Lake Boardwalk is 600 m long and forms part of a 6.5 km linear walking and cycling route. It runs from Acres Lake in Drumshanbo to Battlebridge Lock near Leitrim Village.

For a multi-day trip, the Leitrim Way is a clearly defined option: this long-distance walking trail is 56 km long and runs from Manorhamilton to Leitrim Village. It usually takes two to three days. Creevelea Abbey is on the Sligo Way, an 80 km walking route that includes upland trails. These routes offer different starting points for planning: one has a stated typical duration, while the longer route includes upland trails.

Landscapes and distinctive nature experiences

Glencar Waterfall is 15 m high and lies near Glencar Lake, 11 km west of Manorhamilton in County Leitrim. William Butler Yeats was inspired by it. The waterfall can be viewed from a woodland walk. Hag’s Leap is another striking landscape feature: this 330 m-high, freestanding natural rock pinnacle lies in the Dartry Mountains in the north of County Leitrim and is the highest freestanding natural rock pinnacle on the island of Ireland. Hag’s Leap is solely a viewpoint; there is no access for walking in the area.

The Ballinamore to Aghawillin Greenway connects Leitrim’s landscapes with its railway heritage and abundant wildlife. Those looking to combine nature with a specific activity can visit the Organic Centre in Rossinver. It runs more than fifty weekend courses each year, including cheesemaking and organic gardening courses. The demonstration gardens include seven polytunnels where visitors receive guidance in organic gardening. Glencar Alpacas offers guided alpaca walks with panoramic views of the lake and Glencar valley.

Places to explore further

The Jackalope Café at The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo serves homemade food and drinks. When choosing where to stay, you can prioritise the interests that matter to you: historical exhibitions, longer walks, waterways or nature experiences each offer a different focus. The town pages provide further starting points for your search: Leitrim, Mohill, Drumshanbo, Carrick On Shannon, Carrigallen, Keshcarrigan, Ballinamore, Drumnafinnila, Drumkeeran, Dromahair, Drumod, Glenfarne, Manorhamilton, Kiltyclogher, Tullaghan, Drumsna, Kilclare, Carnhill, Kinlough, Rossinver, Cloone, Drumgorman, Drumreagh and Fenagh.

For the broader travel overview: Connacht.