Slievebloom Mountains

The Slievebloom Mountains are located midway between Dublin and Galway, Belfast and Cork.

When you reach the lofty summits of the Slievebloom Mountains you will find an array of breathtaking views in all directions, yet the highest point Ard Erin is only 527m. There are many Slieve Bloom loop walking trails varying levels of difficulty and distance - all designed to explore the beauty and nature of this Environmental Park. The long distance Slieve Bloom Way can be accessed through any of the villages of the Slieveblooms at Kinnitty Cadamstown or Clonaslee

The name Bloom is said to commemorate an ancient Connaught hero,  Bladhma, who took refuge in the mountains. The summits of these peaceful mountains is a National Nature Reserve of some 2,100 hectares of blanket bog which extends over the peaks of Arderin, Dossaun, Wolftrap, Knockachorra, Baunreaghcong and the Ridge of Capard.

Kinnitty nestles at the foot of Knocknamann on the western slopes of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Knocknamann is the site where the Festival of Bealtaine was held in pre- Christian times. The Slieveblooms are steeped in history and folklore, from megalithic times though Ireland's golden era of Saints & Scholars to more modern history of settlement and conflict of the Ely O'Carroll. According to legend the Slievebloom Mountains was home to Fionn Mac Cumhaill where as a child he lived with his mother for the first 7 years of his life.

The Slievebloom Mountain range forms a broad elongated dome, extending for almost 25km in a north-easterly south-westerly direction on the Laois/Offaly border. The heart of the Slieve Blooms is formed from siltstones and sandstones that are 400 million years old. The mountains are dissected by streams that flow through deep ravines and glens located on their perimeter. The mountain tops form a broad plateau above 450m that is dominated by a blanket bog landscape, which is the source of the many rivers that flow through the glens of the Slieve Blooms. These include the Camcor River, Delour River, Silver River and the River Barrow.

The Slieve Bloom Mountains are ideal for those who seek the tranquillity of an unspoilt landscape. There is a wide and varied selection of wildlife, flora & fauna to explore and enjoy. The visitor to the Slieve Blooms will be rewarded by a glimpse of a wild and wonderful landscape which has become a rare commodity in modern times. The mountains are home to Silka Deer, wild goats, foxes, badgers and other animals, and is one of the few remaining areas in Ireland where Grouse is still a common bird in the summer.

The Slieve Bloom Mountains are a walkers paradise where you can walk all day with just the wildlife for your companion.

I am a keen walker and at Ardmore Country House I can provide you with walking maps and advise on the best routes to take whether it be the long distance Slieve Bloom Way or some of the shorter loop walks. If you would prefer I can arrange a guide for you.